how to be a BETTER PhotoJournalist

Photojournalism Ethics 1. Be honest and fair. 2. Never influence the action of the event. 3. Never ask the subject to repeat the action. 4. NO STAGING! 5. Make it known for whom or for what reason you are shooting the photos.

6. Do not manipulate the photos in Photoshop. 7. Record all information about the event and Fact check all information. 8. Avoid editorializing – your OPINION does NOT matter. 9. Use quotes accurately. 10. Never make up information.

What is a Photo Essay? A photo essay (or "photographic essay") is a set or series of photographs that are intended to tell a story or evoke a series of emotions in the viewer. A photo essay will often show pictures in deep emotional stages. The series of photographs conveys a story and is accompanied by written text – often it is published as a book or special feature in a periodical.

Photo Story Tips Take a variety of photos (sizes and shapes) Each photo should be a different part of the story. Shoot enough photos to have a broad selection to choose from Narrow the focus of the story (a developed slice of life not the cradle to the grave). Include a dominant photo. Use medium, close ups, and establishing shots.

As a photographer, you are a storyteller. The nouns are your subject matter; the verbs are the color and contrast that keep the story moving. A cast of characters all working together to get your point across. You must have proper exposure, tack- sharp focus, and amazing lighting because your story is especially important and meaningful. With blogging and social media, photo essays are more popular than ever: humorous or emotionally relevant, sparking debate or encouraging compassion, each with a story to tell. Taking on a photo project is a great way to get a message across and have your work seen by a larger group. A photo essay is intriguing; it’s something to talk about, extremely satisfying, and can kick-start creative wonderment. Here is a great collection of Photo Essays:

Musts for Writing Keep a pen and notebook with you at all times. Get ALL the information for each photo taken. Get the details: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, AND HOW.

Write captions journalistically First sentence in present tense. Second and remaining sentences in past tense. Use quotes from subjects in the photo. Avoid clichés and witticisms

Event Coverage Understand the event before going. Know what is going on. Be prepared. Arrive early, stay alert and ready to shoot, and stay late to capture reaction to the event. Remain objective. You are an observer not a participant. Capture the moment by moment. Tell the whole story.

Creating a Photo Essay 1. Find a topic: Photo essays are most dynamic when you as the photographer care about the subject. Whether you choose to document the first month of a newborn in the family, the process of a school drama production, or even a birthday party, make your topic something in which you find interest.

Creating a Photo Essay 2. Do your research: If you document a newborn’s first month, spend time with the family. Discover who the parents are, what culture they are from, whether they are upper or lower class. If you cover the process of a school’s drama production, talk with the teachers, actors and stage hands; investigate the general interest of the student body; find out how they are financing the production and keeping costs down. If you photograph a birthday party, check out the theme, the decorations they plan on using, what the birthday kid hopes to get for his or her gifts. These factors will help you in planning out the type of shots you set up for your story.

Creating a Photo Essay 3. Find the “real story”: After your research, you can determine the angle you want to take your story. Is the newborn the first son of a wealthy family on whom the family legacy will continue? Or does the baby have a rare heart condition? Is the drama production an effort to bring the student body together? Or is it featuring a child star? Is the birthday party for an adolescent turning 13, or the last birthday of a dying cancer patient?  Though each story idea is the same, the main factors of each story create an incredibly unique story.

Creating a Photo Essay 4. Every dynamic story is built on a set of core values and emotions that touch the heart of its audience. Anger. Joy. Fear. Hurt. Excitement. The best way you can connect your photo essay with its audience is to draw out the emotions within the story and utilize them in your shots. This does NOT mean that you manipulate your audience’s emotions. You merely use emotion as a connecting point.

Creating a Photo Essay 5.Plan your shots: When you sit down to plan your essay, visualize each shot of the story, walk through the venue in your mind, and think about the type of shots that will work best to tell your story. Create a “shot list” for the story. Each shot will work like a sentence in a one-paragraph story. Your essay will be 10 shots. Each shot must emphasize a different concept or emotion that can be woven together with the other images for the final draft of the story.

Photo Essay Tips Remember that story telling takes practice. You don’t have to be an incredible writer to pull off a powerful photo essay. Implement your new photographic techniques, some creativity, and a lot of heart. Once you begin taking pictures in stories, your images will never be the same.

Requirements Your topic MUST be approved by me. You must submit a “Shot list” of your probable photos and “Mock-Up” for your spread before you begin creating and taking photos - 50 points AT LEAST 10 photographs – don’t forget to display different concepts and/or emotions, woven together with the other images, for the final draft of the story. Show those chosen within the body of the spread and those rejected in an attachment with why they were rejected. Being poorly shot is NOT a reason for photos to be rejected. Spread itself – 350 points

Have Fun with It! Even professional photographers do not take perfect photos all the time. If you get ONE or TWO good photos out of every 24 or 36 you shoot you have done an EXCELLENT JOB! Think OUTSIDE the box & be creative.

Final Thought! Remember to: SHOOT AND SHOOT MORE OFTEN!