Top Photographer Dreams: Every Picture Tells a Story

Last updated on December 6th, 2012 at 10:53 pm

I sat on the back porch and looked through my most recent photographs with my parents, one by one. At the end of the stack my parents had 2 different reactions:

Dad: “You took 12 photos of the dog. Why did you do that? I don’t get it.”

Mom: “She took 12 photos of the dog. She was telling a story. I get it! See, here’s the dog sleeping and running, a few of her eating, and the rest are from the walk in the neighborhood. “

I looked up, caught my mom’s eye and smiled – relieved that she understood me – and since that time, my mission is to tell a story through images.

As a kid that was easy to do. There were stories and emotions everywhere. School, parties, friends, sports – It was easy because I wasn’t thinking about taking them, I just took them.

Do you want to test it for yourself?

Go grab one of your old photo albums and look through it. Every photo you point to has a story right? That is why it that particular shot made it into the album in the first place. You may laugh, cry, feel regret, pride – any number of emotions. But you captured them.

As an adult it can be harder to do. First instinct may be to just take pictures – obvious story or not. If you are going through an emotional time in your life like I am right now, the last thing you may want to do is capture more emotions.

At this point in my own life, though, I think its become second nature for me to shoot stories in this way and here’s how it shows up:

With people I wait out the obvious poses, talk to them as they mill around, let them be comfortable and in familiar surroundings. Remember, as photographers we have to see things that are sometimes not there. We have to have their story running in our mind constantly as we shoot. It’s a lot to hold on to, but amazing when we can get it right.

With nature I am patient and wait for light. Its a funny thing to wait for, but there is a different emotion captured when shooting something in broad daylight versus at dawn or at dusk. If you look beyond the obvious (I’m gonna take a photo of that lake) and focus on documenting the story and emotion (I wanna capture its beauty and tranquility after the storm) your images will reflect those emotions – guaranteed.

If you like portrait work and shooting weddings and other events, here are some other ideas to keep in mind when it comes to capturing someone’s story and emotions:

• Accept that people actually have a story to tell – It’s our job to capture it, not invent it for them.
• The story may be painful but capture it anyway – So if your gut tells you to take it the shot, take the shot.
• Stop telling them to “say cheese” – because feelings can’t be forced. In my experience, the best emotional shots are usually the ones not overly orchestrated.
• Even with best intentions and incredible preparation, be ready for ‘nothing’. Images may fall flat. It happens. Regroup and keep shooting if possible.

Do some research on the internet on emotion and photography – There are alot of articles written with tips and tricks for organized portrait shoots and events, emotion in landscape photography, even working with emotion in animals. Whatever your niche, it doesn’t matter.

The best images will always be the ones that evoke emotion and make people feel something.

I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite photographers who wrote this while visiting his mother for the last time before she died:

Every once in a while, you might get a feeling you need to shoot a picture. I would follow through on those, no matter how awkward, or sad, or inconvenient it might be. Over the years, I’ve made pictures of some feelings. Missed lots of times. Some though, I still have a picture of and I’m glad I do. Those pictures – of those feelings, have become my memory. – Joe McNally

Until next photo,

Rem

Remy’s dream is creating opportunities for photography showings and public displays of her work.