A Photo Essay: Telling Stories Through Images
Learning Intensions
Students will:
• Plan a photo essay using a storyboard.
• Use media language, including shot types and framing.
• Capture and sequence photographs to communicate a story.
• Create a photo essay with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Success Criteria
Students can:
• Develop a storyboard for their photo essay.
• Use a variety of shot types to communicate meaning.
• Create a photo essay with 6-8 images.
• Explain how their photographs tell a story and engage an audience.
Plan your Photo Story
Step 1: Plan the Story
Think: Choose a simple theme or context for your photo story. For example:
• Our vegetable garden
• School adventure
• Water conservation
Brainstorm: Work individually or with a partner and consider:
• What happens at the beginning?
• What problem or event occurs?
• How does the story end?
Plan: Select one idea and identify the key events you want to show.
Step 2: Break Your Story into Action Points: Create a list of the main events in your story. Aim for 6-8 action points. Your story should include:
Beginning
• Introduces the setting and characters.
• Presents a problem or important event.
Middle
• Shows actions being taken.
• Develops the story.
End
• Resolves the problem.
• Delivers a message or conclusion.
Example: Composting for a Greener Future
Context: Students learn that food scraps can be turned into compost to help plants grow.
Beginning
• Student finishes lunch with leftover food scraps (WS)
Purpose: Introduces the setting and character.
• Student approaches the rubbish bin (MS)
Purpose: Introduces the problem.
• Student notices a compost bin nearby (CU)
Purpose: Draws attention to the sustainable solution.
Middle
• Food scraps are placed in the compost bin (MS)
Purpose: Shows positive action.
• Leaves and food scraps are added over time (CU)
Purpose: Demonstrates the composting process.
• Compost breaks down into rich soil (CU)
Purpose: Shows transformation.
End
• Finished compost is added to a garden bed (WS)
Purpose: Shows how compost improves soil.
• Healthy plants grow in the garden (WS)
Purpose: Demonstrates the benefits of composting.
• Sign displays “Turn Scraps into Soil!” (CU)
Step 3: Plan the Shot Types
Shot types help the audience understand the story and focus on important details. Here are some common shot types that students can use.
Wide Shot (WS): Shows the person and surrounding environment.Wide shots establish the setting.
Mid Shot (MS): Shows the person from about the waist up. Mid shots show action.
Close-Up (CU): Focuses on a face, object, or important detail. Close-ups highlight important details.
Medium Full Shot (MFS): Shows the character from around the knees up.
A variety of shots makes the story more engaging.
Step 4: Creating your Photo Story
| Shot Number | Shot Type | Location | Sketch (What Will the Camera See?) | Action (What is Happening?) | Why This Shot Type? | Media Techniques (Framing, Lighting, Angle, etc.) |
| 1 | WS (Wide Shot) | School Bathroom | Student standing near a dripping tap | Student notices water dripping from a tap. | Establishes the setting and introduces the problem. | Position the tap clearly in the frame so the audience can see the dripping water. |
Remember: Storyboards are planning tools. Simple sketches or stick figures are perfectly
Step 5: Finalise and Review your Photo Story
After you take your photographs, arrange them in storyboard order to create a clear, engaging photo essay.
Before moving on to photography, students should check:
☐ My story has a beginning, middle, and end.
☐ I have 6-8 action points.
☐ Each action point has a shot type.
☐ My photographs will help tell the story clearly.
☐ I have included a variety of shot types.
☐ My storyboard follows my chosen theme.
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