Inspiration: Storytelling Images
Photographers are often telling stories visually— whether they’re love stories, documenting a family and the story of their lives, or planning styled photoshoots to tell a specific tale.
Use the following inspiration to tell a narrative through your photography!
Inspiration: Strong main characters
One thing that stays with us after a story is told is the characters. Well-defined characters make or break the story— their decisions, struggles, and growth are typically the whole point behind the tale, after all!
To tell a great story through photography, give your images a strong subject— it doesn’t have to be a person, either! Plenty of stories have animals as main characters or even objects (Remember the Brave Little Toaster??)
Image by Michaela Sonntágová Photography
Edited with Quest 20 Orphic Presets
Image by @imagesbylisawarren
Edited with Quest 21 Wayfarer SE Presets
Try to incorporate emotion or action when photographing your “characters”— this causes the viewer to stop to consider why they are doing what they are doing or feeling what they are feeling, and draws them into your narrative.
Image by Foggy Stories
Edited with Quest 08 Nomad SE Presets
Inspiration: Details near and far
Have you ever looked at a collection of items in an old home and wondered how they were collected, and what stories they have for their acquisition? How about landmarks off in the distance, things you see out of your window that are far away? Those details sometimes carry the most interesting stories!
Tell a more interesting tale by adding extra ingredients— details your viewer can dwell on for context clues or mystery.
Image by Corey Lynn Tucker
Edited with Quest 21 Wayfarer SE Presets
Image by Valeria Duque
Edited with Quest 19 Elements Presets
Image by Magdalena Bury
Edited with Quest 10 ExFilm SE Presets
Inspiration: Setting and location
A vivid setting transports your viewer into your story world— especially when sensory details are evoked. Think: can you feel the texture of the photo just by looking at it? Can you smell rain in the air of a stormy photo?
Your setting or location will also give viewers a reason to question the story they are being told. Why is the main character there? What are they doing?
Image by David Griso
Edited with Quest 03 Dynamics
Image by Seán Bell
Edited with Quest 02 Incandesce Presets
Incorporate framing and perspective to make your surroundings feel like they are being “seen” from a first-person point of view (the point of view of your character— aka you, the photographer).
Image by Adam and Grace
Edited with Quest 06 Emulsion SE
Image by Fabrizio Simoneen
Edited with Quest 19 Elements Presets
Combine all of the tips above and try editing your tale with Fable Presets!
Pages of old books: well-loved, full of texture and warmth, and a little wear and tear here and there. Familiar as childhood tales told at bedtime, each chapter is like a worn-in pair of corduroys. Fable Presets elicit memories of your favorite tales, brought to life in 3 distinct Chapters, each telling a different story, but part of the same anthology.
Fable Presets— perfect for telling stories through images.
Image by Bernadeta Kupiec
Edited with Quest 25 Fable Presets - now available for Quest members
What is your favorite way to incorporate storytelling into your images? Tell us in the comments!