What Is A Photo Essay 9 Photo Essay Examples You Can Recreate - Photo Contest Insider

3/6/2021 What is a Photo Essay?
9 Photo Essay Examples You Can Recreate - Photo Contest Insider
ABOUT HELP ADD CONTEST ADVERTISE REGISTER LOG IN
Photo Contest Insider
HOME FILTER PHOTO CONTESTS ALL PHOTO CONTESTS
GET FREE CONTESTS UPDATES BLOG PHOTO CONTEST TIPS PHOTOGRAPHY DEALS
You are here: Home > Blog > What is a Photo Essay? 9 Photo Essay Examples You Can
Recreate
What is a Photo Essay? 9

Photo Essay Examples
You Can Recreate
August 22, 2019
A photo essay is a series of photographs that tell a story. Unlike a written

essay, a photo essay focuses on visuals instead of words. With a photo
essay, you can stretch your creative limits and explore new ways to
https://www.photocontestinsider.com/photo-essay-examples/ 1/13
3/6/2021 What is a Photo Essay? 9 Photo Essay Examples You Can Recreate - Photo Contest Insider
connect with your audience. Whatever your photography skill level, you
can recreate your own fun and creative photo essay.
9 Photo Essay Examples You Can

Recreate
1. Photowalk Photo Essay
2. Transformation Photo Essay
3. Day in the Life Photo Essay
4. Event Photo Essay
5. Building Photo Essay
6. Historic Site or Landmark Photo Essay
7. Behind the Scenes Photo Essay
8. Family Photo Essay
9. Education Photo Essay
Stories are important to all of us. While some people gravitate to written
stories, others are much more attuned to visual imagery. With a photo
essay, you can tell a story without writing a word. Your use of
composition, contrast, color, and perspective in photography will convey
ideas and evoke emotions.
To explore narrative photography, you can use basic photographic

equipment. You can buy a camera or even use your smartphone to get
started. While lighting, lenses, and post-processing software can enhance
your photos, they aren’t necessary to achieve good results.
9 Photo Essay Examples You Can

Recreate
Whether you need to complete a photo essay assignment or want to
pursue one for fun or professional purposes, you can use these photo
essay ideas for your photography inspiration. Once you know the
answer to “what is a photo essay?” and nd out how fun it is to create
one, you’ll likely be motivated to continue your forays into photographic
storytelling.
1. Photowalk Photo Essay

One popular photo essay example is a photowalk. Simply put, a
photowalk is time you set aside to walk around a city, town, or a natural
site and take photos. Some cities even have photowalk tours led by
professional photographers. On these tours, you can learn the basics
about how to operate your camera, practice photography composition
techniques, and understand how to look for unique shots that help tell
your story.
Set aside at least two to three hours for your photowalk. Even if you’re
photographing a familiar place—like your own home town—try to look at
it through new eyes. Imagine yourself as a rst-time visitor or pretend
you’re trying to educate a tourist about the area.
Walk around slowly and look for di erent ways to capture the mood and
energy of your location. If you’re in a city, capture wide shots of streets,
close-ups of interesting features on buildings, street signs, and candid
shots of people. Look for small details that give the city character and life.
And try some new concepts—like re ection picture ideas—by looking for
opportunities to photographs re ections in mirrored buildings, puddles,
fountains, or bodies of water.
2. Transformation Photo Essay

With a transformation photography essay, you can tell the story about
change over time. One of the most popular photostory examples, a
transformation essay can document a mom-to-be’s pregnancy or a child’s
growth from infancy into the toddler years. But people don’t need to be
the focus of a transformation essay. You can take photos of a house that
is being built or an urban area undergoing revitalization.
You can also create a photo narrative to document a short-term change.

Maybe you want to capture images of your growing garden or your move
from one home to another. These examples of photo essays are powerful
ways of telling the story of life’s changes—both large and small.
How to create a unique photo essay, telling stories with your ph…
ph…
3. Day in the Life Photo Essay

Want a unique way to tell a person’s story? Or, perhaps you want to
introduce people to a career or activity. You may want to consider a day
in the life essay.
With this photostory example, your narrative focuses on a speci c subject

for an entire day. For example, if you are photographing a farmer, you’ll
want to arrive early in the morning and shadow the farmer as he or she
performs daily tasks. Capture a mix of candid shots of the farmer at work
and add landscapes and still life of equipment for added context. And if
you are at a farm, don’t forget to get a few shots of the animals for added
character, charm, or even a dose of humor. These types of photography
essay examples are great practice if you are considering pursuing
photojournalism. They also help you learn and improve your candid
portrait skills.
4. Event Photo Essay

Events are happening in your local area all the time—and they make
great venues for photo essays. With a little research, you can quickly nd
many events that you could photograph. There may be bake sales,
fundraisers, concerts, art shows, farm markets, block parties, and more.
You could also focus on a personal event, such as a birthday or
graduation.
At most events, your primary emphasis will be on capturing candid

photos of people in action. You can also capture backgrounds or objects
to set the scene. For example, at a birthday party, you’ll want to take
photos of the cake and presents.
For a local or community event, you can share your photos with the event
organizer. Or, you may be able to post them on social media and tag the
event sponsor. This is a great way to gain recognition and build your
reputation as a talented photographer.
5. Building Photo Essay

Many buildings can be a compelling subject for a photographic essay.
Always make sure that you have permission to enter and photograph the
building. Once you do, look for interesting shots and angles that convey
the personality, purpose, and history of the building. You may also be
able to photograph the comings and goings of people that visit or work in
the building during the day.
Some photographers love to explore and photograph abandoned

buildings. With these types of photos, you can provide a window into the
past. De nitely make sure you gain permission before entering an
abandoned building and take caution since some can have unsafe
elements and structures.
6. Historic Site or Landmark Photo Essay

Taking a series of photos of a historic site or landmark can be a great
experience. You can learn to capture the same site from di erent angles
to help portray its character and tell its story. And you can also
photograph how people visit and engage with the site or landmark. Take
photos at di erent times of day and in varied lighting to capture all its
nuances and moods.
You can also use your photographic essay to help your audience
understand the history of your chosen location. For example, if you want
to provide perspective on the Civil War, a visit to a battleground can be
meaningful. You can also visit a site when reenactors are present to
share insight on how life used to be in days gone by.
7. Behind the Scenes Photo Essay

Another fun essay idea is taking photos “behind the scenes” at an event.
Maybe you can chronicle all the work that goes into a holiday festival
from the early morning set-up to the late-night teardown. Think of the
lead event planner as the main character of your story and build the
story about him or her.
Or, you can go backstage at a drama production. Capture photos of

actors and actresses as they transform their looks with costuming and
makeup. Show the lead nervously pacing in the wings before taking
center stage. Focus the work of stagehands, lighting designers, and
makeup artists who never see the spotlight but bring a vital role in
bringing the play to life.
8. Family Photo Essay

If you enjoy photographing people, why not explore photo story ideas
about families and relationships? You can focus on interactions between
two family members—such as a father and a daughter—or convey a
message about a family as a whole.
Sometimes these type of photo essays can be all about the fun and joy of
living in a close-knit family. But sometimes they can be powerful portraits
of challenging social topics. Images of a family from another country can
be a meaningful photo essay on immigration. You could also create a
photo essay on depression by capturing families who are coping with one
member’s illness.
For these projects on di cult topics, you may want to compose a photo
essay with captions. These captions can feature quotes from family
members or document your own observations. Although approaching

hard topics isn’t easy, these types of photos can have lasting impact and
value.
9. Education Photo Essay

Opportunities for education photo essays are everywhere—from small
preschools to community colleges and universities. You can seek
permission to take photos at public or private schools or even focus on
alternative educational paths, like homeschooling.
Your education photo essay can take many forms. For example, you can
design a photo essay of an experienced teacher at a high school. Take
photos of him or her in action in the classroom, show quiet moments
grading papers, and capture a shared laugh between colleagues in the
teacher’s lounge.
Alternatively, you can focus on a speci c subject—such as science and

technology. Or aim to portray a speci c grade level, document activities
club or sport, or portray the social environment. A photo essay on food
choices in the cafeteria can be thought-provoking or even funny. There
are many potential directions to pursue and many great essay examples.
While education is an excellent topic for a photo essay for students,

education can be a great source of inspiration for any photographer.
Why Should You Create a Photo

Essay?
Ultimately, photographers are storytellers. Think of what a photographer
does during a typical photo shoot. He or she will take a series of photos
that helps convey the essence of the subject—whether that is a person,
location, or inanimate object. For example, a family portrait session tells
the story of a family—who they are, their personalities, and the closeness
of their relationship.
Learning how to make a photo essay can help you become a better
storyteller—and a better photographer. You’ll cultivate key photography
skills that you can carry with you no matter where your photography
journey leads.
If you simply want to document life’s moments on social media, you may
nd that a single picture doesn’t always tell the full story. Reviewing
photo essay examples and experimenting with your own essay ideas can
help you choose meaningful collections of photos to share with friends

and family online.
Learning how to create photo essays can also help you work towards
professional photography ambitions. You’ll often nd that bloggers tell
photographic stories. For example, think of cooking blogs that show you
each step in making a recipe. Photo essays are also a mainstay of
journalism. You’ll often nd photo essays examples in many media
outlets—everywhere from national magazines to local community
newspapers. And the best travel photographers on Instagram tell great
stories with their photos, too.
With a photo essay, you can explore many moods and emotions. Some of
the best photo essays tell serious stories, but some are humorous, and
others aim to evoke action.
You can raise awareness with a photo essay on racism or a photo essay
on poverty. A photo essay on bullying can help change the social climate
for students at a school. Or, you can document a fun day at the beach or
an amusement park. You have control of the themes, photographic
elements, and the story you want to tell.
5 Steps to Create a Photo Essay

Every photo essay will be di erent, but you can use a standard process.
Following these ve steps will guide you through every phase of your
photo essay project—from brainstorming creative essay topics to
creating a photo essay to share with others.
Step 1: Choose Your Photo Essay Topics

Just about any topic you can imagine can form the foundation for a photo
essay. You may choose to focus on a speci c event, such as a wedding,
performance, or festival. Or you may want to cover a topic over a set
span of time, such as documenting a child’s rst year. You could also
focus on a city or natural area across the seasons to tell a story of
changing activities or landscapes.
Since the best photo essays convey meaning and emotion, choose a topic
of interest. Your passion for the subject matter will shine through each
photograph and touch your viewer’s hearts and minds.
Step 2: Conduct Upfront Research

Much of the work in a good-quality photo essay begins before you take
your rst photo. It’s always a good idea to do some research on your
planned topic.
Imagine you’re going to take photos of a downtown area throughout the

year. You should spend some time learning the history of the area. Talk
with local residents and business owners and nd out about planned
events. With these insights, you’ll be able to plan ahead and be prepared
to take photos that re ect the area’s unique personality and lifestyles.
For any topic you choose, gather information rst. This may involve
internet searches, library research, interviews, or spending time
observing your subject.
Step 3: Storyboard Your Ideas

After you have done some research and have a good sense of the story
you want to tell, you can create a storyboard. With a storyboard, you can
write or sketch out the ideal pictures you want to capture to convey your
message.
You can turn your storyboard into a “shot list” that you can bring with you
on site. A shot list can be especially helpful when you are at a one-time
event and want to capture speci c shots for your photo essay. If you’ve
never created a photo essay before, start with ten shot ideas. Think of
each shot as a sentence in your story. And aim to make each shot evoke
speci c ideas or emotions.
Step 4: Capture Images

Your storyboard and shot list will be important guides to help you make
the most of each shoot. Be sure to set aside enough time to capture all
the shots you need—especially if you are photographing a one-time
event. And allow yourself to explore your ideas using di erent
photography composition, perspective, and color contrast techniques.
You may need to take a hundred images or more to get ten perfect ones
for your photographic essay. Or, you may nd that you want to add more
photos to your story and expand your picture essay concept.
Also, remember to look for special unplanned, moments that help tell
your story. Sometimes, spontaneous photos that aren’t on your shot list
can be full of meaning. A mix of planning and exibility almost always
yields the best results.
Step 5: Edit and Organize Photos to Tell

Your Story
After capturing your images, you can work on compiling your photo story.
To create your photo essay, you will need to make decisions about which
images portray your themes and messages. At times, this can mean
setting aside beautiful images that aren’t a perfect t. You can use your
shot list and storyboard as a guide but be open to including photos that
weren’t in your original plans.
You may want to use photo editing software—such as Adobe Lightroom

or Photoshop— to enhance and change photographs. With these tools,
you can adjust lighting and white balance, perform color corrections,
crop, or perform other edits. If you have a signature photo editing style,
you may want to use Photoshop Actions or Lightroom Presets to give all
your photos a consistent look and feel.
You order a photo book from one of the best photo printing websites to
publish your photo story. You can add them to an album on a photo
sharing site, such as Flickr or Google Photos. Also, you could focus on
building a website dedicated to documenting your concepts through
visual photo essays. If so, you may want to use SEO for photographers to
improve your website’s ranking in search engine results. You could even
publish your photo essay on social media. Another thing to consider is
whether you want to include text captures or simply tell your story
through photographs.
Choose the medium that feels like the best space to share your photo
essay ideas and vision with your audiences. You should think of your
photo essay as your own personal form of art and expression when
deciding where and how to publish it.
Photo Essays Can Help You Become

a Better Photographer
Whatever your photography ambitions may be, learning to take a photo
essay can help you grow. Even simple essay topics can help you gain skills
and stretch your photographic limits. With a photo essay, you start to
think about how a series of photographs work together to tell a complete
story. You’ll consider how di erent shots work together, explore options
for perspective and composition, and change the way you look at the
world.
Before you start taking photos, you should review photo essay examples.
You can nd interesting pictures to analyze and photo story examples
online, in books, or in classic publications, like Life Magazine. Don’t forget
to look at news websites for photojournalism examples to broaden your
perspective. This review process will help you in brainstorming simple
essay topics for your rst photo story and give you ideas for the future as
well.
Ideas and inspiration for photo essay topics are everywhere. You can visit
a park or go out into your own backyard to pursue a photo essay on
nature. Or, you can focus on the day in the life of someone you admire
with a photo essay of a teacher, reman, or community leader. Buildings,
events, families, and landmarks are all great subjects for concept essay
topics. If you are feeling stuck coming up with ideas for essays, just set
aside a few hours to walk around your city or town and take photos. This
type of photowalk can be a great source of material.
You’ll soon nd that advanced planning is critical to your success.

Brainstorming topics, conducting research, creating a storyboard, and
outlining a shot list can help ensure you capture the photos you need to
tell your story. After you’ve nished shooting, you’ll need to decide where
to house your photo essay. You may need to come up with photo album
title ideas, write captions, and choose the best medium and layout.
Without question, creating a photo essay can be a valuable experience

for any photographer. That’s true whether you’re an amateur completing
a high school assignment or a pro looking to hone new skills. You can
start small with an essay on a subject you know well and then move into
conquering di cult ideas. Maybe you’ll want to create a photo essay on
mental illness or a photo essay on climate change. Or maybe there’s
another cause that is close to your heart.
Whatever your passion, you can bring it to life with a photo essay.
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest
LinkedIn
dantol
View all posts by dantol
JOIN OVER 95,023 and receive weekly updates!
Enter your email address...
Subscribe
Comments are closed.
Stay Tuned
“ Photo Contest Insider
Follow @PhotoCompNet
 SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEED
Newsletter
GET THE LATEST - PHOTO
CONTESTS - VIA EMAIL FOR FREE
Join over 95,023 of your peers & get new
contests via email
Enter your email address...
Subscribe
Search
Photo Contest Insider

The world’s largest collection of Photo
Contests!
Photo contests are manually reviewed by our team to

ensure only the very best make it on to our website.
It’s our policy to only list photo contests that are fair.
Read More
SUBSCRIPTION DISCLAIMER: COMPANY
Photo Contest Insider has prepared the Photo Contest
Enter your email address
content of this website responsibly and
Filter
carefully, but disclaims all warranties,
Subscribe
express or implied, as to the accuracy of All Photo Contests
Register now to get updates on the information contained in any of the Get FREE Contest
promotions and o ers materials on this website or on other
linked websites or on any subsequent Updates
links. The competitions, organisations, Blog
companies listed does not constitute an
Photo Contest Tips
endorsement by Photo Contest Insider.
Photo Contest Insider © 2009 - 2021

Advertise Submit Badges Help Cookie / Privacy Terms
Home
Filter Photo Contests
All Photo Contests
Get FREE Contest Updates
Blog
Photo Contest Tips
Photography Deals
About
Help
Add Contest
Advertise

What Is A Photo Essay 9 Photo Essay Examples You Can Recreate - Photo Contest Insider

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

What Is A Photo Essay 9 Photo Essay Examples You Can Recreate - Photo Contest Insider

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

3/6/2021 What is a Photo Essay?

9 Photo Essay Examples You Can Recreate - Photo Contest Insider

ABOUT HELP ADD CONTEST ADVERTISE REGISTER LOG IN

Photo Contest Insider

HOME FILTER PHOTO CONTESTS ALL PHOTO CONTESTS

What is a Photo Essay? 9

A photo essay is a series of photographs that tell a story. Unlike a written

9 Photo Essay Examples You Can

To explore narrative photography, you can use basic photographic

9 Photo Essay Examples You Can

1. Photowalk Photo Essay

2. Transformation Photo Essay

You can also create a photo narrative to document a short-term change.

3. Day in the Life Photo Essay

With this photostory example, your narrative focuses on a speci c subject

4. Event Photo Essay

At most events, your primary emphasis will be on capturing candid

5. Building Photo Essay

Some photographers love to explore and photograph abandoned

6. Historic Site or Landmark Photo Essay

7. Behind the Scenes Photo Essay

Or, you can go backstage at a drama production. Capture photos of

8. Family Photo Essay

members or document your own observations. Although approaching

9. Education Photo Essay

Alternatively, you can focus on a speci c subject—such as science and

While education is an excellent topic for a photo essay for students,

Why Should You Create a Photo

help you choose meaningful collections of photos to share with friends

5 Steps to Create a Photo Essay

Step 1: Choose Your Photo Essay Topics

Step 2: Conduct Upfront Research

Imagine you’re going to take photos of a downtown area throughout the

Step 3: Storyboard Your Ideas

Step 4: Capture Images

Step 5: Edit and Organize Photos to Tell

You may want to use photo editing software—such as Adobe Lightroom

Photo Essays Can Help You Become

You’ll soon nd that advanced planning is critical to your success.

Without question, creating a photo essay can be a valuable experience

Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest

View all posts by dantol

JOIN OVER 95,023 and receive weekly updates!

Enter your email address...

Comments are closed.

“ Photo Contest Insider

 SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEED

Enter your email address...

Photo Contest Insider

Photo contests are manually reviewed by our team to

Photo Contest Insider © 2009 - 2021

You might also like