How to make your photos tell stories?

is the hero in the photo? Or a specific color and shooting angle? What's the secret to getting a photo in a newspaper or magazine? What is the secret to making a photo full of impact? There is only one truth about all the secrets above-it can make photos tell stories. Since ancient times, people will sit around the fire and share their stories with each other. It doesn't matter who is photographed in the photo. If you want to be a good photographer, you must be good at telling stories first. A photo with a story, which embodies feelings and curiosity, can stand out from a large number of pictures and catch the attention of the audience. Then the next question is, what makes the photo "visually narrative"? In most cases, it is the emotion generated by the picture. This kind of emotion can make people understand, arouse curiosity, or even convey some negative emotions such as anger. Even if you take macro or scenery photos, it is best to let the photos tell the story. However, for me, the most suitable theme is the photos of the characters, because the characters themselves have a lot of feelings. Here are five tips that can make you take photos with "stories" in your travel photography. 1. Need preparation In most fields, the difference between amateurs and professionals often lies in preparation. Professional photographers started working before they left home, while amateurs just stood there waiting for something to happen. Professional photographers will collect information in advance, look for potential shooting content during the trip, and do it according to the plan, so as to improve the success rate of taking good photos. What are the things worth investigating before traveling? Here are some examples: Are there any local activities or festivals during your stay? Festivals are always a good place to take photos. Are there any local shooting or cultural taboos? For example, the Gaoshan people in the mountainous areas of Asia believe that taking photos will take their souls with them. The best way to get this information is to listen to the advice of photographers with the same experience. Online photography forums will be very helpful. Still want to take your shooting a step further? You can make an in-depth trip in the local area and read some materials about local culture and history. You'd better learn a little simple local language. People are easier to get close to people who speak the local language. Simple words like "hello", "thank you" and "can I take a picture for you" will be very helpful. 2. It may be safer to shoot people from a distance with a telephoto lens, and it won't be a big problem, but there is no better shooting method than being close to someone. Sometimes I shoot people from only a few centimeters apart. I will first establish contact with people, let them know that I have no bad intentions, and then find moments worth shooting from their daily lives. I never hang my camera around my neck to get close to others. This will make others feel nervous and cause adverse reactions. After greeting in the local language, I will sit with them for a while and let them get used to the camera and me before starting shooting. Always remember that people don't like the feeling of being displayed in front of you. The best way to break the barrier with others is to ask a local for help, which is what we will talk about below. 3. The best "icebreaker" professional photographer will turn to people-local people who understand the photographer's needs and can provide tour guides and other services. You can find these tour guides or develop your own, which is more interesting and free in most cases. You can make friends with your local peers. They can take you to the best local places and teach you to speak the local language. All you need to do is to be polite. It would be perfect if you could find a photographer as your guide. 4. Does the story maker feel unable to find the direction? Not satisfied with your photos? You can try the "story maker"-any place where people gather: the market, the central square or the festival celebration site. Stay alert and keep your eyes open, and the story will appear in front of you. You just have to choose the place you are interested in. It can be a church, a busy street, a beach or a strange building. Finally, we said that it is necessary to make preparations for taking good photos, but sometimes you also need to throw away the guidebook and just walk around the streets looking for unexpected highlights. Although you are wandering around, don't forget to ask in advance which places you can't go, and also find out the time of the last bus.