Photo Story Topics

Personal Conflict or Experience

• People relate to people, whether it is your neighbor or someone who lives in a foreign country. A common theme in photo essays is about personal experience or conflict. An individual who is battling cancer or overcoming physical limitations to achieve an objective are examples of topics that could translate well into a photo story.

Group Achievement

• There are many examples of group achievement that could have been an interesting photo story. The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that overcome the odds to win the gold medal is a good example. A local charity holding an event to raise money to fund the building of house for a family is another example.

Political or Community Leaders

• Political or community leaders who are actively involved in events to change their community or region is another story you can tell. It may be challenging to show visually, and may take years to complete. But, if you are able to show the before and after of the community or region as changes take place, it could make for a compelling story.

Medical Missions

• Surgeons from first-world countries travel to developing nations to perform surgeries and to teach the skills to perform these operations. These trips are usually run by an organization. Contacting this organization with your idea to photograph one of their missions for a photo story may land the opportunity to travel on one of these missions. In most cases, these organizations are registered charities that rely on fundraising. You may have to make a contribution, pay your own costs, or perhaps make an agreement to provide the charity with copies of your pictures.