Caption Writing
Telling Stories With Photography
What Is A Caption?
• A short description or title accompanying an
illustration in a printed text
• Also called a “cutline”
• Can draw attention to something not
obvious
• It provides the context for a picture by
answering the 5W’s
• Caption writing involves interviewing,
drafting, rewriting and editing
Types of Captions
• Basic
– Describes the moment captured in the photo
– One sentence written in present tense
• Expanded
– Answers the 5W’s with background information
and/or a quote
– Two or more sentences
• First sentence is in present tense
• Subsequent sentences are in past tense
We write expanded with 3!
Lead-ins
• Lead-ins are headlines for your caption
• Consist of attention-grabbing words or
phrases
• Depending on your publication, can be
alliterative or descriptive
– We are either one
• Are no more than three words
– Sparkling Skyscraper
– Warning Web
– Academic Achiever
Caption Writing Must-Do’s
• Avoid stating the obvious
– Tell the reader something they can’t see by
looking at the photo
– Captions that include “looking into the camera”
or “posing for a photo” will earn an F
• Identify all people in the picture who are
seen clearly
• Using quotes in a caption adds a personal
voice
Let’s Do
One
Before you start
• Interview people in
the photo as well as
those associated with the
activity
– The director, other actors,
backstage workers, the
audience
• Make sure you know
when the photo was
taken along with who
took it
Sentence 1: What
are the 5w’s?
• Using first and last
names, identify everyone
in the photo (up to five)
• Accurately describe
the action in the photo
using the 5Ws
• Make sure that verb is
present tense!
• Who:
Sentence 1: What
are the 5w’s?
– Ineke Sproet (11) playing afflicted
teenager Betty Parris, Taylen Bellow
(11) playing housekeeper Tituba and
Chelsea Haynes (12) playing
manipulative neighbor Abigail
Williams
• What:
– Pretending to be possessed by
witchcraft during the RPHS
production of “The Crucible”
• When:
– November
• Where:
– RPHS
• Why:
– To rebel against their strict religious
society
Heeeeeere’s….Sentence 1!
Betty Parris, portrayed by
Ineke Sproet (11), Tituba,
played by Taylen Bellow
(11) and Abigail Williams,
portrayed by Chelsea
Haynes (12), fall into fits
during the November
presentation of “The
Crucible.”
The verb is “fall”
Let’s write Sentence 2!
• Write another sentence
in past tense that contains
additional information
• Tell the reader something
they cannot see
• Get the inside scoop and
appeal to the intelligent,
curious reader
– That means dig up some good
stuff!
Heeeeeere’s….Sentence 2!
Arthur miller is
the playwright
The Arthur Miller play
dramatized the Salem
witch trials of 1692.
The verb is “dramatized”
Let’s write Sentence 3!
• Include any pertinent
supplemental information
• It can include a quote
– Quotes should always be split
– Quotes should always use
“said”
• Quote attribution depends
on the publication
– “Attribution” is who said the
quote
– We use FIRST LAST on first
reference, and LAST on
subsequent references
– This applies to teachers as
well
Heeeeeere’s….Sentence 3!
Split quote includes part before
the attribution and part after
“The Crucible is a
difficult production,”
said director Brook
Aurand. “I am so
proud of the hard
work our students put
in.”
“said director
brook aurand” is
the attribution
Let’s write the lead-in!
• Write down some
words that are
represented in the photo
– Theatre
– Crucible
– Witchcraft
– Salem
– Manipulation
– Puritan
Lead-In ideas
Puritan Paradox
Manipulative Maidens
Wicked Witchcraft
Invented Illness
Religious Rebellion
Afflicted Agitators
Put all three together
• Sentence 1
– Betty Parris, portrayed by Ineke
Sproet (11), Tituba, played by
Taylen Bellow (11) and Abigail
Williams, portrayed by Chelsea
Haynes (12), fall into fits during
the November presentation of
“The Crucible.”
• Sentence 2
– The Arthur Miller play dramatized
the Salem witch trials of 1692.
• Sentence 3
– “The Crucible is a difficult
production,” said director Brook
Aurand. “I am so proud of the hard
work our students put in.”
Final Caption
PURITAN PARADOX Betty
Parris, portrayed by Ineke Sproet
(11), Tituba, played by Taylen Bellow
(11) and Abigail Williams, portrayed
by Chelsea Haynes (12), fall into fits
during the November presentation of
“The Crucible.” The Arthur Miller
play dramatized the Salem witch
trials of 1692. “The Crucible is a
difficult production,” said director
Brook Aurand. “I am so proud of the
hard work our students put in.”
What’s Wrong With This
Where are their
Caption?
grades?
Amanda Guijosa,
Allen Barahona
Where is
and Amelia
the leadin?
Alvarez pause to
take a photo
during the
yearbook holi
powder shoot.
“pause to take a
photo”…tell the
reader something
they don’t know!
Where is the
supplemental
information? No
quote?
What’s Wrong With This
Caption?
Taking photos before
prom, Leanne
Where is
Hrebenar (12)
the leadin?
smoothed out date
Justin Farrar’s hair. “I
wanted him to look
perfect for our photo,”
she said.
Where is his grade?
“smoothed” is past tense. The
first sentence should only be
present tense.
What’s Wrong With This
Caption?
Where is
the leadin?
Varsity cheerleader
Mackenzie Bramlett
(11) acknowledges the
crowd as she is
introduced during the
Tomball game.
Bramlett also takes
gymnastics.
Second sentence
should always be
in past tense
Does this
sentence
help tell
the story?
Assignment 1: caption
writing
• Using the captions on the next page, identify
what is incorrect about each and write a new,
correct caption
– Don’t forget the captions do’s and don’t’s and AP
style
• Create a Word document titled [last name]
captions 1 and save to your H drive. Submit to
Mrs. J via Google Drive
• Assignment is due at midnight on Monday,
January 12, 2015
“Captions 1” assignment
1.
A giant Uncle Sam balloon marched
down 6th Avenue during the Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade. This
marks the 87th year for the annual
New York event.
2.
A woman looks at what is left of her
home after it was destroyed during a
tornado in Washington, Ill., on Nov.
19. Rescue workers were combing
through the wreckage in the wake of
a fast-moving storm that killed eight
people in two states.
Assignment 2: caption
writing
• Select five photos that you took yourself or are
from an event that you took place in
• Insert each photo into a Word document
• Based on what you know about the 5Ws in the
photo, write an expanded caption
– Make sure to include a quote
• Title your document [last name] captions 2 and
save to your H drive
• Submit to Mrs. J via Google Drive by midnight
Tuesday, January 13, 2015