Writing Captions
Follow along with your notes
The first sentence
• The first sentence of the caption describes
what the photo shows, in the present tense,
and states where and when the photo was
made.
• Should begin with introductory phrase
• First 2-5 words will be the caption lead-in (aka
ROCKET) ; these words grab reader’s attention
& link the photo with the rest of the caption
• Identify the people and action of the photo
• Avoid stating the obvious (“looking into the
camera…”
• Avoid starting the sentence with a person’s
name
• If there are more than 7; identify main
participants (always left to right)
The second and any remaining
• The second sentence of the caption gives
background on the news event or describes
why the photo is significant.
• Past tense
• Provide background info; consider action
before the photo and reaction after
• Interview the people in the photo to grain
perspective
• Use colorful and active VERBS!
Additional Guidelines
• Vary caption lead-ins
• Don’t use joke captions- ethical/legal probs!
• Avoid editorializing; allow action and background
info in photo to tell the story- meaning NO
OPINIONS!
• Be consistent/ follow standards
• Always include a photo credit (the photo-by
should be in italics)
• Use quotes to add personal touch
• Font that should be used- sans serif in 8 point size
• Use an INDENT when there is little space on
layout but you still want to identify people in the
photo
Types
• Indent Caption- used when there is little
space on a layout but you still want to identify
the people in the photo.
• Summary- Highlights the most important 5
W’s & H.
• Expanded- answer’s the Big 6, provides
additional info/ details like background info
and quotes.
Standard AP Caption
The Mississippi River flows through a hole in the
Sny Island, Ill., levee, flooding farmland and
homes 10 miles south of Quincy, Ill., Sunday,
July 25, 1993. About 2,000 people were
evacuated from the 44,000 acres that flooded.
(AP Photo/Bill Waugh)
Bad examples
• Example: (bad) HE’S OUT. Chuck jumps and throws
toward first. (be specific)
• Example: (bad) OUCH! Oxford High bicyclist crashes.
(tell something other than the obvious)
• Example: (bad) AMY ROSSFIELD gets ready for
practice. (continue the story begun by the picture)
Good Examples
• Example: (good) UP AND OVER. Shortstop Chuck Davidson
avoids Dan Gladden’s rolling slide and makes the throw to
first to complete the ninth inning double play which sealed
Oakland’s 3-2 win over Birkdale Twins in the sub district
playoffs.
• Example: (good) DOWN AND OUT. Senior cycling team
captain Bob Everitt takes it on the chin after cutting the final
corner too close in a duel with Mosby High’s Steve Sherrill at
the season’s first race. After a trip to the hospital and 10
stitches, Bob went on to win five races for the year and led
the team to an overall second place finish in the region.
• Example: (good) DAILY ROUTINE. Junior Amy Rossfield
prepares for her afternoon practice. “Since I won the state
dance competition last year,” she said, “I look forward to
practice because I want to win again.”
Firefighters extinguish a blaze that began when
a woman apparently feel asleep after lighting a
candle early Tuesday morning. (AJC)
Good Samaritan Ali Robinson, 53, rushed to
the aid of an elderly man who fell off a MARTA
platform onto the train tracks at the Little Five
Points station on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.
(AJC)
Director Oliver Stone poses for the
photographers during a photo-call for the new
movie 'Wall Street, Money Never Sleeps' in
Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010. (AP
Photo/Michael Sohn)
Captivating Captions Activity
• Look at chosen picture
• Answer as many questions as you can
• Conduct research on the picture to figure out
who it is (ask the questions as if you could)
• Brainstorm lead-ins
• Write a draft of your caption
• Fill in the Big 6 and Caption draft on sheet
provided