The Importance of
Good
CAPTIONS!
Captions answer 5 Ws & H
Complete & accurate reporting
Attend activity or event
Interview subjects in photo
Interview subjects involved not in
photo
Get photographer’s notes
Research history of photo story
Great photos raise questions
Ask the Questions
Quality questions get quality answers
Who
What
When
Where
Why
How
Tell readers about the event
Describe the best memories of the event
Tell us something we can’t see from photo
Get the Answers
Who: Junior Jeremy Sinclair
What: Swims with turtles/sea creatures
When: SeaSplash field trip
Where: Wildlife Refuge Park
Why: Student biologists field trip
How: Won “SeaSplash” competition
“The whole trip was so much fun. It wasn’t
just an in and out rushed tour; we stayed all
day and asked tons of questions about what
we had heard about at school,” said
sophomore Julie Chan
All the write words
Lead-in can be used if desired, like a
mini-headline
Attention-getting word or phrase relating to the
action/reaction of the photo
Primary sentence
Reports the most important 5Ws & H, showcases
the most important aspect in first 5-7 words & is
in present tense
Secondary sentence(s)
Provides details not obvious in the photo
(when/why/how) & written in past tense
Ident captions: Use sparingly, if at all….and only
for very small photos.
Idents
Junior Jeremy Sinclair
OR
Junior Jeremy Sinclair | Biology field
trip
OR
Junior Jeremy Sinclair | Biology field
trip at Wildlife Refuge Park
Summary captions
BUBBLICIOUS
As the winner of “SeaSplash,”
junior Jeremy Sinclair swims with
the turtles as well as schools of
underwater creatures.
Expanded captions
BUBBLICIOUS
As the winner of “SeaSplash,”
junior Jeremy Sinclair swims with
the turtles as well as schools of
underwater creatures. For over 30
minutes, Jeremy experienced sea
life as a part of the Wildlife Refuge
Park field trip. In addition to the sea
adventure, student biologists
toured the jungle rainforest and
exotic aviary sanctuary. “The whole
trip was so much fun. It wasn’t just
an in and out rushed tour; we
stayed all day and asked tons of
questions about what we had
heard about at school,” said
sophomore Julie Chan.
Quote captions
BUBBLICIOUS
“At first I was really, really scared
even though I have snorkeled all
of my life. I think what made me
nervous was just knowing that all
my friends were watching to see if
I panicked as I swam with all the
exotic fish. There was no way I
was going in the shark tank.”
–Junior Jeremy Sinclair
Collective captions
FRAMED. Freshman Trey
Whitman checks the wood cut
on his latest woodworking
project. SMOOTH MOVES.
A special clinic at the
Performing Arts Center refines
dance technique for seniors
Lissette Colver and Meredith
Moore. LOOK UP. Studying
an outdoor sculpture,
sophomore Beth Ann Terry
classifies it as “modern.”
Group captions
FRESHMAN KEY CLUB -- Front Row: John Cutsinger, Shannon Williams, Rick Brooks,
David Klecka. Row 2: Cody Cleavelin, Mitch Lorenz, Mike Hill, Kurt Idler, Bruce Nyman…
Row 3: Alex Brunner, Rinn Cleavelin, Herb Stokes, Jimmy Browning. Back Row: Mark
Herron, Steve Wirrig, Jack Wilson, Kevin Grandpre, Adam Richards, Blake Harrop, Adviser
Steve West. Not Pictured: Mr. Eric Howard, Miss Angela Creech, Mr. Tim Ross.
Writing & Editing Guidelines
Refine captions for strong appeal
•Keep captions factual; no editorializing
•Include honest facts, figures & feelings
•Go beyond the obvious; capture outcome or
consequences of the action
•Write first sentence in present tense;
subsequent
sentences in past tense
•Use visual nouns & action verbs
•Avoid repetition of words
•Avoid beginning with names
•Avoid school name, initials, mascot
•Maintain style consistency
Tips for writing
Don’t begin all your captions in the same
way.
Vary grammatical patterns. For example,
use subordinate clauses or infinitives to
begin captions.
Avoid beginning captions with participles,
articles, prepositions or a student’s name.
Avoid “be” verbs as main verbs.
Tips for writing
Do not use the name of the school, the
mascot name or the school year in your
captions.
Avoid the words “this year.”
Don’t editorialize. (Example: Way to go!,
Go, band!, The team had a great year.,
Everybody enjoyed the dance.
Tips for writing
Don’t use gag captions or state the obvious.
Identify everyone (not just students) in the
photo with first and last names unless you
have a large crowd shot.
Everyone in the photos should also have an
identifier like Coach Joe Smith,
Superintendent Ron Cabrera.
Practice Makes Perfect!
Write a Caption
Who: Sisters Jasmine and Tracey Powell
What: Homecoming Queen coronation
When: October 12, 2008
Where: John Henry Football Stadium
Why: Tracey crowns Jasmine
How: Jasmine wins 78% of student body vote
“I’m not sure if I’ve ever experienced more of a
surprise than when they announced my name. I
truly had no idea I had a chance. The fact that my
sister was there to relinquish her crown made the
evening amazing.”
Practice Writing
Write one each of the following:
Ident
Summary
Expanded
Fix this Caption!
Seniors Katrina Johnson and
Molly West have some fun
before an assembly.