What is a Photo Essay?

photo by Chris_Kreymborg via iStock

As we’re considering all of the various aspects of what is a photo essay, one thing that pops up in my mind is how valuable a learning tool creating photo essays can be for beginner photographers. It will also help any newcomers to videography to see how to plan out a story.

Some of the skills that are in play when learning how to shoot a photo essay are lighting, focus effects, taking care of background or foreground elements, maintaining high resolution, composing properly, and probably about 9 other things I’m leaving out.

Have fun with it, do several different photo essays. Try out something light first, like a day in the life of a pillbug, and then get deeper or more involved in other photo essay projects. As an example of a photo essay or two you’ve already seen, take a look at my processing editing studio upgrade article or our Metal Print Shootout.

Once you’ve done a couple of your own photo essays, go online to find some examples of what other photographers have done, including some of the Old Masters (Eisenstadt, Weston, Lange, Parks, Cartier-Bresson, Avedon, etc…) with their street photography, portrait work, and photojournalism. Their work just might inspire you. It does me.

Learn More:How to Use Contrast for Better Photos Effective Ways to Learn Photography