3 ways to capture your story

We're at the end of January, how is your project coming along? When you look at your ever growing set of photos, are you starting to see a story develop? It is right about this point last year where I decided to tweak my own rules because I wasn't happy with how my project was coming together. Making the decision to use 3 photos every week instead of just 1 was the best idea I had all year. Is it time to adjust how you're approaching youur own project? Don't be shy about mixing things up, changing your rules, starting over if you have to. 

Every week when I choose my 3 photos for my project 52, I try to compose a story of our lives from that time frame. Last week our family movie party took center stage. 

My girls LOVE popcorn. So much so, that the little one happily sat next to big sister on the couch just to be closer to that big yellow bowl of buttery goodness. They honestly didn't even notice me snapping away with my camera they were so mesmerized with their salty treat.

Would any one of these images have covered the story? Maybe, but I personally love the trio of images each with it's own angle. The cooking of the popcorn where I know my daughter is behind me eagerly counting while it pops. The shot of their hands together in the bowl. Both of them popcorn to mouth staring rapt at their movie. Any one of these would have brought back a memory, but the set tells a story to me about what a Friday night movie date is like at our house.

3 things to look for when trying to capture your story:

1. Non-person elements add texture and detail to your set: Food, nature, clothing, accessories, shoes, toys, furniture, etc. Anything that says: time or place or represents your subject without actually showing your subject.

2. Change your perspective: Shooting at eye level let me capture the popcorn as it just started to overflow the pot. Shooting down let me capture the girls's hands and the tiny one's feet while cropping their heads so the bowl of popcorn becomes the subject.

3. Look for an action: Some people may call this a candid, but look for your story while it's actually happening. I love posed pictures plenty, but the girls actually eating their popcorn while staring off the image at the tv showcases a private quiet moment between the two of them that just wouldn't be the same if they were both smiling right at the camera.

Do you have a favorite story image from your set? Link to it in the comments below!