Capturing the Soul | Storytelling Photography

Good stories vs poor stories — is "good" and "bad" in photography really as subjective as people say? Stephen explores where the line actually falls and what it means for the photos you take

The three questions every photographer should ask — before you press the shutter on any meaningful shot, there are specific questions Stephen poses to himself. Find out what they are and why they change everything

Finding your main character — do you know who or what your photograph is actually about? We'll look at why getting this wrong is one of the most common storytelling mistakes, and how to get it right

Setting the scene — Stephen uses a theatre analogy to break down exactly how to think about background, foreground and your subject, and why treating a photo like a stage set makes a real difference

Background decisions — your background is either helping your story or fighting against it. Discover the specific choices that make a background work in your favour, and the ones that quietly ruin a shot

Emotional response and visual journey — what makes someone linger on a photograph rather than scroll past it? Stephen reveals the storytelling elements that pull people in and keep them looking

Real-world image analysis — Stephen deconstructs actual photographs from iPhotography members and professionals to show exactly where storytelling works and where it breaks down