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Essays About Photography: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

Discover the joy of photography by reading our guide on how to write essays about photography, including top essay examples and writing prompts. 

It is truly remarkable what pictures can tell you about the time they were taken and their subjects. For example, a well-taken photograph can expose the horrors of conflict in a war-torn country or the pain endured by victims of racial persecution. At the same time, it can also evoke a mother’s joy after seeing her newborn baby for the first time. Photography is crucial to preserving precious moments that deserve to be remembered.

Photography can be considered a form of art. So much intent is put into a picture’s composition, subject, angle, and lighting. There is a lot of talent, thought, and hard work that goes into photography to produce such thought-provoking images, 

If you are writing essays about photography, you can start by reading some examples. 

Grammarly

5 Essay Examples To Inspire You

1. why photography is a great hobby by lillie lane, 2. the importance of photography by emily holty, 3. why i love photography by bob locher.

  • 4.  The Shocking History Of Death Photography by Yewande Ade
  • 5. ​​Fashion photography by Sara Page

5 Helpful Prompts On Essays About Photography

1. what is your favorite thing to photograph, 2. why is photography so important, 3. should photography be considered an art form, 4. different types of photography, 5. interpretations of photographs.

“Be imaginative when writing your shots. Photography is about the impact of your chances. The odds are good that nobody will care to check over your picture When it is an item in a background. Discover how to produce a fantastic photograph, and take these skills and use them.”

Lane gives readers tips on taking better photos in this essay. These include keeping balance, choosing a subject widely, investing in certain pieces of equipment, and using the appropriate settings for taking pictures. She stresses that photos must appear as natural as possible, and following her advice may help people to get good pictures. 

“No matter where you go photography plays into your life somehow. We don’t realize how big of an impact photography truly has on us until we see the details of our life hidden in a photograph. When you flip through your photo album and start looking for those details you suddenly realize you are truly blessed. A photograph keeps a moment frozen in time so we have it forever. Something like joy becomes clearer as we look deeper into the photograph.”

Holty does an excellent job of describing what makes photography so appealing to many people. You can take a picture of anything you want if you want to remember it, and photos help us look at the intricacies and details of what we see around us every day. Photography also helps us keep memories in our heads and hearts as time passes by, and most of all, it allows us to document the greatness of our world. It is ever-present in our lives, and we will keep taking photos the more adventures we have. 

“Every day in normal circumstances people take thousands of pictures of the Grand Canyon. It takes very little thought to realize that few if any of these pictures will be in any way noteworthy above pictures already taken. But that said, they are OUR pictures, our personal affirmation of the wonderful scene stretched out below us, and that gives them a special validity for us.”

Locher reflects on the role photography played in his life and why he enjoys it so much, partly due to his spirituality. He previously worked in the photographic equipment business and rekindled his love for photography in his 60s. Photography, to him, is a way of affirming and acknowledging God’s creations around him and appreciating the natural world. He also briefly discusses the importance of equipment and post-editing; however, no photo is perfect. 

4.   The Shocking History Of Death Photography by Yewande Ade

“In fact, it was easier for the photographer if the dead person was in a sleeping position because there would be no need to put him or her in an appropriate position or prop the eyes open. The restful pose gave some families comfort because it made them believe that their loved one(s) had passed on happily and to a more peaceful realm. It gave the semblance of death as a painless act like sleep.”

An interesting phenomenon in the history of the camera is post-mortem photography, in which deceased people, usually children, were posed and made to look “alive,” to an extent, so their loved ones could remember them. This was done as a way of mourning; the subjects were made to look as if they were merely asleep to give their loved ones comfort that they had passed on peacefully and happily. Eventually, a reduction in the death rate led to the end of this practice. 

5. ​​ Fashion photography by Sara Page

“Modern fashion photography differs because photographers aim to be extraordinary with their work, they know that extra ordinary will interest the audience much more It is extremely evident that fashion photography has changed and developed throughout the years, however there is not just reason. It is clear that fashion photography has changed and developed because of advancements in technology, change in attitudes and the introduction of celebrities.”

Page’s essay focuses on the history of fashion photography and some techniques used in practice. It dated back to 1911 and astonished the public with glamorous photos of people wearing perfectly-styled outfits. As the years have gone on, photographers have taken the lighting of the photos more into account, as well as their settings. In addition, editing software such as Photoshop has allowed even better photos to be produced. Fashion photography has only become more extravagant with the current social culture. 

In your essay, write about your favorite subject when you take pictures- is it people, landscapes, objects, or something else? Explain why, give examples, and perhaps elaborate on your camera settings or the lighting you look for when taking photos.  

Photography is an important invention that has helped us immensely throughout the years- how exactly? Explain why photography rivals painting and why it is essential. Then, write about its importance to you, the entire world, and humanity. 

Some say photography pales compared to the intricacies of music, painting, sculpture, and even cinema and should not be considered a form of art. For an interesting argumentative essay, determine whether photography is genuine art or not and defend your position. Explore both sides of the topic and give a strong rebuttal against the opposing viewpoint. 

Essays about photography: Different types of photography

From street photography to food photography to portraiture, many different types of photography are classified according to the subject being captured. Write about at least three types of photography that interest you and what they entail. You may also discuss some similarities between them if any. Check out our list of the top CreativeLive photography courses .

Like other works of art, a photograph can be interpreted differently. Choose a photo you find exciting and describe how you feel about it. What is being portrayed? What emotions are being evoked? What did the photographer want to show here? Reflect on your chosen work and perhaps connect it with your personal life. 

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers . If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

essay on my favourite photograph

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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23 Photo Essay Ideas and Examples (to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!)

A Post By: Kevin Landwer-Johan

Ideas for compelling photo essays

Looking for inspiration? Our 23 photo essay ideas will take your photography skills to new heights!

A single, strong photograph can convey a lot of information about its subject – but sometimes we have topics that require more than one image to do the job. That’s when it’s time to make a photo essay: a collection of pictures that together tell the bigger story around a chosen theme.

In the following sections, we’ll explore various photo essay ideas and examples that cover a wide range of subjects and purposes. From capturing the growth of your children to documenting local festivals, each idea offers an exciting opportunity to tell a story through your lens, whether you’re a hobbyist or a veteran professional.

So grab your camera, unleash your creativity, and let’s delve into the wonderful world of photo essay examples!

What is a photo essay?

Simply put, a photo essay is a series of carefully selected images woven together to tell a story or convey a message. Think of it as a visual narrative that designed to capture attention and spark emotions.

Karen woman portrait

Now, these images can revolve around a broad theme or focus on a specific storyline. For instance, you might create a photo essay celebrating the joy of companionship by capturing 10 heartwarming pictures of people sharing genuine laughter. On the other hand, you could have a photo essay delving into the everyday lives of fishermen in Wales by following a single fisherman’s journey for a day or even a week.

It’s important to note that photo essays don’t necessarily have to stick to absolute truth. While some documentary photographers prefer to keep it authentic, others may employ techniques like manipulation or staging to create a more artistic impact. So there is room for creativity and interpretation.

Why you should create a photo essay

Photo essays have a way of expressing ideas and stories that words sometimes struggle to capture. They offer a visual narrative that can be incredibly powerful and impactful.

Firstly, photo essays are perfect when you have an idea or a point you want to convey, but you find yourself at a loss for words. Sometimes, emotions and concepts are better conveyed through images rather than paragraphs. So if you’re struggling to articulate a message, you can let your photos do the talking for you.

Second, if you’re interested in subjects that are highly visual, like the mesmerizing forms of architecture within a single city, photo essays are the way to go. Trying to describe the intricate details of a building or the play of light and shadows with words alone can be challenging. But through a series of captivating images, you can immerse your audience in the architecture.

And finally, if you’re aiming to evoke emotions or make a powerful statement, photo essays are outstanding. Images have an incredible ability to shock, inspire, and move people in ways that words often struggle to achieve. So if you want to raise awareness about an environmental issue or ignite a sense of empathy, a compelling series of photographs can have a profound impact.

Photo essay examples and ideas

Looking to create a photo essay but don’t know where to start? Here are some handy essay ideas and examples for inspiration!

1. A day in the life

Your first photo essay idea is simple: Track a life over the course of one day. You might make an essay about someone else’s life. Or the life of a location, such as the sidewalk outside your house. 

The subject matter you choose is up to you. But start in the morning and create a series of images showing your subject over the course of a typical day.

(Alternatively, you can document your subject on a special day, like a birthday, a wedding, or some other celebration.)

woman with a backpack getting on a train photo essay ideas

2. Capture hands

Portraits focus on a subject’s face – but why not mix it up and make a photo essay that focuses on your subject’s hands?

(You can also focus on a collection of different people’s hands.)

Hands can tell you a lot about a person. And showing them in context is a great way to narrate a story.

people on a train

3. Follow a sports team for a full season

Sports are all about emotions – both from the passionate players and the dedicated fans. While capturing the intensity of a single game can be exhilarating, imagine the power of telling the complete story of a team throughout an entire season.

For the best results, you’ll need to invest substantial time in sports photography. Choose a team that resonates with you and ensure their games are within a drivable distance. By photographing their highs and lows, celebrations and challenges, you’ll create a compelling photo essay that traces their journey from the first game to the last.

4. A child and their parent

Photographs that catch the interaction between parents and children are special. A parent-child connection is strong and unique, so making powerful images isn’t challenging. You just need to be ready to capture the special moments as they happen. 

You might concentrate on a parent teaching their child. Or the pair playing sports. Or working on a special project.

Use your imagination, and you’ll have a great time with this theme.

5. Tell a local artist’s story 

I’ve always enjoyed photographing artists as they work; studios have a creative vibe, so the energy is already there. Bring your camera into this environment and try to tell the artist’s story!

An artist’s studio offers plenty of opportunities for wonderful photo essays. Think about the most fascinating aspects of the artist’s process. What do they do that makes their art special? Aim to show this in your photos.

Many people appreciate fine art, but they’re often not aware of what happens behind the scenes. So documenting an artist can produce fascinating visual stories.

artist at work with copper

6. Show a tradesperson’s process

Do you have a plumber coming over to fix your kitchen sink? Is a builder making you a new deck?

Take photos while they work! Tell them what you want to do before you start, and don’t forget to share your photos with them.

They’ll probably appreciate seeing what they do from another perspective. They may even want to use your photos on their company website.

hot iron in crucible

7. Photograph your kids as they grow

There’s something incredibly special about documenting the growth of our little ones. Kids grow up so quickly – before you know it, they’re moving out. Why not capture the beautiful moments along the way by creating a heartwarming photo essay that showcases their growth?

There are various approaches you can take, but one idea is to capture regular photos of your kids standing in front of a distinct point of reference, such as the refrigerator. Over a year or several years, you can gather these images and place them side by side to witness your childrens’ incredible transformations.

8. Cover a local community event

A school fundraiser, a tree-planting day at a park, or a parade; these are are all community events that make for good photo essay ideas.

Think like a photojournalist . What type of images would your editor want? Make sure to capture some wide-angle compositions , some medium shots, and some close-ups.

(Getting in close to show the details can often tell as much of a story as the wider pictures.)

9. Show fresh market life

Markets are great for photography because there’s always plenty of activity and lots of characters. Think of how you can best illustrate the flow of life at the market. What are the vendors doing that’s most interesting? What are the habits of the shoppers?

Look to capture the essence of the place. Try to portray the people who work and shop there.

woman at the fresh market

10. Shoot the same location over time

What location do you visit regularly? Is there a way you can make an interesting photo essay about it?

Consider what you find most attractive and ugly about the place. Look for aspects that change over time. 

Any outdoor location will look different throughout the day. Also think about the changes that occur from season to season. Create an essay that tells the story of the place.

11. Document a local festival

Festivals infuse cities and towns with vibrant energy and unique cultural experiences. Even if your own town doesn’t have notable festivals, chances are a neighboring town does. Explore the magic of these celebrations by documenting a local festival through your lens.

Immerse yourself in the festivities, arriving early and staying late. Capture the colorful displays and the people who make the festival come alive. If the festival spans multiple days, consider focusing on different areas each time you visit to create a diverse and comprehensive photo essay that truly reflects the essence of the event.

12. Photograph a garden through the seasons

It might be your own garden . It could be the neighbor’s. It could even be the garden at your local park.

Think about how the plants change during the course of a year. Capture photos of the most significant visual differences, then present them as a photo essay.

lotus flower

13. Show your local town or city

After spending several years in a particular area, you likely possess an intimate knowledge of your local town or city. Why not utilize that familiarity to create a captivating photo essay that showcases the essence of your community?

Delve into what makes your town special, whether it’s the charming streets, unique landmarks, or the people who shape its character. Dedicate time to capturing the diverse aspects that define your locale. If you’re up for a more extensive project, consider photographing the town over the course of an entire year, capturing the changing seasons and the dynamic spirit of your community.

14. Pick a local cause to highlight

Photo essays can go beyond passive documentation; they can become a part of your activism, too!

So find a cause that matters to you. Tell the story of some aspect of community life that needs improvement. Is there an ongoing issue with litter in your area? How about traffic; is there a problematic intersection?

Document these issues, then make sure to show the photos to people responsible for taking action.

15. Making a meal

Photo essay ideas can be about simple, everyday things – like making a meal or a coffee.

How can you creatively illustrate something that seems so mundane? My guess is that, when you put your mind to it, you can come up with many unique perspectives, all of which will make great stories.

plate of Thai curry photo essay ideas

16. Capture the life of a flower

In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy to overlook the beauty that surrounds us. Flowers, with their mesmerizing colors and rapid life cycles, offer a captivating subject for a photo essay. Try to slow down and appreciate the intricate details of a flower’s existence.

With a macro lens in hand, document a single flower or a patch of flowers from their initial shoots to their inevitable wilting and decomposition. Experiment with different angles and perspectives to bring viewers into the enchanting world of the flower. By freezing these fleeting moments, you’ll create a visual narrative that celebrates the cycle of life and the exquisite beauty found in nature’s delicate creations.

17. Religious traditions

Religion is often rich with visual expression in one form or another. So capture it!

Of course, you may need to narrow down your ideas and choose a specific aspect of worship to photograph. Aim to show what people do when they visit a holy place, or how they pray on their own. Illustrate what makes their faith real and what’s special about it.

photo essay idea monks walking

18. Historic sites

Historic sites are often iconic, and plenty of photographers take a snapshot or two.

But with a photo essay, you can illustrate the site’s history in greater depth.

Look for details of the location that many visitors miss. And use these to build an interesting story.

19. Show the construction of a building

Ever been away from a familiar place for a while only to return and find that things have changed? It happens all the time, especially in areas undergoing constant development. So why not grab your camera and document this transformation?

Here’s the idea: Find a building that’s currently under construction in your area. It could be a towering skyscraper, a modern office complex, or even a small-scale residential project. Whatever catches your eye! Then let the magic of photography unfold.

Make it a habit to take a photo every day or two. Watch as the building gradually takes shape and evolves. Capture the construction workers in action, the cranes reaching for the sky, and the scaffolding supporting the structure.

Once the building is complete, you’ll have a treasure trove of images that chronicle its construction from start to finish!

20. Document the changing skyline of the city

This photo essay example is like the previous one, except it works on a much larger scale. Instead of photographing a single building as it’s built, find a nice vantage point outside your nearest city, then photograph the changing skyline.

To create a remarkable photo essay showcasing the changing skyline, you’ll need to scout out the perfect vantage point. Seek high ground that offers a commanding view of the city, allowing you to frame the skyline against the horizon. Look for spots that give you an unobstructed perspective, whether a rooftop terrace, a hillside park, or even a nearby bridge.

As you set out on your photography expedition, be patient and observant. Cities don’t transform overnight; they change gradually over time. Embrace the passage of days, weeks, and months as you witness the slow evolution unfold.

Pro tip: To capture the essence of this transformation, experiment with various photographic techniques. Play with different angles, framing, and compositions to convey the grandeur and dynamism of the changing skyline. Plus, try shooting during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset , when the soft light bathes the city in a warm glow and accentuates the architectural details.

21. Photograph your pet

If you’re a pet owner, you already have the perfect subject for a photo essay!

All pets , with the possible exception of pet rocks, will provide you with a collection of interesting moments to photograph.

So collect these moments with your camera – then display them as a photo essay showing the nature and character of your pet.

Woman and elephant

22. Tell the story of a local nature preserve

Ah, the wonders of a local nature preserve! While it may not boast the grandeur of Yosemite National Park, these hidden gems hold their own beauty, just waiting to be discovered and captured through the lens of your camera.

To embark on this type of photo essay adventure, start by exploring all the nooks and crannies of your chosen nature preserve. Wander along its winding trails, keeping an eye out for unique and captivating subjects that convey the essence of the preserve.

As you go along, try to photograph the intricate details of delicate wildflowers, the interplay of light filtering through a dense forest canopy, and the lively activities of birds and other wildlife.

23. Show the same subject from multiple perspectives

It’s possible to create an entire photo essay in a single afternoon – or even in a handful of minutes. If you don’t love the idea of dedicating yourself to days of photographing for a single essay, this is a great option.

Simply find a subject you like, then endeavor to capture 10 unique images that include it. I’d recommend photographing from different angles: up above, down low, from the right and left. You can also try getting experimental with creative techniques, such as intentional camera movement and freelensing. If all goes well, you’ll have a very cool set of images featuring one of your favorite subjects!

By showcasing the same subject from multiple perspectives, you invite viewers on a visual journey. They get to see different facets, textures, and details that they might have overlooked in a single photograph. It adds depth and richness to your photo essay, making it both immersive and dynamic.

Photo essay ideas: final words

Remember: Photo essays are all about communicating a concept or a story through images rather than words. So embrace the process and use images to express yourself!

Whether you choose to follow a sports team through a thrilling season, document the growth of your little ones, or explore the hidden treasures of your local town, each photo essay has its own magic waiting to be unlocked. It’s a chance to explore your creativity and create images in your own style.

So look at the world around you. Grab your gear and venture out into the wild. Embrace the beauty of nature, the energy of a bustling city, or the quiet moments that make life special. Consider what you see every day. What aspects interest you the most? Photograph those things.

You’re bound to end up with some amazing photo essays!

Now over to you:

Do you have any photo essay examples you’re proud of? Do you have any more photo essay ideas? Share your thoughts and images in the comments below!

23 Photo Essay Ideas and Examples (to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!)

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Kevin Landwer-Johan

Kevin Landwer-Johan is a photographer, photography teacher, and author with over 30 years of experience that he loves to share with others.

Check out his website and his Buy Me a Coffee page .

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18 Immersive Photo Essay Examples & Tips

By Tata Rossi 13 days ago, Professional photography

essay on my favourite photograph

A photo essay tells a story or evokes emotion through a series of photographs. The essays allow you to be creative and fully explore an idea. Such essays exist in a variety of forms – from photos only to images with brief comments or written essays accompanied by shots. Choose a photo essay example that you can easily do based on your professional level and the equipment you use.

1. Protests

  • View the “Resistance” photo essay by David Moore .

A great idea for photo essays for students is to shoot the protest to show its power. You can capture people with signs and banners to demonstrate what they are standing for. Besides, you can learn how to capture moving subjects. Use the best example of photo essay and don’t forget about angles, composition, and framing.

To create a photo essay , go up to the front and photograph the leader of the protesters walking forward. After that, go back to the end of the group to take pictures of families joining the protest. As a result, you will gain experience shooting big groups of people in motion.

2. Transformation

  • View the “A Self-Portrait Every Day” photo essay by Noah Kalina .

This idea is all about capturing the way a person changes. You may take photos of a pregnant woman and then capture the same model with a child. By documenting the development of the child for several years, you can tell a great story in the form of a photo essay.

However, you can also create a photo essay about the transformation of different objects. For instance, you can create a time-lapse series to capture the history of a renovated building. While you will have to take a lot of similar photos to bring this idea to life, it will allow you to achieve an impressive result.

3. Local Event

  • View the “Monday Marathon” photo essay by Quinn G. Perini .

Whether you are a resident of a large city or a small town, you can find an opportunity to visit a local event, like a marathon or a festival. This is a nice chance to follow modern photography trends and bring photo essay ideas to life.

You can capture the before-and-after stages of the event. Arrive earlier and take pictures of the preparation activities, then shoot the actual event starting with the official beginning.

Keep photographing even when the event is over and capture the cleaning up and disassembling processes.

4. Photowalk

  • View the “Empty Campus” photo essay by Elise Trissel .

Explore the location where you live and find interesting objects to capture in the vicinity. Using the most interesting photo essay examples, you can decide how to make the best decisions. Don’t hurry and try to discover which angles you can use to capture the unique atmosphere of each place.

If you live in the city, you may capture architectural details, wide shots of busy streets, or just take photos of passersby and street signs. Think about the details that make every location unique. For instance, you can try capturing reflections to see how they allow you to see the city from an unusual angle. You can find reflections everywhere, so be sure to pay attention to mirrored buildings, puddles, and fountains.

5. Place Over Time

  • View the “At Home in the Ozarks” photo essay by Kylee Cole .

If you want to document changes and show how the streets, buildings, and parks in your city change over time, select your favorite locations and start to visit them regularly to capture the way they look during different seasons.

  • View the “Last Moments” photo essay by Ross Taylor .

You don’t necessarily have to focus on profound photo essay topics to evoke emotions. Capturing pets enjoying their worry-free and untroubled life seems like an easy but interesting activity.

Choose any animal – from a domestic bird to a dog, cat, or horse. For more emotional images, use such pet photography ideas when your pet is still a baby and recreate these shots when it is older or is in its final days.

7. Street Style

  • View the Tribal Street Photography photo essay by Hans Eijkelboom .

People often express themselves with the help of clothes. The way passers-by on the streets are dressed may reflect the clothing style of a whole society. That’s why you can travel around the world and capture people’s outfits in various areas. When taking portrait photos in the streets, you can also include some of the surroundings to put them in the context.

You can ask people in the streets to pose for you or try to capture them in movement. Select a suitable location for taking photos and create a photo essay to document what kinds of people one can meet in this location. When doing urban photography , you should ask people for permission before taking photos of them. You can ask their contacts and send them your photos later.

8. Abandoned Building

  • View the “Lost Collective” photo essay by Bret Pattman .

Old buildings are excellent architecture photography essay topics for students since you can capture a large number of elements. They allow you to imagine what a particular street looked like in the past. You may use a photo essay example for students as references.

Get approval before going in, but mind that such places are far from being totally safe. Bring various lenses: the macro lenses – for details and the wide-angle one – when you want to include many elements in one shot.

9. Alternative Lifestyles

  • View the “Last Nomad Hippies” photo essay by Roberto Palomo .

Some people decide to lead a lifestyle that differs from the one generally accepted by society. Explore different areas and look for people with an unusual way of living. You can capture candid photos of regular people or take pictures of a person with an unusual hobby.

Take pictures of those, who reside in extraordinary conditions, representatives of various subcultures, or the LBGTQ community. These photo essay topics show other people that it is okay to go out of their comfort zone and run against the wind.

10. Social Issues

  • View the “Juveniles in Prison” photo essay by Isadora Kosofsky .

The best photo essay examples for students are related to social issues, like unemployment, domestic violence, gender discrimination, and more. Address the topic carefully and look for a proper perspective.

Your shots may draw the people’s attention to a truly burning and relevant matter and have a stronger effect than any text.

11. Behind the Scenes

  • View the “Follow Me” photo essay by Marius Masalar .

If you are going to visit an event, get ready to take some behind-the-scenes photos. For instance, you can document the preparations for a festival. Capture the work of the lead event planner and other professionals to tell the story of the festival from an unusual angle.

Alternatively, you can capture the events happening backstage during a drama production. Take pictures of actors and actresses when they are getting ready for the performance. Try capturing the emotions of the main lead and show how stage workers make final preparations. You can also document the work of designers and makeup professionals.

12. Landmarks

  • View the “Volte-Face” photo essay by Oliver Curtis .

The pictures of landmarks are typically taken from a certain spot. One of the best photo essay ideas is to try shooting sights from various angles. You will also have an opportunity to improve your composition and your framing skills.

If you take a look at any pictorial essay example, you will see that the variety of perspectives is endless: through the streets, in the morning, afternoon, and evening, with a drone or including reflections.

    • View the “Family” photo essay by Olivia Moore .

You can capture the way family members interact with each other and demonstrate the strong connection they share. In some cases, it makes sense to focus on capturing candid photos when doing family photography .

However, you may also opt for a different approach and focus on more difficult social topics. For instance, if you want to examine the issue of immigration, you can take pictures of a family from another country. In addition, you may show how families cope with other social issues, including poverty or unequal access to healthcare.

14. A Day in the Life

  • View the “A Day in the Life of Carlos Gaytan” photo essay by Sandy Noto .

One of the best photo essays concepts is related to a day in a person’s life. The main character can be any person – a relative, family member, teacher, writer, or policeman.

People are generally interested in finding out facts about the lives and daily routines of others. The life of every human is incredible, especially if you learn it in more detail. This idea is especially suitable for taking documentary photos. For instance, you can select any photo essay sample you like and then capture a portrait of a person with the tools they use for their work.

15. Education

  • View the “School Day” photo essay by Nancy Borowick .

You can also take great photos in the classroom capturing the interactions of teachers and their students. Avoid distracting them, as it will be easier for you to take natural shots. Using a variety of settings, you can make your photo essay more engaging. For instance, you may visit chemistry labs, capture teachers during a break, and take photos in other locations.

  • View the “Meals From the Motherland” photo essay by James Tran .

You can also focus on specific meals to create a professional photo essay about food. To make it more attention-grabbing, try using different food photography ideas .

For instance, you can take photos of popular meals, capture the meals made by a specific person, or document cooking traditions in different countries. When taking photos in a restaurant, pay attention to the surroundings as well to capture the unique atmosphere of a place.

17. Capture the Neighbors

  • View the “Our Neighbors” photo essay by Jeanne Martin .

Regardless of the place where you live, you have to establish good relationships with your neighbors. People who live nearby can also be great models for professionals who specialize in portrait photography. To implement this idea, make sure to capture people at home or in front of their houses to include some of the surroundings in your photo essay.

You will discover many interesting facts about people who live nearby. Shooting a photo essay will allow you to learn them better and establish a strong connection with them. This way, you can create a sense of community and discover what holds its members together.

18. Climate Change

  • View the “Effects of Climate Change” photo essay by Sanya Gupta .

It is possible to a variety of photo story ideas bring to life examining the impact of climate change. Travel to places most affected by climate change, for instance, glaciers or famous resorts.

Capture the way the continuous drought has influenced the environment, animals, and the inhabitants. As an alternative, take pictures of environmentalist protests or inexhaustible energy sources.

Photo Essay Tips for Students

Explore your topic . An in-depth exploration of the main topic of your photo essay will help you find the best ideas for conveying your message. You can also find some sources for inspiration and useful materials. This stage allows you to learn more about your subject and select the best way of organizing your photo essay.

Create a storyboard . Using a storyboard, you can better understand what shots you need to take and what order can help you to tell a story in the best way. It will also allow you to create the right mood.

Take as many pictures as you can . To create a compelling story, make sure to take a lot of photos. It will allow you to choose the best pictures for your photo essay. Besides, you will always have backup photos if some of your pictures get damaged.

Experiment with different techniques . By changing the angle and using a variety of editing techniques, you can transform the way your photos look. When taking photos, try using different angles to capture the subject in the best way. You can also try changing the distance from the model, using black-and-white film, or employing a range of developing methods.

Add text . While some photographers create photo essays without text, it can still help you bring your point across more clearly and make it easier for a viewer to understand what you imply. By providing extra information, such as some facts, you can change the perception of your image. If you don’t know how to write descriptions, you can hire a professional writer to perform this task.

Enhance your photos . To edit your pictures, make sure to use professional photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. Using the available tools, you can improve and change your photos. They allow you to fix issues with lighting, adjust WB, make colors richer, crop your pics to improve the composition, and perform other tasks. In case you need to edit your photos in a consistent style, you can use Photoshop Actions or Lightroom Presets.

In some cases, your pictures may require more advanced editing. If you see that your skills are insufficient or if you don’t have enough time, you can outsource the task of enhancing your photos to the FixThePhoto team. They will professionally enhance your pictures for a budget price. Their prices start from $1.50 per photo.

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How to Create an Engaging Photo Essay (with Examples)

Photo essays tell a story in pictures. They're a great way to improve at photography and story-telling skills at once. Learn how to do create a great one.

Learn | Photography Guides | By Ana Mireles

Photography is a medium used to tell stories – sometimes they are told in one picture, sometimes you need a whole series. Those series can be photo essays.

If you’ve never done a photo essay before, or you’re simply struggling to find your next project, this article will be of help. I’ll be showing you what a photo essay is and how to go about doing one.

You’ll also find plenty of photo essay ideas and some famous photo essay examples from recent times that will serve you as inspiration.

If you’re ready to get started, let’s jump right in!

Table of Contents

What is a Photo Essay?

A photo essay is a series of images that share an overarching theme as well as a visual and technical coherence to tell a story. Some people refer to a photo essay as a photo series or a photo story – this often happens in photography competitions.

Photographic history is full of famous photo essays. Think about The Great Depression by Dorothea Lange, Like Brother Like Sister by Wolfgang Tillmans, Gandhi’s funeral by Henri Cartier Bresson, amongst others.

What are the types of photo essay?

Despite popular belief, the type of photo essay doesn’t depend on the type of photography that you do – in other words, journalism, documentary, fine art, or any other photographic genre is not a type of photo essay.

Instead, there are two main types of photo essays: narrative and thematic .

As you have probably already guessed, the thematic one presents images pulled together by a topic – for example, global warming. The images can be about animals and nature as well as natural disasters devastating cities. They can happen all over the world or in the same location, and they can be captured in different moments in time – there’s a lot of flexibility.

A narrative photo essa y, on the other hand, tells the story of a character (human or not), portraying a place or an event. For example, a narrative photo essay on coffee would document the process from the planting and harvesting – to the roasting and grinding until it reaches your morning cup.

What are some of the key elements of a photo essay?

  • Tell a unique story – A unique story doesn’t mean that you have to photograph something that nobody has done before – that would be almost impossible! It means that you should consider what you’re bringing to the table on a particular topic.
  • Put yourself into the work – One of the best ways to make a compelling photo essay is by adding your point of view, which can only be done with your life experiences and the way you see the world.
  • Add depth to the concept – The best photo essays are the ones that go past the obvious and dig deeper in the story, going behind the scenes, or examining a day in the life of the subject matter – that’s what pulls in the spectator.
  • Nail the technique – Even if the concept and the story are the most important part of a photo essay, it won’t have the same success if it’s poorly executed.
  • Build a structure – A photo essay is about telling a thought-provoking story – so, think about it in a narrative way. Which images are going to introduce the topic? Which ones represent a climax? How is it going to end – how do you want the viewer to feel after seeing your photo series?
  • Make strong choices – If you really want to convey an emotion and a unique point of view, you’re going to need to make some hard decisions. Which light are you using? Which lens? How many images will there be in the series? etc., and most importantly for a great photo essay is the why behind those choices.

9 Tips for Creating a Photo Essay

essay on my favourite photograph

Credit: Laura James

1. Choose something you know

To make a good photo essay, you don’t need to travel to an exotic location or document a civil war – I mean, it’s great if you can, but you can start close to home.

Depending on the type of photography you do and the topic you’re looking for in your photographic essay, you can photograph a local event or visit an abandoned building outside your town.

It will be much easier for you to find a unique perspective and tell a better story if you’re already familiar with the subject. Also, consider that you might have to return a few times to the same location to get all the photos you need.

2. Follow your passion

Most photo essays take dedication and passion. If you choose a subject that might be easy, but you’re not really into it – the results won’t be as exciting. Taking photos will always be easier and more fun if you’re covering something you’re passionate about.

3. Take your time

A great photo essay is not done in a few hours. You need to put in the time to research it, conceptualizing it, editing, etc. That’s why I previously recommended following your passion because it takes a lot of dedication, and if you’re not passionate about it – it’s difficult to push through.

4. Write a summary or statement

Photo essays are always accompanied by some text. You can do this in the form of an introduction, write captions for each photo or write it as a conclusion. That’s up to you and how you want to present the work.

5. Learn from the masters

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Making a photographic essay takes a lot of practice and knowledge. A great way to become a better photographer and improve your storytelling skills is by studying the work of others. You can go to art shows, review books and magazines and look at the winners in photo contests – most of the time, there’s a category for photo series.

6. Get a wide variety of photos

Think about a story – a literary one. It usually tells you where the story is happening, who is the main character, and it gives you a few details to make you engage with it, right?

The same thing happens with a visual story in a photo essay – you can do some wide-angle shots to establish the scenes and some close-ups to show the details. Make a shot list to ensure you cover all the different angles.

Some of your pictures should guide the viewer in, while others are more climatic and regard the experience they are taking out of your photos.

7. Follow a consistent look

Both in style and aesthetics, all the images in your series need to be coherent. You can achieve this in different ways, from the choice of lighting, the mood, the post-processing, etc.

8. Be self-critical

Once you have all the photos, make sure you edit them with a good dose of self-criticism. Not all the pictures that you took belong in the photo essay. Choose only the best ones and make sure they tell the full story.

9. Ask for constructive feedback

Often, when we’re working on a photo essay project for a long time, everything makes perfect sense in our heads. However, someone outside the project might not be getting the idea. It’s important that you get honest and constructive criticism to improve your photography.

How to Create a Photo Essay in 5 Steps

essay on my favourite photograph

Credit: Quang Nguyen Vinh

1. Choose your topic

This is the first step that you need to take to decide if your photo essay is going to be narrative or thematic. Then, choose what is it going to be about?

Ideally, it should be something that you’re interested in, that you have something to say about it, and it can connect with other people.

2. Research your topic

To tell a good story about something, you need to be familiar with that something. This is especially true when you want to go deeper and make a compelling photo essay. Day in the life photo essays are a popular choice, since often, these can be performed with friends and family, whom you already should know well.

3. Plan your photoshoot

Depending on what you’re photographing, this step can be very different from one project to the next. For a fine art project, you might need to find a location, props, models, a shot list, etc., while a documentary photo essay is about planning the best time to do the photos, what gear to bring with you, finding a local guide, etc.

Every photo essay will need different planning, so before taking pictures, put in the required time to get things right.

4. Experiment

It’s one thing to plan your photo shoot and having a shot list that you have to get, or else the photo essay won’t be complete. It’s another thing to miss out on some amazing photo opportunities that you couldn’t foresee.

So, be prepared but also stay open-minded and experiment with different settings, different perspectives, etc.

5. Make a final selection

Editing your work can be one of the hardest parts of doing a photo essay. Sometimes we can be overly critical, and others, we get attached to bad photos because we put a lot of effort into them or we had a great time doing them.

Try to be as objective as possible, don’t be afraid to ask for opinions and make various revisions before settling down on a final cut.

7 Photo Essay Topics, Ideas & Examples

essay on my favourite photograph

Credit: Michelle Leman

  • Architectural photo essay

Using architecture as your main subject, there are tons of photo essay ideas that you can do. For some inspiration, you can check out the work of Francisco Marin – who was trained as an architect and then turned to photography to “explore a different way to perceive things”.

You can also lookup Luisa Lambri. Amongst her series, you’ll find many photo essay examples in which architecture is the subject she uses to explore the relationship between photography and space.

  • Process and transformation photo essay

This is one of the best photo essay topics for beginners because the story tells itself. Pick something that has a beginning and an end, for example, pregnancy, the metamorphosis of a butterfly, the life-cycle of a plant, etc.

Keep in mind that these topics are linear and give you an easy way into the narrative flow – however, it might be difficult to find an interesting perspective and a unique point of view.

  • A day in the life of ‘X’ photo essay

There are tons of interesting photo essay ideas in this category – you can follow around a celebrity, a worker, your child, etc. You don’t even have to do it about a human subject – think about doing a photo essay about a day in the life of a racing horse, for example – find something that’s interesting for you.

  • Time passing by photo essay

It can be a natural site or a landmark photo essay – whatever is close to you will work best as you’ll need to come back multiple times to capture time passing by. For example, how this place changes throughout the seasons or maybe even over the years.

A fun option if you live with family is to document a birthday party each year, seeing how the subject changes over time. This can be combined with a transformation essay or sorts, documenting the changes in interpersonal relationships over time.

  • Travel photo essay

Do you want to make the jump from tourist snapshots into a travel photo essay? Research the place you’re going to be travelling to. Then, choose a topic.

If you’re having trouble with how to do this, check out any travel magazine – National Geographic, for example. They won’t do a generic article about Texas – they do an article about the beach life on the Texas Gulf Coast and another one about the diverse flavors of Texas.

The more specific you get, the deeper you can go with the story.

  • Socio-political issues photo essay

This is one of the most popular photo essay examples – it falls under the category of photojournalism or documental photography. They are usually thematic, although it’s also possible to do a narrative one.

Depending on your topic of interest, you can choose topics that involve nature – for example, document the effects of global warming. Another idea is to photograph protests or make an education photo essay.

It doesn’t have to be a big global issue; you can choose something specific to your community – are there too many stray dogs? Make a photo essay about a local animal shelter. The topics are endless.

  • Behind the scenes photo essay

A behind-the-scenes always make for a good photo story – people are curious to know what happens and how everything comes together before a show.

Depending on your own interests, this can be a photo essay about a fashion show, a theatre play, a concert, and so on. You’ll probably need to get some permissions, though, not only to shoot but also to showcase or publish those images.

4 Best Photo Essays in Recent times

Now that you know all the techniques about it, it might be helpful to look at some photo essay examples to see how you can put the concept into practice. Here are some famous photo essays from recent times to give you some inspiration.

Habibi by Antonio Faccilongo

This photo essay wan the World Press Photo Story of the Year in 2021. Faccilongo explores a very big conflict from a very specific and intimate point of view – how the Israeli-Palestinian war affects the families.

He chose to use a square format because it allows him to give order to things and eliminate unnecessary elements in his pictures.

With this long-term photo essay, he wanted to highlight the sense of absence and melancholy women and families feel towards their husbands away at war.

The project then became a book edited by Sarah Leen and the graphics of Ramon Pez.

essay on my favourite photograph

Picture This: New Orleans by Mary Ellen Mark

The last assignment before her passing, Mary Ellen Mark travelled to New Orleans to register the city after a decade after Hurricane Katrina.

The images of the project “bring to life the rebirth and resilience of the people at the heart of this tale”, – says CNNMoney, commissioner of the work.

Each survivor of the hurricane has a story, and Mary Ellen Mark was there to record it. Some of them have heartbreaking stories about everything they had to leave behind.

Others have a story of hope – like Sam and Ben, two eight-year-olds born from frozen embryos kept in a hospital that lost power supply during the hurricane, yet they managed to survive.

essay on my favourite photograph

Selfie by Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman is an American photographer whose work is mainly done through self-portraits. With them, she explores the concept of identity, gender stereotypes, as well as visual and cultural codes.

One of her latest photo essays was a collaboration with W Magazine entitled Selfie. In it, the author explores the concept of planned candid photos (‘plandid’).

The work was made for Instagram, as the platform is well known for the conflict between the ‘real self’ and the one people present online. Sherman started using Facetune, Perfect365 and YouCam to alter her appearance on selfies – in Photoshop, you can modify everything, but these apps were designed specifically to “make things prettier”- she says, and that’s what she wants to explore in this photo essay.

Tokyo Compression by Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf has an interest in the broad-gauge topic Life in Cities. From there, many photo essays have been derived – amongst them – Tokyo Compression .

He was horrified by the way people in Tokyo are forced to move to the suburbs because of the high prices of the city. Therefore, they are required to make long commutes facing 1,5 hours of train to start their 8+ hour workday followed by another 1,5 hours to get back home.

To portray this way of life, he photographed the people inside the train pressed against the windows looking exhausted, angry or simply absent due to this way of life.

You can visit his website to see other photo essays that revolve around the topic of life in megacities.

Final Words

It’s not easy to make photo essays, so don’t expect to be great at it right from your first project.

Start off small by choosing a specific subject that’s interesting to you –  that will come from an honest place, and it will be a great practice for some bigger projects along the line.

Whether you like to shoot still life or you’re a travel photographer, I hope these photo essay tips and photo essay examples can help you get started and grow in your photography.

Let us know which topics you are working on right now – we’ll love to hear from you!

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Ana Mireles is a Mexican researcher that specializes in photography and communications for the arts and culture sector.

Penelope G. To Ana Mireles Such a well written and helpful article for an writer who wants to inclue photo essay in her memoir. Thank you. I will get to work on this new skill. Penelope G.

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IELTS Cue Card

A website dedicated to IELTS Cue Card Samples, Speaking Samples, and Speaking Preparation Guideline...

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Describe one of your favourite photographs.

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card   487   with Model Answer:

Describe one of your favourite photographs.

  • when the photograph was taken
  • what it depicts
  • what memory this photograph holds

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Describe Your Favorite Photograph

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The IELTS Cue Card section also referred to as the IELTS Speaking Task 2 , is one of the parts of the IELTS test that has caused a lot of stress and anxiety among those who have taken it.

Why? It is because, for starters, you are asked to address a subject about which you may be unfamiliar.

Second, you only have a short amount of time to prepare. To make matters worse, you must speak for a longer period without being interrupted by the examiner. Fret no more!

Sample responses to the cue card topic ‘Describe your favorite photograph.’ are provided in this post. Keep reading.

What is the IELTS Cue Card Question?

The examiner will offer you a topic card in Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test . This card is called a cue card. A brief summary of a topic will be included on the card, and some suggestions for what to include.

The theme will be related to someone you know, an event you attended, or things you like. You have a minute to plan. You will be provided with a piece of paper and a pencil by the examiner so that you can jot down some ideas.

The examiner will invite you to begin your presentation after one minute, giving your speech.

You have up to two minutes to speak without interruption from the examiner. The examiner will listen without speaking, although they may nod or gesture to encourage you to continue speaking.

After your 2 minutes is over, the examiner will instruct you to stop and very certainly ask you 1-2 questions about the subject. You need to give short answers to these questions.

How to Answer this Specific Question: “Describe Your Favorite Photograph”

Topic/question, guidelines to answer this question.

You should say:

  • Who or what in the photograph was/were
  • When it was taken
  • Where it was taken

and explain why you love this photograph.

  • Think of a photograph that you like the most. It could be a personal photograph or simply a photograph you have seen somewhere in the past. Whatever this photograph is, ensure that you have a vivid picture of how this photo looks so you can describe it well later on.
  • The moment you have decided what photograph to discuss, stick to it. You only have a little time to prepare so you should not change your mind.
  • Write down ideas right away. State what and who is in the photograph. Describe what it looks like and when and where it was taken. Discuss how you feel whenever you look at it and explain why it is your favorite photograph.
  • Keep in mind that you should maximize the time given, so you should not write sentences. Just write keywords and phrases.
  • Employ a wide range of advanced vocabulary. Utilize complicated grammatical structures too. This will amaze the examiner and will give you a good chance of receiving a high mark on this section of the examination.
  • Be as quick as possible when taking notes. Nonetheless, ensure that you will be able to understand what you have written later on. If the examiner cannot read what you wrote, that is alright. Your grade is determined by the content and delivery of your speech, not the quality of your penmanship.
  • You may take a quick look at your notes now and then. It is permissible. You will not be prevented from doing so by the examiner. That is, after all, why you have been given a pen and a piece of paper.

Sample Responses: “Describe Your Favorite Photograph”

Sample response 1:.

“Photographs are the most effective means of preserving memorable occasions in our lives. Over the course of my life, I’ve amassed a large collection of interesting photos. These were taken in various locations with various people and meant a lot to me. A photo of my family is the most memorable in my collection.

It was taken in March 2012, when my family gathered for the wedding of one of my cousins. We had all traveled to Delhi to attend a wedding and had a wonderful time. We were running late for the last day’s reception ceremony, and when the morning chaos had subsided, and the family elders had squabbled over minor issues, we were ready to depart. My grandfather’s next-door neighbor was a happy person who jokingly invited everyone to come for a family photo. We all obliged, and the photo was taken once everyone had calmed down.

It holds a particular place in my heart because it was the last photo of my entire family. My grandfather died a few months after the wedding, and my cousin went abroad to continue his studies. As a result, December 2010 was the last time we saw the entire family happy and together, and the photograph serves as a reminder of that wonderful moment.”

Follow-up Question 1: 

What do you think are the differences between today’s photography and that of the past? 

“Photography has obviously changed a lot. From strips of films that needed to be developed in darkrooms, we only needed a smartphone or a digital camera, and we could take photos anytime, anywhere. And we can take a lot of photos without having to worry we would run out of shots. It’s really cool.”

Follow-up Question 2:

Do you like photography? 

“Not really, I think I am not an artistic person, and I believe photography is for those who are creative and artistic. I do take photos from time to time but not as a hobby, but more as a requirement for something and for leisure. For example, when I go on a holiday, I take photos, but that’s it.”

Sample Response 2: 

“While looking through some old paperwork, I recently came upon an old photograph. From then on, it has become my favorite photograph.  A newlywed pair is depicted in the photo. This was a black-and-white photograph, and with the passage of time, some of its components have become ruined. Other people can be seen standing behind the couple in the photo, and everyone appears to be smiling. That was, I believe, the era when black and white photography was the norm.

This is the first photograph of my parents’ marriage. Yes, they are the couple in the photo.  It is one of the few photos of their wedding. Taking a photograph back then was both difficult and expensive. The photograph is around 30 years old. It’s printed on a unique type of paper. I’ve never seen black-and-white photographs printed before. As a result, it was a unique experience for me. When I inquired about the photography of their wedding, my mother became emotionally reliving that day. She can still vividly remember everything that happened on that special day. 

For me, this is a special photograph. It depicts how a wedding ceremony was held in the past. I’d always been curious about my family’s history, and my parents’ marriage was an essential factor in this. The photographer has taken the photo from the correct perspective, and all of the elements are evenly represented in the image. Despite its age, this photograph has a certain charm to it, and it makes me happy every time I look at it. That is why this is my favorite photograph.”

Follow-up Question 1:

What do you prefer when taking photos, a camera or a smartphone?

“Well, I prefer to take photos using a camera. I actually own one right now, and I bring it with me every time; you’ll never know when you’ll need them. I feel more connected to the subject or whatever it is that I’m taking a photo of when I use my camera instead of a smartphone.” 

You mentioned that you owned a camera earlier. What are your favorite subjects? 

“I like taking photos of a lot of things, but on top of my list, I’d have to say nature. I love taking photos of the beach, fields, mountains, and even animals. They’re just so calm and relaxing to look at.”

Vocabulary List for Answering the Question: “Describe Your Favorite Photograph”

Below are some terms from the sample responses for the cue card topic ‘ Describe your favorite photograph .’ with their definitions and example sentences to guide you.

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17 Awesome Photo Essay Examples You Should Try Yourself

essay on my favourite photograph

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If you’re looking for a photo essay example (or 17!), you’ve come to the right place. But what is the purpose of a photo essay? A photo essay is intended to tell a story or evoke emotion from the viewers through a series of photographs. They allow you to be creative and fully explore an idea. But how do you make one yourself? Here’s a list of photo essay examples. Choose one that you can easily do based on your photographic level and equipment.

Top 17 Photo Essay Examples

Here are some fantastic ideas to get you inspired to create your own photo essays!

17. Photograph a Protest

Street photography of a group of people protesting.

16. Transformation Photo Essays

A photo essay example shot of a couple, the man kissing the pregnant womans stomach

15. Photograph the Same Place

A photo essay example photography grid of 9 photographs.

14. Create a Photowalk

Street photography photo essay shot of a photographer in the middle of the street

13. Follow the Change

Portrait photography of a man shaving in the mirror. Photo essay examples.

12. Photograph a Local Event

Documentary photography essay of a group of people at an event by a lake.

11. Photograph an Abandoned Building

Atmospheric and dark photo of the interior of an abandoned building as part of a photo-essay

10. Behind the Scenes of a Photo Shoot

Photograph of models and photographers behind the scenes at a photo shoot. Photo essay ideas.

9. Capture Street Fashion

Street photography portrait of a girl outdoors at night.

8. Landmark Photo Essay

9 photo grid of the Eiffel tour. Photo essays examples.

7. Fathers & Children

An essay photo of the silhouettes of a man and child standing in a dark doorway.

6. A Day In the Life

 Photo essay examples of a bright red and orange building under blue sky.

5. Education Photo Essay

Documentary photoessay example shot of a group of students in a classroom watching their teacher

4. Fictitious Meals

 Photo essay detail of someone placing a sugar cube into a cup of tea.

3. Photograph Coffee Shops Using Cafenol

A photo of a coffee shop interior created with cafenol.

2. Photograph the Photographers

Street photography of a group of media photographers.

1. Capture the Neighbors

Street photography of 2 pink front doors of brick houses.

Photo essays tell stories. And there are plenty of amazingly interesting stories to tell! Photographing photo essays is a great way to practice your photography skills while having fun. You might even learn something! These photo essay examples are here to provide you with the inspiration to go out and tell your own stories through photos!

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How to Describe a Photo (IELTS Speaking)

Posted by David S. Wills | Sep 4, 2017 | IELTS Tips , Speaking | 1

How to Describe a Photo (IELTS Speaking)

In the IELTS speaking exam, you may be given the opportunity to describe a photo (or perhaps describe a picture). In this lesson, I will show you how to do that as effectively as possible.

Cue Card: Describe a Photo

In part 2 of the IELTS speaking test, you could be given this cue card:

Describe one of your favourite photographs. You should say: When the photograph was taken What it looks like What significant memory you have regarding this photograph and explain why it is one of your favourite photographs.

However, as always you should be very careful to read the question and make sure that you understand it fully before saying anything. There are variations and you will not necessarily be asked the question that is included above. It could say “describe a photo that you saw when you were young” or “describe a photo of a family member” or something like that. These would all require different descriptions of photographs.

Remember to analyse the cue card carefully and think precisely about what you must describe. However, don’t waste too much time doing this. You only have one minute to prepare your ideas. Here is a video I made about giving great answers for IELTS speaking part 2:

Using Photography Vocabulary in IELTS

So how do you talk about photos? Of course, you are not expected to be an expert photographer in order to do well at IELTS. You only need a basic and non-specialist knowledge of any subject. Still, if you are asked to describe a photo then you should be prepared and that means knowing some basic vocabulary and grammar to handle a question like this.

To cover the vocabulary part, I made a helpful guide to IELTS photography vocabulary for IELTS to help you:

describe a photo for ielts

Sample Answer: Describe a Photo

So how can you use this vocabulary to answer the above question? Here’s a sample answer: 

I take a lot of photos so it’s hard for me to pick just one, but if I had to I would choose a photo of a hippo in a lake. Last year I went on holiday to South Africa for the winter, and I visited a place called St. Lucia. They have a lot of amazing wildlife in South Africa and in St. Lucia there are many crocodiles and hippos. I was overwhelmed when I saw them, and for several days I walked around taking photos of these amazing creatures. One day, I got the courage to walk right into the middle of a sand bar and shoot some photos as the sun was setting over the lake. The result was a series of beautiful red and orange-tinged shots with a variety of wildlife dotting the landscape . In one photo, however, a huge hippo came out of the water and opened its mouth really wide! I didn’t even realize until I got home what happened, but the whole experience stuck in my mind. The photo is now printed and framed on my wall so that I never forget the feeling of being among such incredible animals in a place of such natural beauty.

Other Possible Photo Questions for IELTS Speaking

If you were asked to describe a favourite photo or a special photo for IELTS Speaking Part 2, then you might be given some of the following questions as a follow-up:

  • What do you think about ‘Photography’ as a career?
  • What makes a good photograph?
  • How often do you take photographs?
  • What are the improvements latest technologies has brought in photography

Also, if you do really enjoy photography, you might use that in Part 1 as a response to questions about hobbies or activities you do in your free time. If you get asked what you do with your friends, you might reply that you take selfies. 🙂 I’m sure the examiner will be impressed with your colloquial vocabulary.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Photography Question

Finally, let’s look at one example question from part 3 of the IELTS speaking test. Here, we will look at a slightly abstract question:

What are the advantages of taking photos on a mobile phone instead of on a normal camera?

You can see that this is not personal, like it would be for part 1. You should thus talk about society at large rather than your own personal experiences. Still, you can talk about yourself a little and incorporate some of your views where necessary. For example:

Mobile phones are now typically equipped with quite advanced cameras, so the advantages that so-called “normal cameras” have over them are diminishing. It used to be that a phone camera would have a pretty limited capacity and so you would only use it when you have no choice, but now they are really quite intelligent. They are idiot-proof, which means you should be able to pull it out and point it in any light to get a decent-quality picture, whereas a DSLR or similar camera would require a lot skill in order to get a good photo.

You can see that I answered that without much difficult vocabulary. I used the term DSLR , but apart from that there was nothing really challenging. This is ok. Remember that it is more important to be accurate than to have a fancy vocabulary.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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Photo is an artistic representation of the world for some while it is a means of storing memories for people like me. A simple memory of past which then sounded absurd may reveal a beautiful memory of childhood. Back then, I thought my hair was messy, background wasn’t perfect and I was ugly. But then again the pic looks beautiful now with all its imperfections perfectly apt. Just like the famous quote ‘Life was better when Apple & Blueberry were mere fruits’, this memory remained with me as we had to print each photo in previous times. There was no option to recheck & store in digital view and print only if satisfied. So it is perfect to have imperfect shots for they happen to delight us one day regardless of worldwide appraisal or an award.

Mobile phones have quite advanced cameras, so portable & weightless cameras which we carry anyway as part of our lifestyle give us a significant advantage over normal costly & heavy cameras. Mobile cameras come up with different set of options to take snapshots of scenery in various lighting effects like night view etc as well. It seems less complicated and needs less amount of skills to take a photo from mobile rather than normal camera.

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Photography for the Serious Amateur

How to Create Photo Stories

How To Create a Memorable Photo Essay

Susheel Chandradhas

  • March 17, 2007
  • Photo Project

In this Photo Project, we are going to explore how you can develop “Photo Stories”, or “Photo Essays”. Being able to tell a visual story without too many words is an important part of your capacity as a visual storyteller, and one skill that I had to take time and effort to develop. There are a number of different skills that you can develop and fine tune as you conceptualize, write, and photograph these stories, and learning how to create an engaging Photo Essay is one skill that you will take a lifetime to develop. That’s a guarantee.

As you develop your style, and your voice you will find your own ways to document, interpret and display the topic that you want to speak about, but let’s start with some simple steps that almost anyone will find useful!

Table of Contents

What Are Photo Stories?

Photo Stories or photo essays are a sequence of photographs that tell a story by themselves when placed together. They aim to inform, educate and to invoke emotion and empathy in the viewer. They’re a form of documentary photojournalism, and you’ll see them frequently in magazines along with some text. One of my favourite sources of photo stories is National Geographic magazine. You can usually understand most of what the text is about simply by looking at the accompanying photographs. Of course, the content is gripping too, but for many people it is the photographs that make the magazine what it is.

How Can I Photograph a Photo Story?

Now, down to business. It’s easy to start making photo stories, but as you develop your skill, you’ll find that it can also be challenging. Here are a few guiding steps to help you get started with creating engaging Photo Essays.

Pick a Topic to Document in Your Photo Essay

You would start by choosing a topic, preferably something which is close to your heart and easy to access. Try doing something like “A day in the life of…” series for your family or just a series of photographs of something in your neighbourhood. This will get you in the mood for more challenging series…

A sequence of images that tell a surreal story.

You could then move on to more interesting time-based stories, like capturing certain buildings and their interiors over the passage of a day, or a year! The working of a local charity, featuring the key people behind it and the work that they do, the people their work benefits would make an impressive photo story. Here’s a decent attempt at capturing a Russian, Ilya, and the 44 disabled dogs that he cares for. The photo story is in Russian , but it could be in any language and not make much of a difference. The story is still there.

Don’t Feel Intimidated By The Task

Photo stories are most often seen in journalism and reportage of events as in this photo story about Riots in Dublin but there’s no reason why they can’t be used to tell interesting everyday stories too, like this “ Story of a parrot ” by Subhasish or Surreal stories like Xylonets ‘ “ If You Go Out to the Barn Tonight . . . You Better Not Go Alone ” and this one about the “ Modern Family ” by bihua .

Try To Capture Moments and Emotions

Remember that what you are trying to do is to capture the key moments that define what ever it is you are photographing. You can imagine that you’re capturing multiple slices of time that convey the story that you want to tell. Capture different types of images, portraits, action shots, sequences, establishing shots showing locations and environments. Don’t hold back, capture it all.

Among those shots, also try capturing a variety of emotions , good moments, sad moments, interactions between people, interactions between things – objects and places – and also capture some of the surroundings in these shots to convey some of the contextual information that can’t be put into words.

Essential skills that you’ll need will be good composition, a discerning eye for detail that could add meaning to the photograph and good communication skills (if your story is about people). But, worry not if this list sounds daunting, for we are all learning… That’s why I asked you to start with an easy topic, remember?

Creating photo-stories helps you to refine your skill in composition and portraiture, and if you’re doing something outdoors, maybe even your landscape skills. Remember, there are no hard and fast rules as long as you capture the essence of what you are trying to convey.

Get Familiar With Your Equipment

If you are intimately familiar with your equipment, you are free to focus your attention on the world around you, and the scenes that are unfolding around you all the time. That’s not to say that you should not pay attention to the technical aspects of photography… By all means, be aware of your exposure settings, and the aesthetics of the photograph that you’re trying to capture, but also be aware of your surroundings, and observant of what is about to happen next .

Edit Before You Show

In writing, an editor is a person who looks over your work, understands what it is about, and makes or suggests changes to make the piece more cohesive, understandable and polished. They may suggest that you add or remove content of the overall piece to be more understandable. You should do the same with your Photo Essay.

Once you have your photographs ready, look at them objectively and try to remove all the fluff . This is difficult as it requires you to put aside your own attachment to the images that you have just now captured so lovingly. However, removing extra images from the ones that you will eventually display makes the overall story more understandable, easier to take in, and quicker to get your message across.

If you feel that you have missed out an important part of the overall message, you may want to go back and take a few more photographs to complete your story.

Presenting Your Photo Story

The ideal old-world finish to the photo-story is to print your pictures out and paste them in a photo-book with larger pictures wherever you want to emphasise the photograph and to show some extra detail in it. You could also put together a multimedia presentation like this one made by the baltimore sun . These days, its not all that difficult to do. Otherwise you can just put them together in a folder on your computer and number them 001, 002, and so on so that they are displayed in order when seen with a slide show software. [TIP:] The two zeros in front of numerals zero to nine ensure that they are not displayed just before ten and twenty.

Remember that your work needs a title and a short introduction to set the stage. After that, let the images speak for themselves.

Each time you create a photo essay, you will learn more, and it will be come an easier process as you become more adept at knowing what you’re trying to achieve with each photograph. But each step forward will most likely also show you a few more steps down your journey. There is so much to learn on the way to your destination.

Share Your Work With Us

We’d love to see your work! Feel free to tag us on Instagram , and use the hashtag #BPTprojects . I encourage other members of the BPT community to offer their thoughts in a constructive manner so that we can all grow together. Remember to be kind, and generous with your critique.

You can also leave a link to your photo-essay in the comments down below.

Challenge Yourself with More Photo Projects

If you’re interested in more photo projects, check out the other Photo Projects that we already have, ready for you at the Photo Project page . Get into the game and continue to develop your eye, with more projects like this.

Thank you for reading this, and we hope that you have a great deal of fun working on your first photo-essay.

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Susheel Chandradhas

  • Susheel Chandradhas

Susheel Chandradhas is a Product Photographer and Filmmaker based in India. He has been taking photographs (almost) all his life. He has a diploma and a bachelors degree in Visual Communication, where his classmates all believed that he would write a book on photography... Instead, he writes on this website (because - isn't a community more fun?).

His passions include photography, parkour, wide-angle lenses, blue skies, fire extinguishers, and fast computers.

In addition to writing for Beyond Photo Tips, Susheel is a staff writer for Fstoppers.com , and owns and runs ColoursAlive, a photography, and video production studio.

You can connect with Susheel on Twitter , Instagram , or LinkedIn .

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Hey, thanks for this brilliant idea! I’ve started Bullet Journalling and photo stories will be the perfect way to supplement what I write. I’ll report back when I’m done! 😀

I’m sure everyone here would love to see some of your photo stories, if they aren’t too personal, of course. We have a group on Flickr, so if you’re up for it you can upload to Flickr, and share your stories in the group. https://www.flickr.com/groups/beyondphototips/

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Published: March 17, 2007 | Last Updated: June 9, 2023

essay on my favourite photograph

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Ielts cue card # 221 - describe a photograph that you remember well, describe a photograph that you remember well..

  •   when it was taken
  •   who took it
  •   what is in the photograph

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PhotolisticLife - PhotolisticLife

Some Of My Favorite Photographs Of 2014 – An Essay

0714_untitled_031-2

I’m going to do something a little different to keep you on your toes, I’m going to share with you some of my favorite shots that I’ve taken this year and tell you a little about what motivated me and what I would/will do differently the next time around.  These may not be the best shots I’ve taken this year but they are a small selection of my favorite ones.

I’m not going to talk about camera settings or gear either, if you’d like to know specifics you can leave a comment at the end of the article.  I’m finding that the cameras settings don’t mean jack if you aren’t in front of something interesting.

I don’t intend for this article to sound pompous or in any way infer that I think my photography is the best around, quite the opposite actually.  I am writing to share my thoughts on some of the photography that, this year, I felt was some of my favorite work.  If you recognize some of these shots from previous articles that is because I do 99% of the photography for PhotolisticLife and have probably used them in various articles.

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I felt like this photograph was as good as any to begin the journey of reflecting on my photography of 2014.  It reminds me that there are still some great shots to be had in locations close to home.  This shot was instrumental in 2014 for a number of reasons but the most profound was that it proved, once again, that I didn’t need to travel to some far off place to find interesting shots.  If we are being honest, many of us fall into the train of thought that we have photographed everything around us so what’s the point of picking up the camera unless we are going someplace new.

I liked this shot because of the color, lighting, and simplicity.  The greens came out perfectly and the pattern of the ferns along the path, though complex in and of themselves, actually make the scene less complex.  They cover all the chaos that usually lies on the ground in a forest.  The light and dark areas in the image work really well together, giving the image a sort of mysterious “let’s go and see what’s around the bend” feeling to me.

W ould Do Differently

I have and will continue to visit this area to see how different times of the day impact the lighting and try to find an even better version of this shot.  I would also enjoy coming back here on a hot summer evening and capture the light trails of lightning bugs as they meander around the path.  Perhaps capturing a person hiking along the trail would add some context to the photograph.

JMB_5942

I’ll sprinkle in some of my Street Photography because I spent the better part of this year focusing on it. I didn’t start the year off intending to focus on Street Photography but as I worked on a Street Photography series for PhotolisticLife my passion for this style of photography grew. I found that I enjoyed capturing the human condition and I never ran out of subjects. I also like the challenge that is Street Photography. Taking a photograph of a stranger in the street is easy, capturing quality Street Photography is a true challenge that eludes most.

The shot above was taken outside of the New York Public Library in, you guessed it, New York City. Sadly, the man was homeless and seemed like he may have had some mental issues going on as well. This shot made me sad and I wanted to capture it in a way that conveyed that to viewers (that part was not difficult) as well as held viewers attention (much more difficult). What good is an image meant to tell a story if you can’t get anyone to stick around long enough to “read” it?

For me, the pigeons are what anchor a viewers eyes to this image. The pigeon in mid-flight, contrasted against the light-colored wall, grabs my attention and directs my gaze to the man. The direction of the flying pigeon, towards the homeless mans, implies a flight path (much like a leading line) right towards the man.

I’d like to have spent more time with this subject, the amount of pigeons kept changing and I think more pigeons would have made the image more interesting. I also think catching more pigeons in the air would have looked interesting. Getting closer to the subject was not really an option for a couple of reasons…. First, I was not sure how he would react. Second, I felt like getting too close could make him feel uncomfortable and at the end of the day I want to capture the human condition not make it worse.

0714_untitled_244

This year was my best Landscape Photography year I’ve had yet, I’m not entirely sure why but I would venture to guess it’s just a natural learning curve that every photographer follows.  I wouldn’t say I visited anywhere out of the ordinary and I certainly didn’t spend a ton of time on Landscape Photography like I had in previous years.  I won’t even mention my gear because that has little to no impact on my abilities to compose an image.

The shot above was taken in the Adirondacks in New York State on Lake George.  I had to submerge my tripod in the lake in about 2 feet of water and hope that the passing boats waves didn’t knock my $5,000 worth of camera and lens into the drink (don’t worry, I had my hands next to it as if I was waiting for someone to drop a newborn baby).

I wish I could say I had some incredible motivation to take this shot but in all honesty it was the only place I could climb down the steep hill next to the lake.  I did use a ND filter to make the water look like glass and reflect the beautiful sky colors and the shadows of the trees.

There are a few reasons why this photograph stand out to me as one of my favorite shots this year, color, reflections, and clarity.  The color in the photograph is not a Photoshop adjustment, the shot was taken during “Blue Hour” and that is why it looks more blue.  The reflections of the color and trees was made possible by using a ND filter to make the water look as though it was glass.

If I ever visit this same spot again I would like to try this same shot on a clear day and see if I can get some stars in the sky after the sun has gone down.  This is one of those shots you could do over and over again, day after day, to see how different colors and weather patterns impact the quality of the shot.

I think if I do return to Lake George I will skip this area all together and head to one of the many small islands and find much more interesting landscapes.  I have a few shots in my mind that would look incredible in this area, you are far enough away from any large towns that Landscape Astrophotography would be stellar here (pun intended).

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This shot is called A New York Minute, it was as deliberate as photographs come.  It took me a few tries to get the shutter speed exactly where I wanted it to blur the cab just enough that you could still recognize it but knew it was moving quickly.  The shot was taken very early in the morning before Times Square was bustling with thousands of people.  The idea was that I would catch a cab moving quickly with a little blur to give the impression that the city is always moving quickly.  Did I achieve this?

I like the color, the emphasis is on the yellow cab which would not stand out as much in a black and white version of this image (I know, I tried).  The cross walk walks a fine line with me…  On one side it enhances the image because of its neat pattern but on the other it comes close to competing with the cab for attention.  Either way, I like it in the image as it draws your eyes forward and then around to the left over the cross walk towards the yellow cab.

More people!  I think capturing this same photograph with more people crossing the road directly in front of me would have looked neat and would have added to the “bustling city” vibe.  I really wish I would have lowered the camera about two feet and got a shot closer to the ground (I do this often and am surprised I didn’t think to do it).  Changing the perspective like that could have really improved the shot (perhaps).

0714_untitled_081-2

This is hands down my favorite Street Photography shot of 2014.  I captured this photograph at the end of a rather long photo walk through Pittsburgh, it’s one of those photographs that I think of when I’m ready to call it a day and need motivation to push on just a little further.

This is one of those situations where if you were looking for it you’d never find it but because I had my camera I was prepared for the unexpected.  What’s that quote by Seneca?

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Very little editing went into this photograph, the colors were spot on and I couldn’t ask for better contrast between the subject and it’s surroundings.  The color of the statue, red, really helps to draw emphasis to the boy sleeping on it.  I really like the irony of the photograph as well, if you look close you can see the camera laying on his legs.  The Street Photographer becomes the subject of a great Street Photograph…  Almost like a painter walking right into his canvas and becoming part of his painting.

This is one of my favorite shots of 2014 and I think it’s pretty close to exactly what I want but there is always room for improvement.  I would liked to have gotten closer but part of me thinks it would not have been as dynamic because more of the statue would have been cut off and that is something that really adds to the image.  Perhaps the angle could have been adjusted to where more of the resting photographers face would have been shown.

0314_untitled_048-3

The only thing more difficult than Street Photography to me is Landscape Astrophotography.  This shot was a “selfie” taken by setting the camera’s shutter delay to 10 or so seconds in order for me to run out to the other end of the dock.  This shot was taken at Kiawah Island in South Carolina while visiting there with my family.

The motivation for this shot came from seeing some beautiful shots of photographers with headlamps in the mountains shining into the stars.  Many of my photographs begin with inspiration from other great photographs.  I often draw inspiration from other paintings or photography that interest me.  The key is to allow others work to inspire you and putting your own spin on it rather than trying to copy it.

I take pride in the minimal editing I do as a photographer, this picture is no different.  This isn’t a combination of shots, there are no Photoshop layers here.  The noise was reduced and there were some other minor adjustments to clarity, shadows, exposure, etc..  I love the vast number of stars and their reflections on the river as well as the mixture of light throughout the image (see the reflection of the LED light on the dock).  This is easily one of my favorite shots I’ve taken, not only this year but ever.

I’d like to play around with the composition next time around, maybe be a little closer to the camera.  A clearer night would eliminate the light pollution you see over the distant island but I’m not sure I would do away with that…  I am on the fence.  Part of me would like to see how it would look but the other part feels like it introduces a little warmth into an image with a lot of cooler tones.

The camera was fairly low to the dock in this image but I would like to try lowering it even further to change the perspective.  Normally I would spend a lot more time playing with different perspectives but the bugs were biting I had gotten up very early to capture some morning fog burning off at the beach.

0315_untitled_030 copy

This image has made it onto my wall above my television in my living room…  I just loved this shot.  I loved taking it and I still love looking at it.  The shot takes me back to a carefree time and reminds me not to take life to seriously.  It’s also proof that Street Photography doesn’t have to happen on the street.

I woke up early one morning and checked the weather, the night before had been foggy and I was hoping it was still around.  Luckily, the fog was dense and it stuck around long enough for me capture this shot.  This was one of those situations where preparation met opportunity.  I noticed the woman riding her bike towards me while I was photographing the flock of birds she tried to murder with her bike, luck had it that she veered off course to have a little fun at the birds expense.

I really like the feeling this photograph gives, the story it tells can be any ones story.  The fog plus the black and white processing really brings out the emotion in the image.  I also like the larger bird flying towards the center of the frame, almost as if it’s the bird the bike rider is after.

There was not a whole lot I could do differently, the moment was there one second and gone the next.  I do wish I would have knelt down and tried a lower perspective, one from the birds point of view.  Perhaps a zoom lens would have been nice, seeing the riders face could have been priceless.

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The shot above was taken on the same dock as the Landscape Astrophotography shot above.  Using a Neutral Density filter in landscape photography is almost a given anytime I venture out.  I think that the effects of the ND filter are surreal without straying away from the fundamentals of photography (it’s not really an effect you can reproduce in Photoshop).

There were a few things going on in this shot that I really enjoyed; the colors were incredibly vibrant, the reflections on the water (because of the ND filter) and the clouds in the sky all come together to make this shot look good.  The only think I would change in this shot is I’d like to have had the human element in it…  Maybe a boy sitting on the dock facing the sunset, or a couple.

There you have it, a small sampling of some of my favorite shots I took this year.  I always encourage readers to go back through their archives and look at their previous work to see what they can improve on and how they’ve grown as photographers.  What better time that the start of a new year?

John Barbiaux

Quote of the Day

  • My Favorite Photo Essay Example

I was never a big fan a photos when i was younger and that hasn't really changed. I was one of those people who were socially anxious and honestly, kind of awkward. When someone pulled the camera out I would hide or just casually walk away, and when they forced me I'd be sporting an awkward smile. Whenever people would look old through photos I wouldn't be around just in case one of me would come around. They'd love them, yet I would hate them.

As I started looking for photos, I realized that it was going to be a harder task than I once thought. Looking back on photos of myself isn't my favorite thing to do. That wasn't the only issue I ran into though. There was a plethora of photos to choose from, it seemed like my mother always had her camera out. It's kind of crazy to think that I have my birth, today and everything in between locked and frozen in a picture.

I may not like looking at myself but I find it really interesting to see others in old photos. In a lot of my old photos, my parents, they look so young. I often wonder what they were thinking or what was going on while the picture was being taken. It's always cool to see pictures of my grandmas and aunts from when they were kids. Back when these photos were taken, everything was so different. It's like your looking at a stranger, but they look oddly familiar.

There are many photos of me as a child, and in almost all of them I am wearing nothing more than basketball shorts and a tank top. I loved being outside when I was little, so basketball shorts were the perfect outfit, especially on a hot Ohio summer day. My brother and I wore very similar clothing most of the time; My family thought it would be nice if we matched. This lead to many conflicts when they would buy us the same shorts, we would always fight about whos is whos. In my photo, I stood there grinning while wearing my usual attire. I quite obviously fit into the category of a stereotypical young boy then.

I was a relatively skinny kid when I was growing up. A little pudge here and there but it was nothing noticeable. It wasn't until I got older when I, to be frank, became lazier that the weight started to add up. I hit 5th grade and that when people started to notice it as an issue. My mother would tell me to portion more and stop overeating. I didn't listen to it's been an uphill battle ever since. The playing field wasn't leveled until my freshman year when I started putting the effort in.

There is one photo that I remember so vividly. It was from my 3rd birthday and I was at the park with my family. I believe it was one of my aunts who took the photo. We were all sitting around my cake under one of the park's shelters, I was sitting in the middle.

I still remember I was in my favorite Thomas the tank engine shirt and blue jeans. I had the biggest grin on my face because I got the Scooby-Doo themed birthday that I had been dreaming of. My cousin, Madison, was positioned right next to me as she anxiously awaited to dig into the cake with me.

I can relive that memory like it just happened yesterday. I can see the happiness on my family members faces. I can feel the excitement inside of me. I wanted the time for cake and food to be over because I couldn’t wait to open my presents. I remember my mother pushing me in the swing right next to the shelter. I also remember the approaching rain clouds that ended up washing it all away, leaving only memories.

Back when the photo was taken and on to my early teens, my dad was my one of my favorite people. We used to work on things together and he'd be the first person I talked to when I had an idea. To me, he was awesome, even a role model and I took on many of his characteristics. In the photo, he was wearing his usual flannel and jeans, which to me was awesome. But as I grew into my later years, I realized many things I was blind to when I was younger. My father wasn't the man that I once thought he was, but instead just a shadow. I still have to fix the things he helped break.

I've come to realize that my mother is one of the only reasons that the party, I so fondly remember, happened. When I was younger my mom wasn't the most exciting person. She was a stay at home mom when I was little and always got me what I needed. She would make me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch every day and we would eat together then tend to the garden. I wouldn't realize until years later that she wanted a job, wanted to eat more than that lousy sandwich and that she would help change our families lives in the greatest way possible.

My childhood was bliss when I was living it, but when I now look back upon it I realized that I was blind to what was really happening. So many things make more sense now, and I'm frankly happy that I didn't see them growing up. People in my family tried hard to make my life as fun as it could be I really appreciate them more for their efforts if I could, I don't think I would change a thing. The tribulations we went through then, make today seem that much better. My childhood may have been unfortunate but my today is pretty great.

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IELTS DATA

Describe one of your favorite photographs

# describe one of your favorite photographs, – when the photograph was taken, – what it looks like, – why you like it.

Well, I always click the number of photos on different sorts of occasions like a birthday party, wedding, school and college functions. But, now I would like to talk about one of my favorite photograph which I really like.

I remember last year my brother’s wedding that time clicked a lot of selfies with my brother, my family, relatives, and friends. After it, I and my friends went to the garden side and there I saw the number of flowers such as lily, sunflower, all types of roses. The most interesting thing, I love red roses and we all clicked the pictures together but, that time I wanted to click picture alone with flowers and wonderful background.

Suddenly, the photographer came to that place and he clicked photos without my permission besides, when he showed me that pictures I became very happy because of the view.

That day I properly dress up and dress also suits me. Well, I explain a little. That time I wore red color floor touch gown it was a simple gown and, I did a high messy bun as well as, I also wore golden bangle earrings. Most of my favorite thing I wore red high heels footwear.

Interestingly, I stood around the red and blue roses as well as, full background covered with greenery and, that showed me and beauty of nature which thing I really like. This picture is hanging on the wall in my room. My family members also love this photograph as well, when I see this picture I remember all the moment even, I never forget this picture and wedding of the brother rest of my life.

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Table of Contents

  • 1.0.1 – when the photograph was taken
  • 1.0.2 – what it looks like
  • 1.0.3 – why you like it

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Describe a picture or photograph in your family Cue Card Sample Answers

Zuhana

Updated On Dec 06, 2023

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Describe a picture or photograph in your family Cue Card Sample Answers

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This article contains the ‘ Describe a picture or photograph in your family’  Cue Card Sample Answers.

During Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test, you will have exactly one minute to prepare and speak on a specific topic. This is the IELTS cue card task. You can learn how to communicate clearly and successfully by reviewing sample answers.

‘ Describe a picture or photograph in your family’ IELTS cue card gives you an opportunity to share one of your opinions  on a picture or photograph in your family.

For more Cue Cards, take a look at  IELTS Speaking Part 2 | Topics, Questions and Samples Answers .

Get 5 quick tips on how to approach IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Cue Cards .

‘Describe a picture or photograph in your family’ IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card – Question

Band 7 sample answer.

The photograph that was taken when I was only 4-5 years old with my parents, grandfather, and grandmother is one of my favorite photographs.

I do not have a clear memory of the event at which the photograph was taken but I have seen it thousands of times and still, I look at it with delight and sadness. The photograph is a black-and-white one and later I enlarged it and framed it in my living room. My grandparents and parents make the picture really significant to me.

I look with amazement into the picture and sometimes can’t believe I was so small and different at that time. The picture gives me gloomy feelings as my grandfather and mother are no longer with us. In the picture, they seem so lively but I can’t be with them anymore! This photograph is probably my favorite one as it keeps me closer to my grandparents and reminds me of how we were a happy family. Every time I look at this particular picture, it gives a different sensation – a mixture of happiness and sadness. This is a priceless possession to me and I would like to cherish it for the rest of my life.

Band 9 Sample Answer

Click on the audio to listen to the sample answer below. Pay attention to the intonation and pronunciation of the words.

As I am interested in photography, I have taken thousands of photos. However, the most meaningful photograph to me is the big family portrait that is hung on the wall of my living room and it is the first thing that everyone notices the moment they walk into my house.

The photograph was taken one year ago on a summer holiday. It was the first time that my family enjoyed the summer vacation together. We decided to go on a trip to Sam Son Beach which is one of the most popular destinations for a summer holiday in my country.

The photo was probably the first picture of my whole family – my parents, my older brother, my little sister, and me. It is such a brilliant photo, with everyone standing on the beach and smiling. A professional photographer captured this moment and his absolutely brilliant skills show in the picture. You can even see the crystal clear water sparkling under the sunlight and the seashore in the background. It was a scorching hot day, and the sky was blue with no clouds, making it a perfect scene to take a photo.

The photo is very special to me. Whenever I feel unhappy, just looking at the picture cheers me up right away. I believe that no matter what happens, my parents and my siblings will always stand by me and support me.

  • Portrait:  a painting, drawing, or engraving of a person. Eg:  I was mesmerized seeing the portrait gallery in Chennai.
  • Destination:  the place to where a person is going or being sent to Eg:  We reached our destination on the train.
  • Absolutely:  with no qualification, limitation, or restriction. Eg:  Her puppy is absolutely adorable.
  • Crystal clear:  completely transparent and uncounted. Eg:  Although she’s in her thirties, her skin is crystal clear.
  • Scorching:  very hot; severe Eg:  She fainted as she stood for a long time under the scorching heat.
  • Enlarged:  having become big or been made larger. Eg:  The balloon enlarged when Sam pumped air into it.
  • Gloomy:  dark or poorly lit; causing or feeling depressed. Eg:  After the separation, Raj became a gloomy person.
  • Priceless:  invaluable, precious due to rarity. Eg:  Her grandmother’s antique jewelry was priceless.

‘Describe a picture or photograph in your family’ Part 3 – Follow-Up Question

1. How important is it for families to preserve and share photographs?

A:  Preserving and sharing family photographs is crucial as they serve as visual records of our history, fostering a sense of identity and connection among family members. It helps preserve memories and traditions for future generations.

2. In what ways do family photographs contribute to the emotional bond within a family?

A:  Family photographs capture special moments, creating a tangible link to shared experiences. When revisited, these images evoke emotions and strengthen the emotional bond among family members, reinforcing the sense of togetherness.

3. Can you share an instance where a family photograph played a significant role in your life or the life of someone you know?

A:  Certainly, there was a photo of my grandparents at their wedding that became a cherished family heirloom. It symbolized enduring love and commitment, serving as a source of inspiration for succeeding generations in our family.

4. How have advancements in technology affected the way families document and share their memories through photographs?

A:  Technological advancements have revolutionized the way families document memories. With the ease of digital photography and social media, families can instantly capture and share moments globally, promoting a more widespread and instantaneous exchange of memories.

5. Do you think there are any drawbacks to relying heavily on photographs to preserve family memories?

A:  While photographs are invaluable, relying solely on them may lead to a curated version of reality. It’s essential to balance digital documentation with genuine experiences and interactions to ensure a holistic and authentic representation of family life.

Also, Check

  • Describe A Family You Know
  • Describe Your Family
  • Describe a family event you are looking forward to
  • Describe a family picnic or tour you have had
  • Talk about a hobby someone in your family has
  • Describe an experience of teaching your friend or family member
  • Describe a Family Member
  • Describe a family not your own that you like

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Top 10 IELTS Cue Cards + Band 9 Answers

Zuhana

Nafia Zuhana is an experienced content writer and IELTS Trainer. Currently, she is guiding students who are appearing for IELTS General and Academic exams through ieltsmaterial.com. With an 8.5 score herself, she trains and provides test takers with strategies, tips, and nuances on how to crack the IELTS Exam. She holds a degree in Master of Arts – Creative Writing, Oxford Brookes University, UK. She has worked with The Hindu for over a year as an English language trainer.

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essay on my favourite photograph

Sudhir Kumar kushwaha

Posted on Nov 25, 2021

It is very helpful Good bless you

essay on my favourite photograph

Ashma Bharat

Posted on Oct 13, 2021

Its brilient, really very knowledgeable, easy and helpful…..keep it up

essay on my favourite photograph

Posted on Sep 9, 2021

Thank you for your hard work. You will be always remembered. Stay blessed!

essay on my favourite photograph

Posted on Jul 25, 2021

nice sir very helpfull thanku

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Describe Your Favorite Photograph

Published on February 23, 2022 by English Proficiency Editorial Team

IELTS Cue Card Sample Question – Describe Your Favorite Photograph

The IELTS Cue Card section also referred to as the IELTS Speaking Task 2 , is one of the parts of the IELTS test that has caused a lot of stress and anxiety among those who have taken it. 

Why? It is because, for starters, you are asked to address a subject about which you may be unfamiliar.

Second, you only have a short amount of time to prepare. To make matters worse, you must speak for a longer period without being interrupted by the examiner. Fret no more! 

Sample responses to the cue card topic ‘Describe your favorite photograph.’ are provided in this post. Keep reading.  

What is the IELTS Cue Card Question?

How to answer this specific question: “describe your favorite photograph”, sample response 1:, sample response 2: , vocabulary list for answering the question: “describe your favorite photograph”.

The examiner will offer you a topic card in Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test . This card is called a cue card. A brief summary of a topic will be included on the card, and some suggestions for what to include.

The theme will be related to someone you know, an event you attended, or things you like. You have a minute to plan. You will be provided with a piece of paper and a pencil by the examiner so that you can jot down some ideas.

The examiner will invite you to begin your presentation after one minute, giving your speech. 

You have up to two minutes to speak without interruption from the examiner. The examiner will listen without speaking, although they may nod or gesture to encourage you to continue speaking. 

After your 2 minutes is over, the examiner will instruct you to stop and very certainly ask you 1-2 questions about the subject. You need to give short answers to these questions.

Topic/Question

Describe Your Favorite Photograph

Guidelines to answer this question

You should say:

  • Who or what in the photograph was/were
  • When it was taken
  • Where it was taken

and explain why you love this photograph.

  • Think of a photograph that you like the most. It could be a personal photograph or simply a photograph you have seen somewhere in the past. Whatever this photograph is, ensure that you have a vivid picture of how this photo looks so you can describe it well later on. 
  • The moment you have decided what photograph to discuss, stick to it. You only have a little time to prepare so you should not change your mind. 
  • Write down ideas right away. State what and who is in the photograph. Describe what it looks like and when and where it was taken. Discuss how you feel whenever you look at it and explain why it is your favorite photograph. 
  • Keep in mind that you should maximize the time given, so you should not write sentences. Just write keywords and phrases. 
  • Employ a wide range of advanced vocabulary. Utilize complicated grammatical structures too. This will amaze the examiner and will give you a good chance of receiving a high mark on this section of the examination.
  • Be as quick as possible when taking notes. Nonetheless, ensure that you will be able to understand what you have written later on. If the examiner cannot read what you wrote, that is alright. Your grade is determined by the content and delivery of your speech, not the quality of your penmanship.
  • You may take a quick look at your notes now and then. It is permissible. You will not be prevented from doing so by the examiner. That is, after all, why you have been given a pen and a piece of paper.

Sample Responses: “Describe Your Favorite Photograph”

“Photographs are the most effective means of preserving memorable occasions in our lives. Over the course of my life, I’ve amassed a large collection of interesting photos. These were taken in various locations with various people and meant a lot to me. A photo of my family is the most memorable in my collection.

It was taken in March 2012, when my family gathered for the wedding of one of my cousins. We had all traveled to Delhi to attend a wedding and had a wonderful time. We were running late for the last day’s reception ceremony, and when the morning chaos had subsided, and the family elders had squabbled over minor issues, we were ready to depart. My grandfather’s next-door neighbor was a happy person who jokingly invited everyone to come for a family photo. We all obliged, and the photo was taken once everyone had calmed down.

It holds a particular place in my heart because it was the last photo of my entire family. My grandfather died a few months after the wedding, and my cousin went abroad to continue his studies. As a result, December 2010 was the last time we saw the entire family happy and together, and the photograph serves as a reminder of that wonderful moment.”

Follow-up Question 1: 

What do you think are the differences between today’s photography and that of the past? 

“Photography has obviously changed a lot. From strips of films that needed to be developed in darkrooms, we only needed a smartphone or a digital camera, and we could take photos anytime, anywhere. And we can take a lot of photos without having to worry we would run out of shots. It’s really cool.”

Follow-up Question 2:

Do you like photography? 

“Not really, I think I am not an artistic person, and I believe photography is for those who are creative and artistic. I do take photos from time to time but not as a hobby, but more as a requirement for something and for leisure. For example, when I go on a holiday, I take photos, but that’s it.”

“While looking through some old paperwork, I recently came upon an old photograph. From then on, it has become my favorite photograph.  A newlywed pair is depicted in the photo. This was a black-and-white photograph, and with the passage of time, some of its components have become ruined. Other people can be seen standing behind the couple in the photo, and everyone appears to be smiling. That was, I believe, the era when black and white photography was the norm.

This is the first photograph of my parents’ marriage. Yes, they are the couple in the photo.  It is one of the few photos of their wedding. Taking a photograph back then was both difficult and expensive. The photograph is around 30 years old. It’s printed on a unique type of paper. I’ve never seen black-and-white photographs printed before. As a result, it was a unique experience for me. When I inquired about the photography of their wedding, my mother became emotionally reliving that day. She can still vividly remember everything that happened on that special day. 

For me, this is a special photograph. It depicts how a wedding ceremony was held in the past. I’d always been curious about my family’s history, and my parents’ marriage was an essential factor in this. The photographer has taken the photo from the correct perspective, and all of the elements are evenly represented in the image. Despite its age, this photograph has a certain charm to it, and it makes me happy every time I look at it. That is why this is my favorite photograph.”

Follow-up Question 1:

What do you prefer when taking photos, a camera or a smartphone?

“Well, I prefer to take photos using a camera. I actually own one right now, and I bring it with me every time; you’ll never know when you’ll need them. I feel more connected to the subject or whatever it is that I’m taking a photo of when I use my camera instead of a smartphone.” 

You mentioned that you owned a camera earlier. What are your favorite subjects? 

“I like taking photos of a lot of things, but on top of my list, I’d have to say nature. I love taking photos of the beach, fields, mountains, and even animals. They’re just so calm and relaxing to look at.”

Below are some terms from the sample responses for the cue card topic ‘ Describe your favorite photograph .’ with their definitions and example sentences to guide you. 

Additional Reading — IELTS Speaking Cue Card Questions

  • Describe a Person You Admire
  • Describe Your Best Friend
  • Describe Someone Famous that You Want to Meet
  • Describe a Person Who You Think is a Good Leader
  • Describe a Neighbor You Like
  • Describe a Place You Want to Travel Next
  • Describe a Historical Place that You Have Been to
  • Describe a Place You and Your Friend Went to Recently
  • Describe a Place Where You Spend Most of Your Free Time
  • Describe a Country that You Want to Visit
  • Describe a Gift that You Have Received Recently
  • Describe an Item of Clothing that You Bought for Someone
  • Describe a Piece of Art that You Want to Buy
  • Describe Something that You Recently Lost
  • Describe a Vehicle that You Want to Buy
  • Describe an Activity that You Find Enjoyable
  • Describe a Place Where You Love to Shop
  • Describe an Event that You Recently Attended
  • Describe One of the Busiest Days of Your Life
  • Describe a Hobby that You Do with Your Family
  • Describe a Difficult Decision that You Made
  • Describe a Time When You Felt Lucky
  • Describe the First Time You Had a Mobile Phone
  • Describe a Time When You Helped a Stranger
  • Describe a Time When You Tried to Do Something but Weren’t Successful
  • Describe Your Favorite Teacher
  • Describe Your Favorite Subject in School
  • Describe Your Favorite Song
  • Describe Your Favorite Actor
  • Describe a Situation that Made You Upset
  • Describe a Time When You Had an Argument with Someone
  • Describe One of the Happiest Travels You Ever Had
  • Describe an Incident When You Got Scared
  • Describe a Time When You Felt Relieved
  • Describe a Workaholic Person You Know
  • Describe an Interesting Course You Took
  • Describe a Time When Someone at Work Gave You a Compliment
  • Describe a Quiet Place at School Where You Like Spending Your Free Time
  • Describe a Time When Something Unfortunate Happened at Work

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essay on my favourite photograph

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Sophia Bush comes out as queer, confirms relationship with Ashlyn Harris

Sophia Bush

Actor Sophia Bush came out as queer in an emotional essay in Glamour and confirmed she’s in a relationship with retired U.S. Women’s National Team soccer player Ashlyn Harris. 

“I sort of hate the notion of having to come out in 2024,” Bush wrote in a cover story for the fashion magazine published Thursday. “But I’m deeply aware that we are having this conversation in a year when we’re seeing the most aggressive attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community in modern history.” 

Bush noted that there were more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills proposed in state legislatures last year and said this motivated her to “give the act of coming out the respect and honor it deserves.” 

“I’ve experienced so much safety, respect, and love in the queer community, as an ally all of my life, that, as I came into myself, I already felt it was my home,” she wrote. “I think I’ve always known that my sexuality exists on a spectrum. Right now I think the word that best defines it is queer . I can’t say it without smiling, actually. And that feels pretty great.”

The “One Tree Hill” star filed for divorce from entrepreneur Grant Hughes in August. People magazine first reported in October that Bush and Harris were dating, but neither confirmed nor commented on the report. The pair later attended an Oscar’s viewing party together in March . 

In the essay, Bush addressed online rumors that her relationship with Harris began before Harris had officially divorced from fellow soccer star Ali Krieger, in September. 

“Everyone that matters to me knows what’s true and what isn’t,” Bush wrote. “But even still there’s a part of me that’s a ferocious defender, who wants to correct the record piece by piece. But my better self, with her earned patience, has to sit back and ask, What’s the f------- point? For who? For internet trolls? No, thank you. I’ll spend my precious time doing things I love instead.”

Bush said that after news about her and Harris became public, her mom told her that a friend called and said, “Well, this can’t be true. I mean, your daughter isn’t gay .” 

“My mom felt that it was obvious, from the way her friend emphasized the word, that she meant it judgmentally,” Bush wrote. “And you know what my mom said? ‘Oh honey, I think she’s pretty gay. And she’s happy .’”

Bush wrote that she felt like she was wearing a weighted vest that she could finally put down. 

“I finally feel like I can breathe,” Bush wrote. “I turned 41 last summer, amid all of this, and I heard the words I was saying to my best friend as they came out of my mouth. ‘I feel like this is my first birthday,’ I told her. This year was my very first birthday.”

For more from NBC Out, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

essay on my favourite photograph

Jo Yurcaba is a reporter for NBC Out.

Most of my favorite apps are ditching one-time payments for subscriptions — this is a problem

Apps shouldn't be part of your monthly subscription budget

Pixel 8 Pro running apps that require subscriptions.

I already pay into a handful of subscriptions each month, all totaling well over $100 when I add them all up. From watching all of the best Netflix movies , to Nintendo Switch Online to replay my favorite classics from the 80s, and even subscriptions like Google One to store all of my photos, it’s hard to find an area where subscription services aren't rampant. While I think it makes sense for those specific services, it annoys me that most of my favorite apps are increasingly moving towards a similar model.

For real, it needs to stop because it’s getting out of control — with oddball third-party apps trying to convince me they're worth buying into their subscriptions. Even though I was perhaps reluctant to shell out the $10 to $20 for an app a decade ago, I would gladly take back those one-time payments for apps instead of these subscription models. I’m referring to mostly the photo and video editing apps I’ve come to lean on with my smartphones.

Here’s why it’s a problem.

The freemium strategy

Pixel 8 Pro running apps that require subscriptions.

Most of the content creation apps I use go with a freemium strategy of hooking me in, only to put me in a bind later on. They’re free to use, but certain features are locked behind a paywall. Take Canva, for example, which is free to download and offers one of the richest tools to create simple and intuitive social media posts for me.

After getting acquainted with the app and its core features, there are advanced features that expand the app’s function to include more premium templates, effects and access to more cloud storage. If you’re like me and try to steer clear from using these features, these apps often tease their premium features at some point while using the app — whether it’s an advertisement overlaid in the app or somehow thrown in as an option in their tool set. What’s crazy is that it costs $120 for a yearly subscription for Canva Pro .

Another app I frequently use, CyberLink’s PowerDirector , keeps its watermark on videos I end up producing — that’s unless I ‘pay’ to remove it by subscribing to PowerDirector Premium for $6.99 per month. I remember paying $10 for Adobe’s Photoshop Touch app for iOS back in 2012, which seems like a huge savings looking back at it now.

The costs can add up quickly

Pixel 8 Pro running apps that require subscriptions.

As much as I love using the free features in these apps I use on the daily, paying for all the subscriptions to unlock their premium features can add up. Adobe Lightroom commands a $4.99 per month subscription, while Adobe Premiere Rush costs $4.99 for a monthly premium subscription. They would cover my photo and video editing needs, but that amounts to $120 a year for them — and these are just for two apps.

One of the best free apps I’ve been using to switch together video footage with that professional editing touch is CapCut. It’s tailored specifically for editing social media posts, so we’re talking about short 30 second clips made for Instagram Stories than anything else. However, it costs a whopping $13.99 per month for CapCut Pro. That’s $168 right there for the entire year.

I would gladly take apps that used to be available as one-time payments, which would lock me into the features until I decide to buy the newer version of the app. Sometimes I don’t need all the latest features, preferring to stick to what I already know and use. But another issue I have about these app subscriptions is that they don’t bundle them to give users more savings.

Desktop app subscriptions don’t cover mobile apps

Video Editing Tips

Whenever I use my photo and video editing apps, they’re mostly for quick and simple projects — so it’s not like I’d use them for bigger projects. That’s why desktop versions exist. Of course, the same subscription model is found with these desktop apps, but what annoys me more is that they don’t offer bundles to include their mobile versions.

For example, I pay into CyberLink’s Director Suite 365 service , which gives me PhotoDirector , PowerDirector , ColorDirector and AudioDirector . They cover everything I need for photo and video editing on my laptop, but it costs $29.99 per month — which turns out to be $360 for an entire year. My issue isn’t that cost, but rather, how the mobile versions of these apps aren’t included in the package.

Meaning, even if you pay into desktop versions of PowerDirector or PhotoDirector, you still need to pay separately for their respective mobile versions. I just wish that these developers could just offer one subscription that bundles in their mobile app versions. I’ve still yet to find one that does this.

Native phone tools ease this burden

I will admit, though, that phone makers are actually easing this burden of mine by natively offering premium features I find in some of these apps. Take the arduous process of removing unwanted objects in photos, like someone photobombing in the background of your selfie. Many of these mobile apps can let me remove them, but the function is locked behind their subscription.

That’s why I often lean on my phone’s native editing tools. The Pixel 8 Pro does this natively with Magic Eraser , while the Galaxy S24 Ultra has something similar with Generative Edit . I also love editing my astrophotography photos with the Google Photos app on my Pixel 8 Pro because there’s a denoise function that clears up my photos, which is actually a paid feature in CyberLink’s PhotoDirector app. I suppose this is my workaround from having to shell out the extra cost for these subscription services.

Yet, I’m annoyed that I can’t buy one version of any of these editing apps and expect to keep them forever. Like I’ve said, I would gladly take a one-time payment and maybe buy the new one two or three years later down the road when there’s enough new features to justify upgrading. Instead, I’m forced to either pay monthly or yearly for them.

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John Velasco

John’s a senior editor covering phones for Tom’s Guide. He’s no stranger in this area having covered mobile phones and gadgets since 2008 when he started his career. On top of his editor duties, he’s a seasoned videographer being in front and behind the camera producing YouTube videos. Previously, he held editor roles with PhoneArena, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and SPY. Outside of tech, he enjoys producing mini documentaries and fun social clips for small businesses, enjoying the beach life at the Jersey Shore, and recently becoming a first time homeowner.

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essay on my favourite photograph

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COMMENTS

  1. Describe one of your favourite photographs

    This is one of my most favourite pictures also because, in this very picture, I look to be in my "natural" self. Sample Answer 2: The photograph that was taken, when I was only 4-5 years old with my parents, grandfather and grandmother, is one of my very favourite photographs. I do not have clear memory regarding the event when the ...

  2. Essays About Photography: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

    This was done as a way of mourning; the subjects were made to look as if they were merely asleep to give their loved ones comfort that they had passed on peacefully and happily. Eventually, a reduction in the death rate led to the end of this practice. 5. Fashion photography by Sara Page.

  3. 23 Photo Essay Ideas and Examples (to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!)

    Here are some handy essay ideas and examples for inspiration! 1. A day in the life. Your first photo essay idea is simple: Track a life over the course of one day. You might make an essay about someone else's life. Or the life of a location, such as the sidewalk outside your house.

  4. 18 Immersive Photo Essay Examples & Tips

    5. Place Over Time. View the "At Home in the Ozarks" photo essay by Kylee Cole. If you want to document changes and show how the streets, buildings, and parks in your city change over time, select your favorite locations and start to visit them regularly to capture the way they look during different seasons. 6.

  5. How to Create an Engaging Photo Essay (+ Examples)

    3. Take your time. A great photo essay is not done in a few hours. You need to put in the time to research it, conceptualizing it, editing, etc. That's why I previously recommended following your passion because it takes a lot of dedication, and if you're not passionate about it - it's difficult to push through. 4.

  6. Describe one of your favourite photographs

    Describe one of your favourite photographs. You should say: when the photograph was taken. what it depicts. what memory this photograph holds. and explain why it is one of your favourite photographs. [You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say.

  7. IELTS Cue Card Sample 358

    Sample Answer 2: My favourite photograph is the one which hangs in my bedroom that of me and my entire family - my family which consists of my parents, my kids and my spouse. This photograph was clicked on the eve of an auspicious festival of India which goes by the name of Diwali. The photograph was taken around two years back at our house by ...

  8. Describe Your Favorite Photograph

    Below are some terms from the sample responses for the cue card topic 'Describe your favorite photograph.' with their definitions and example sentences to guide you. "Her works have helped her amass a sizable fortune.". "The ceremony began with a trumpet fanfare.". "His abrupt departure wrought chaos in the office.".

  9. 17 Awesome Photo Essay Examples You Should Try Yourself

    Top 17 Photo Essay Examples. Here are some fantastic ideas to get you inspired to create your own photo essays! 17. Photograph a Protest. Protests tend to be lively events. You will find people standing, moving, and holding banners and signs. This is a great way to practice on a moving crowd.

  10. How to Describe a Photo (IELTS Speaking)

    Cue Card: Describe a Photo. In part 2 of the IELTS speaking test, you could be given this cue card: Describe one of your favourite photographs. You should say: When the photograph was taken. What it looks like. What significant memory you have regarding this photograph. and explain why it is one of your favourite photographs.

  11. My favourite photograph Free Essay Example

    My favourite photograph. My favourite photograph is of me doing a bungee jump; it evokes memories from one of the best times of my life, when I visited Australia. Enroute to Australia, we stopped over in Hong Kong. I detested Hong Kong. It was dull, uninteresting and smoggy; the food was disgusting, not like the Chinese food here, and the ...

  12. My Favourite Photograph

    Ielts speaking topic on my favourite photographDescribe a picture or photograph in your familyFavourite photograph Cue Cardmy favorite photographWrite an ess...

  13. How To Create a Memorable Photo Essay

    Pick a Topic to Document in Your Photo Essay. You would start by choosing a topic, preferably something which is close to your heart and easy to access. Try doing something like "A day in the life of…" series for your family or just a series of photographs of something in your neighbourhood.

  14. 32 Photo Essay Examples (Plus Tips)

    32 Photo Essay Examples (Plus Tips) Photography is a medium that allows you to explore narratives and tell stories about the world around you. One form of storytelling is the photo essay. If you want to create your own photo essay, it can help to know the two main types of essays and some examples of potential subjects. In this article, we ...

  15. IELTS Cue Card # 221

    Describe a photograph that you remember well. You should say: when it was taken. who took it. what is in the photograph. and explain why you remember this photograph so well. Model Answer 1: I want to talk to you about a favourite photograph of mine. I'll explain when and where it was taken, and why it is important and memorable to me.

  16. Some Of My Favorite Photographs Of 2014

    This is hands down my favorite Street Photography shot of 2014. I captured this photograph at the end of a rather long photo walk through Pittsburgh, it's one of those photographs that I think of when I'm ready to call it a day and need motivation to push on just a little further. ... 0 replies on "Some Of My Favorite Photographs Of 2014 ...

  17. My Favorite Photo Essay Example

    There is one photo that I remember so vividly. It was from my 3rd birthday and I was at the park with my family. I believe it was one of my aunts who took the photo. We were all sitting around my cake under one of the park's shelters, I was sitting in the middle. I still remember I was in my favorite Thomas the tank engine shirt and blue jeans.

  18. Describe one of your favorite photographs

    Most of my favorite thing I wore red high heels footwear. Interestingly, I stood around the red and blue roses as well as, full background covered with greenery and, that showed me and beauty of nature which thing I really like. This picture is hanging on the wall in my room. My family members also love this photograph as well, when I see this ...

  19. Describe a picture or photograph in your family Cue Card Sample Answers

    Band 9 Sample Answer. Click on the audio to listen to the sample answer below. Pay attention to the intonation and pronunciation of the words. IELTS Material · Describe a picture or photograph in your family. As I am interested in photography, I have taken thousands of photos. However, the most meaningful photograph to me is the big family ...

  20. Essay on My Favourite Hobby: Photography

    Hobbies play a significant role in our lives, providing us with a sense of joy, relaxation, and personal fulfilment. Among the plethora of hobbies available, photography stands out as my absolute favourite. With a camera in hand, I am able to capture and freeze moments in time, immortalizing memories and expressing my creativity. In this.

  21. Essay on Memorable Family Moments Caught by Photography

    Memorable Family Moments Caught by Photography. Family photographs have enabled me to develop a way to keep my family with me all the time, even when they are really not there. These pictures of my family represent a wide variety of importance and emotions in my life. Many of them serves as a link to my home life, since I am away at college ...

  22. Essay on My Favourite Hobby Photography

    Essay on My Favourite Hobby Photography. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. In today's society, it is very hard to find a job after graduating from college. Currently, today's job market requires a very high degree of expertise and ...

  23. Describe Your Favorite Photograph

    The examiner will offer you a topic card in Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test. This card is called a cue card. A brief summary of a topic will be included on the card, and some suggestions for what to include. The theme will be related to someone you know, an event you attended, or things you like. You have a minute to plan.

  24. Sophia Bush comes out as queer, confirms relationship with Ashlyn Harris

    Actor Sophia Bush came out as queer in an emotional essay in Glamour and confirmed she's in a relationship with retired U.S. Women's National Team soccer player Ashlyn Harris.

  25. Most of my favorite apps are ditching one-time payments for

    From watching all of the best Netflix movies, to Nintendo Switch Online to replay my favorite classics from the 80s, ... They would cover my photo and video editing needs, but that amounts to $120 ...

  26. MANNY

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    34-year-old making $49,000 a month in passive income: My favorite $0 side hustles you can start in 2024. Published Wed, Apr 24 2024 7:00 AM EDT Updated Wed, ... Photo: Ryan Hogue.