Captions are an important part of journalism. They must be accurate and informative. In fact, most readers tend to look at the photos and then the captions in an article before deciding whether to read the article itself. Use the following points to help you write a caption that intrigues readers enough to read the story.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Learn the Basics of Captions
Step 1. Corroborate the data
One of the most important aspects of any type of journalism is accuracy. If you use incorrect information, the article or photo loses credibility. Before uploading or printing any captions, make sure you have checked that everything in the caption is accurate.
Don't print the wrong caption if you're having trouble corroborating the data, either because you can't find an appropriate source or because you have a deadline to meet. It is best to omit the information if you are not sure if it is accurate
Step 2. Describe something that is not obvious
If a caption simply describes the images in the photo, it is pretty useless. If you have a photo of a sunset and the caption simply says "a sunset", you do not add any information for the reader. Instead, describe details in the photo that aren't obvious, such as the location, time of day, or time of year, or a specific event that's taking place.
- For example, if you have a photo of a sunset, you could put a caption on it that says "Sunset on the Pacific Coast, March 2016, Long Beach, Vancouver Island."
- Also avoid using terms like "shown", "in the photo", "observe" (referring to what the people in the photo are doing) or "above".
Step 3. Don't start a caption with certain words
A caption should not start with the words "a", "an", "some", "some", "the", "the", "the" or "the". These words are too basic and take up valuable space when they are not needed. For example, instead of saying "a blue jay in the boreal forest," simply write "blue jay flying through the boreal forest."
- Also, don't start a caption with someone's name. Do it with a description first and then include the name. For example, don't say "Simon Torres near Central Park." Instead, say "Simon Torres Corridor near Central Park."
- By identifying where someone is in a photo, you can say "from the left." You don't have to say "left to right."
Step 4. Identify the main people in the photo
If the photo includes important people, identify who they are. If you know their names, include them (unless they have requested to remain anonymous). If you don't know their names, you may want to put a description of who they are instead (for example, "protesters on the streets of Washington, D. C.").
- While it shouldn't have to be said, make sure all the names you use are spelled correctly and have the proper title.
- If the photo includes a group of people or some people who are not relevant to the article (for example, if their names are not required to tell the story), you do not have to name each one in the caption.
Step 5. Be as specific as possible
This tip goes hand in hand with being precise. If you're not sure where the photo was taken or who is in it, find out. Showing a photo without any specific information might not be helpful to the reader, especially if you can't tell them the context in which the photo was taken.
- If you are working with another journalist for the article, contact them for more information if necessary.
- If you are trying to identify a specific person in a photo, it helps to describe where they are in the photo. For example, if Roberto Pérez is the only one with a hat, you can say "Roberto Pérez, back with a hat."
- While being specific is good, you can also formulate your caption so that it starts general and becomes more specific, or starts specific and ends more generally. Either of these methods ensures specificity but creates easy-to-read statements.
Step 6. Properly label historical photos
If you're using a historical photo on your item, make sure it's properly labeled and includes the date (at least the year) it was taken. Depending on who owns the photo, you may also need to credit another photographer or organization (for example, a museum, archive, etc.).
Step 7. Use the present in the captions
Since most of the photos shown as part of a news article are of things that happen "right now", please use the present in the captions. An obvious exception would be in any historical photo, where it makes sense to use the past.
The good thing about using the present is that it portrays a sense of immediacy and increases the impact of the photo on the reader
Step 8. Avoid humor when the photo is not intended to be comical
If your caption photo is of a serious or bleak event, don't try to be funny in the caption. Funny captions should only be used when the photo itself is a joke or comic event intended to make the reader laugh.
Step 9. Remember to always include credits and citations
All photos must include the name of the photographer or organization that owns the photo. In true photographic magazines and publications, photos also include the technical details of how the photo was taken (eg aperture, film speed, f-stop, lens, etc.).
When writing credits, you don't have to use the term "credited to" or "photo by" if the information is presented in a consistent and understandable format. For example, perhaps the credits are always italicized or a smaller font size
Method 2 of 3: Enhance the article with captions
Step 1. Use the caption to tell the reader something new
When a reader looks at the photo, they are generally faced with some kind of emotion and some information (based on what they see in the photo). The caption, in turn, should provide the reader with a piece of information that they would not be aware of simply by looking at the photo. Simply put, the caption should tell the reader something about the photo.
- The captions should intrigue the reader to investigate the article further and seek more information.
- Captions should also avoid repeating aspects of the article itself. The caption and the article must complement each other and not be repetitive.
Step 2. Avoid making judgmental statements
Captions should be informative, not judgmental or critical. Unless you really were able to talk to the people in the photo and ask them what they were feeling or thinking, don't make assumptions based only on their appearance in the photo. For example, avoid typing "unhappy shoppers waiting in line" unless you really know they were unhappy.
The intention of journalism is to be objective and informative to the reader. Journalists must present the facts in an unbiased way and allow the reader to form an opinion
Step 3. Don't worry about the length of the caption
A photo can say a thousand words, but sometimes it takes just a few to put the photo in context. If a lengthy description is required for the photo to make sense, that's fine. While you should try to be as clear and succinct as possible, don't limit the information in the caption if it will be helpful.
Step 4. Write in conversational language
Journalism in general does not use excessively complicated language, but neither does it use clichés or jargon. Captions must follow the same basic language requirements. Write captions in a conversational tone similar to how you would address a family member if you showed them the photo. Avoid cliches and jargon (and acronyms). Don't use complicated words if they aren't necessary.
If the photo is accompanied by an article, try to use the same tone in the caption that was used in the article
Step 5. Include non-essential elements of the article in the captions
The articles that accompany the photos tend to be about something specific and obviously tell a story. If there is a piece of information that is helpful in understanding the photo but is not necessary to tell the story, put it in the caption rather than in the body of the article.
- This does not mean that captions are only used for insignificant elements of the article but instead elements that are not essential to tell the story. A caption can be a miniature stand-alone item that can include items not used in the item itself.
- Again, remember that the caption and article should complement each other, not repeat.
Step 6. Determine what punctuation should be used
If the photo is simply of a person (for example, a photo of a face) or a photo of a very specific object (for example, an umbrella), it is okay to put the name of the person or object without any punctuation. In other cases, it is fine to use incomplete sentences in a caption as well, but this may depend on the post and its requirements.
- An example of an unranked caption might be: "Toyota 345X Transmission".
- Here is an example of the difference between a complete and incomplete caption: "Actress Ann Levy takes the Acrua 325 for a spin on the test-drive track in London" (full); "Taking a ride on the Acrua 325" (incomplete).
Step 7. Simplify the descriptions in subsequent captions
If there are multiple, consecutive photos in an article that show either the same place or person or event, it is not necessary to keep repeating the details of these elements in each caption. For example, if you enter the person in the first caption using their full name, you can simply refer to them by their last name in subsequent captions.
- It's okay to assume that someone viewing and reading a photo has already seen and read the captions for previous photos as they are likely in a specific order that tells a story.
- You can also skip being too detailed in the caption if the article itself provides a lot of detail. For example, if the article has the details of the event, you do not have to repeat them in the caption.
Step 8. Identify when photos have been digitally altered
Photos are sometimes enlarged, shrunk, or cropped to fit the situation, article, page, space, etc. This type of modification should not be explained because it does not change what is in the image. However, if you have changed the photo in any other way (for example, you have changed the color, removed something, added something, enhanced something in an unnatural way, etc.), you must identify it in the caption.
- The caption does not have to say explicitly what you have changed but it should say at least "photo illustration".
- This rule also applies to unique photography methods, such as time-lapse, etc.
Step 9. Consider using a caption formula
Until you get used to writing captions, you may want to start using a specific formula. In the long run, your captions will likely follow this formula or something similar without you having to think about it, but until then, it depends on the formula to make sure you've included all the necessary elements.
- One of these formulas is [noun] [verb] [direct object] during [event proper name] in [location proper name] in [city] on [day of the week], [date] [month], [anus]. [Why or how].
- An example written using this formula: "Dallas Firefighters (noun) fight (present tense) a fire (direct object) at Fitzhugh Apartments (proper name of location) near the intersection of Fitzhugh Avenue and Monarch Street in Dallas (city) on Thursday (weekday), 1st (date) of July (month), 2004 (year) ".
Method 3 of 3: Avoid caption errors
Step 1. Don't be arrogant
The arrogance in captions comes when the person writing the caption doesn't care about the reader and just puts a caption that is easy at the time of writing. This can also be seen as selfish because the writer cares more about himself than the reader, who tries to figure out what the photo and article are about.
This can also happen when a writer tries to be "sophisticated" and try something new or ingenious. There is no need to complicate. Keep it simple, clear and precise
Step 2. Avoid making assumptions
You know what is said of the people who assume. The same goes for writing captions. These assumptions could be on the part of the journalist, the photographer, or even someone else at the post where it all comes together. Don't make assumptions about what is happening in the photo or who the people are. Find out the truth and include only what is accurate.
This also applies to style and format. If you're not sure if the post has a specific caption format, ask. Don't use a format you like that might have to be completely corrected just because you didn't ask
Step 3. Make sure you are not being careless
Carelessness occurs when someone just doesn't care or doesn't think the situation is important enough to review. The result of oversights can be bad spelling, wrong names for the people in the photo, captions that don't match the photos, incorrectly referring to a photo in the article, etc. If you are proud of what you do, do a good job from start to finish.
This can also happen when someone tries to use another language in the caption but does not check if it has been spelled correctly. Google Translate is not the same as double checking if the language is correct
Step 4. Remember that what you print is considered a fact
As a journalist, what you print, whether in the article or the caption, is considered fact by readers. They legitimately assume that you have corroborated the facts and that what you tell them is accurate. If you were too lazy or careless to do the job right, you risk passing on incorrect information to large numbers of people.
Also remember that once information is "out there" it can be difficult to correct, especially if that information is related to an event that was tragic or stressful or is still ongoing
Advice
- The photo and caption must complement each other. Together they must tell the story. You should avoid repeating them. A caption should help explain the what, when, and where, but the photo should elicit an emotional reaction.
- The newspaper industry calls captions "legends."
- National Geographic captions are very good examples of photojournalism captions. National Geographic is known for its photos but most of the photos in the magazine also include an article. However, most readers tend to look at the photo first, read the caption, look at the photo a second time, and then decide whether to read the story. A good caption should allow the reader to make that leap between just looking at the photos and actually reading the article.
- As a photographer, you should take a notebook and a pencil or pen with you to the events where you are going to take photos. Use the time between photos or while waiting for a specific subject to write down the names of the people in the photos with the proper spelling.