CAPTION WRITINGThe most-read copy in the yearbook

CAPTIONS ARE. . .

small bytes of information attract attention

connect the photos to the spread

PRE-WRITING

Start with an excellent, story-telling, action/reaction photograph.

PRE-WRITING

Start with an excellent, story-telling, action/reaction photograph.

Talk to the photographer. (He/She was there.)

PRE-WRITING

Start with an excellent, story-telling, action/reaction photograph.

Talk to the photographer. (He/She was there). Interview people in the photograph and

others who were there.

PRE-WRITING

Start with an excellent, story-telling, action/reaction photograph.

Talk to the photographer. (He/She was there). Interview people in the photograph and

others who were there. Gather the correct spellings of names.

CAPTION FORMULA

Sentence 1: Names all visible people and details the action/reaction and is written in present tense.

CAPTION FORMULA

Sentence 1: Names all visible people and details the action/reaction and is written in present tense.

Sentence 1: Patty Smith, Jessica Sterling, Brandi Adkins and Allie Zarlengo play “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” during the winter concert.

CAPTION FORMULA

Sentence 1: Names all visible people and details the action/reaction and is written in present tense.Sentence 2: Gives needed information that is not obvious in the photograph and is written in past tense.Patty Smith, Jessica Sterling, Brandi Adkins and Allie Zarlengo play “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

CAPTION FORMULA

Sentence 1: Names all visible people and details the action/reaction and is written in present tense.Sentence 2: Gives needed information that is not obvious in the photograph and is written in past tense.Patty Smith, Jessica Sterling, Brandi Adkins and Allie Zarlengo play “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

Sentence 2: The flute section practiced during their lunch periods to prepare for the December 1 concert.

CAPTION FORMULA

Sentence 1: Names all visible people and details the action/reaction and is written in present tense.

Sentence 2: Gives needed information that is not obvious in the photograph and is written in past tense.

Sentence 3: Add a meaningful quote“Although we didn’t have a lot

of time to prepare, the end result was a real crowd pleaser,” Sterling said.

CAPTION EXAMPLE

Sophomore Patty Smith, Jessica Sterling, Brandi Adkins and Allie Zarlengo play “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” The flute section practiced during their lunch period for the December concert. “Although we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare, the end result was a real crowd pleaser,” Sterling said.

CAPTION FORMULA

1. Start with a strong photo

2. First sentence: Identify the people and the action in present tense.

3. Second sentence: Give needed information that is not obvious in the photograph and is written in past tense.

4. Sentence three: include a dynamic quote.

CAPTION EXAMPLE

After hearing her name announced as a member of the homecoming court, Christa Washington collapses into her best friend, Robin Elliot’s arms.

CAPTION EXAMPLE

After hearing her name announced as a member of the homecoming court, Christa Washington collapses into her best friend, Robin Elliot’s arms.

CAPTION EXAMPLE

After hearing her name announced as a member of the homecoming court, Christa Washington collapses into her best friend, Robin Elliot’s arms. All five of Christa’s older sisters had been named to the homecoming court and had planned to attend the event.

CAPTION EXAMPLE

After hearing her name announced as a member of the homecoming court, Christa Washington collapses into her best friend, Robin Elliot’s arms. All five of Christa’s older sisters had been named to the homecoming court and had planned to attend the event. “I felt so much pressure,” Christa said. “I didn’t want to let my family down.”

Caption-- every picture must have a caption.

CAPTI ON

Answer-- Captions should always answer the 5 W’s

Posed-- Posed—the only posed photos in your yearbooks should be group photos

Three to five sentences

Interview to find facts and details about the event

Obvious—Don’t state the obvious. Tell the reader more than what he can see in the picture

Never write joke captions, editorialize, or assume what is going on in the photo

SPORTS PHOTOS

Add the result of the play and game/match

Name players from both teams.

Use stats for the second sentence.

What questions does this photo beg to have answered?

Who: Jeff Anderson

What: represents the senior class at the OEHS pep rally

When: Friday, October 5

Where: gym

Why: Geoff claims to be the ghost of seniors past to carry on the tradition of seniors’ winning the spirit stick

Extra: became so popular that he was asked to join the cheerleaders on the court by the end of the season.

At the homecoming pep rally, senior Jeff Anderson starts his run as the ghost of seniors past. Jeff wore the regalia to remind the Class of 2014 that it was their responsibility to win the spirit stick. “This started out as a joke, then I could work the crowd into a frenzy and win the stick,” Anderson said. “Before I knew it, I was on the floor with the cheerleaders.”

Who: Sophomore Peggy Lee and art teacher Doris Day

What: ceramics class, making a pot

When: November 18

Where: Pottery II art class

AVOID Posed or weak photos Beginning captions with names Weak verbs ( forms of “be”) Slang Obvious Details Unemotional quotes Nicknames Rhetorical questions Vague details

REMEMBER

Dynamic first words Identify the CI in the first sentence.

First reference includes name and title.Second reference use only last name.

Strong action verbs Include action and reaction details Emotional direct quotes Three sentence minimum