There’s no one single (or right) way to select images and lay out a conservation photo story. But in the 10+ years I’ve been working on online stories, I’ve found one workflow that works best for me. Whether you’re creating your own articles on your photography website, or image-driven articles and pages for other organizations, take what tips are helpful and run with them.
Strategies for streamlined editing of a photo story or essay
Today I want to walk you through my own personal process for editing an online photo story.
I’ve been a photography editor in different capacities for over a decade now, and over the years I’ve developed one simple workflow that works best for me.
I use it for all online conservation photo stories I’m developing, whether I’m working on an article on my own website, or I’m working on a story that’s been crafted by another photographer for a digital publication.
Now, emphasis on online/digital.
My workflow as Senior Photo Editor over at Ranger Rick magazine is entirely different than this.
But odds are you have your own blog, website, or perhaps help out at an organization with a website.
So, I wanted to walk you through the steps I use for online stories because there may be parts of it that you’ll want to pull into your own workflow.
1. Start With the Narrative
Every good story begins with a script. For me, it starts with the text—be it a nearly finished draft from another writer or a piece I’m crafting myself.
The narrative guides the entire editing process, influencing which photos make the cut and how they are arranged.
2. The Initial Photo Selection
With the story as my backbone, I dive into a wide pool of images. This could be a stock photo agency or a specific portfolio.
The goal here is to get acquainted with the potential visuals at full screen, absorbing every detail, understanding the story they tell, and noting any gaps that might need more coverage.
3. Narrowing Down Choices
After the initial familiarization, I sift through these images at thumbnail size—this helps in quickly identifying which shots pack the biggest punch in terms of composition and content relevance.
From here, I begin to distill the collection, setting aside images that might not align as strongly with our narrative or are technically weaker.
4. Aligning Images With Text
Next comes one of my favorite parts: aligning these chosen images with the story’s text. This is where the rubber meets the road.
I lay out the images next to the draft, adjusting placements to ensure the flow of visuals complements the narrative effectively.
This is a delicate dance of matching images to the mood and pace of the text, adding depth or providing a visual break where necessary.
5. The Fine-Tuning Phase
Now, we’re getting into the nitty-gritty—selecting the final images. This involves making tough choices, often having to let go of ‘darlings’—those images I might personally love but may not serve the story as they should.
It’s about striking a balance, ensuring each photo supports and enhances the narrative, without overshadowing it.
6. Bringing the Story to Life
The culmination of this process is when I bring everything into a layout, usually on a webpage since my work is primarily digital.
This is where I see if the images, as arranged, truly embody the story we want to tell.
Sometimes, what worked in theory needs adjustment in practice.
This step often requires swapping out images for ones that better fit the final narrative flow.
Why This Matters
Editing a photo story isn’t just about selecting pretty pictures. It’s about crafting a journey for the viewer, using visuals to amplify the text and convey deeper meanings.
Each image is chosen for its power to engage, inform, and inspire—moving beyond mere decoration to become pivotal storytelling tools.
So there you have it—a peek into the process that helps me turn a collection of images into a compelling conservation photo story.
Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting, understanding and refining your editing workflow can profoundly impact how your stories are received and remembered.
