The Photography Storytelling Workshop

A great introduction to photography for people who would like to take better pictures, but are not willing to spend all their money on equipment yet. Not to worry, if you’re all about the equipment, but don’t know how to get the most out of it, this is still a good read.

The book is divided into clear segments, so it’s easy to use as a reference book when needed. The book works for photographing with both a phone and a camera. The book is filled with photos as examples of using the right kind of light, atmosphere, distance, and so many more important things like angle and editing. There are many steps on the way to become a better photographer, whether it is for social media or to become a professional photographer, and all the steps are cover in this book in an easy to understand manner, not too technical, but enough for anyone to take a step forward.

I recommend this book for young and old, anyone who is willing to let their creativity flow, who is willing to listen to expert advice, simply to become a better photographer.

Wow, I love love love this book. This photography book details everything from crafting a photoset, to basic light techniques, to selling your work. I love how it covers the storytelling aspect of photography, the practical shooting techniques, and the logistics that involve selling and marketing your work. It's very practical information for someone who is a beginner photographer, to good photographers who are interested in getting more serious about their work. I love that it's very straightforward, so that I can refer to it and find what I'm looking for easily. There are no lengthy stories or tangents.

My work often includes some photography, and I find this to have a lot of good reminders of tips and storytelling concepts that I sometimes forget.

Personally, I'd love to own a physical copy of this book, and would highly recommend it to photographer friends.

This book is full of colorful pictures. I’m an amateur photo-ist. So amateur that I don’t think I can use the term photographer. I loved this book. Finn talks some about the equipment that you could use…but concentrates mostly on how to take a great picture, discussing things like location, sun, character, story, event…things to make your photos turn into a story when they are viewed…not just flat pictures on a page. To do this he gives lessons…telling you what to do to practice and improve in one of the topics. He also goes into some technical stuff…for those of you who are ready for it. I cannot wait to start practicing, and improving enough to turn my photos into stories.

The Photography Storytelling Workshop is an inspiring book aimed at beginner to intermediate photographers , but could really be of benefit to all levels. It is well organised and covers all kinds of subjects from the technical details of taking a photograph, to selling and marketing your work. It focusses on telling a story with your pictures and the illustrations in the book are beautiful. It is a practical book, well written and structured with just the right amount of information. The best thing is that you don't need any expensive equipment and can just use your phone to have a go.

This is a great book for new and experienced photographers. Great sample photos with lots of character. Lots of
fun photo experiments to try even includes smartphone photography.

This is exactly what you want in a workshop book - instruction, inspiration, and assignments. Everything is clearly laid out, there are great examples that really highlight the assignments, and the author is thoroughly modern and up-to-date (a failing so many photography books have). I highly recommend this for all photographers, whether amateur or professional, with thousands of dollars in camera equipment or just a simple prosumer. The book does an excellent job of teaching you the difference between clicking a shutter button and being a photographer. And most importantly, it teaches you everything you need to know about securing jobs with commercial entities.

The book starts with the basics, including what equipment you need and explains the essence of a great photographer. Storytelling is explored through text and images with great explanations of how to make a photograph that creates 'a second look' by the viewer. Since the book has a focus on being a professional and working with corporate clients, the author goes through the process of creating a photo story. Also included are how to pitch for work, doing prep work, expenses, editing and final selection of images. I liked that there are tips, creative briefs and many real world examples. A company even allowed the author to use their product shoot in the book so we have an actual example of the process. This includes mood boards, call sheets, directing models and post production. I especially appreciate that pricing is included.

The Workshop section was especially good. The author goes into how to build a story around a product and entertain the audience at the same time. But the projects/assignments are not necessarily commercial in nature. A sample project would be to e.g., capture an environmental portrait. There is a brief (capture an intriguing environmental portrait of someone close to you), requirements (frame your subject, use props for context, keep things natural), and objective (tell a simple story about the character of your subject/the viewer should be able to comprehend the scene and character). These are all cleanly laid out and easy to follow. The brief, requirements and objective are further explained with examples given of a finished project.

Storytelling photography is often about several images (just as a novel is about several words). To that extent, establishing shots, transition shots, cutaways/details, and reveals are all explained. But also long shots, close ups and cutaways, and medium distance shots.

What really sets this book apart is that it is thoroughly modern. It tells how to use social media and phone aps - and is set in the digital age. No old school cinema verite type of street photography in black and white cliches being shown as the only 'true' photography storytelling style. Yet at the same time, this is a photographer who has experience with film and understands the medium. He's not a modern flash-in-the-pan type of visual photographer but clearly thinks deeply about every session.

As with any written workshop book, there is no teacher to fine tune or personalize what you do as with an in-person workshop; but then again, the cost differential between hundreds to thousands of dollars and the price of a book more than compensates for that lack. The one criticism I have of this book is that the author begins by saying location doesn't matter; yet all the photographs he shows are from exotic locations around the globe. It felt disingenuous. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

--Uplevel Your Photography Business and Craft--

I received a digital review copy from the publisher through NetGalley, and here are my thoughts.

First of all, this book "had me" at the Table of Contents. The superb description and organization of the workshop contents had me really excited...finally, a photography book that I will actually use!!!

I actually did pause at about page 30, to stop and order a copy for myself. It was already clearly evident by then that this book is just want I need, and I would prefer a physical copy,

The Workshop is laid out in this order:

--Storytelling 101
--Step 1: Pitch
--Step 2: Prep
--Step 3: Shoot
--Step 4: Edit
--Step 5: Deliver

And this Workshop really does tell you, step by step, how to deliver a product that your clients will love you for.
Each step has many sub-steps and everything is spelled out super clearly.

If you're still wondering if this is the book for you, I suggest to view the author's website and have a look at the course page, because the contents of this book are based on Finn's very popular and highly recommended live workshop.

Although the author Finn Beales does a completely different kind of photography from me, the information in here will be extremely useful to many types of photographers, and not only those who do a lot of outdoor shooting.

Lastly, one of the most valuable things I'm getting from this book, beyond the techniques and strategies, is the languaging. I already do many of the things Finn Beales advises you to do, but I don't necessarily always know what to say to clients about "WHY" we're doing something one way instead of another. I do it naturally and instinctively, and forget that my methods and reasons are not always clear to everyone else.

So a big thanks for the tremendous amount of knowledge in this book. And a huge round of applause for the design team that put the book together, so that the gems of information are so easily accessed.

I see great value in this book for all levels of readers who either have a photography business or an Instagram etc,, user that wants to know concrete ways to improve their message through the power of photographs.

This was quite an engaging book, aimed mostly at beginning to intermediate photographers and focused on the storytelling aspect of the art. This makes it quite a bit different from many books which focus on the more technical aspects. What was good about this book was the way it laid out different aspects and then had activities to practice, which is always good in a photography book. Included within the context of storytelling is also a lot of the technical part which helps to round out the way to approach your work. There's plenty here that will benefit even more experienced photographers, especially those looking to market their own work. What's particularly nice here, is that there's no expectation that the reader is going to have or be able to easily get a lot of extra equipment. Much of the work relies on just the basic camera or even one on a smartphone.

Overall, a really nice read and should be great for up and coming photographers, amateur and professional.

I give this 4.5 stars overall.

Thank you to Netgalley and White Lion Publishing for sharing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Photography Storytelling Workshop A Five-Step Guide To Creating Unforgettable Photographs by Finn Beales is a wonderful guide for any photographer! You may have several cameras, lots of gear, and knowledge of photography but this workshop will inspire you to use your imagination as you capture memories. As I read this book and looked at the images, I felt the need to become a storyteller with my photographs.
There is information to explain the difference in types of cameras, lenses, and other gear. You can also learn a bit about editing software to help with post-processing your images.
This workshop reminds the photographer to set a scene or decide if you want to portray drama, suspense, mood, or surprise. The images that are used in this book set a scene and help to tell a story. Be creative as you tell stories with your camera. This book is beautifully illustrated and written.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.