Photostory Habits?

I approach a photostory almost as if I was filming an episode for a TV show, essentially taking the role of director/script writer/prop master/cameraperson. My usual approach is to write out the dialogue ahead of time, making notes as to how many photos I want and where. I try to picture in my head what I want it to look like, and often try imaging how it will look once it's posted. Then I grab my props and set up the scene, trying to get it as close to what I imagined as possible. I usually don't act it out, especially while I'm shooting; then I'm usually focused on trying to get a good picture without my shadow showing up, lol.

Dialogue usually isn't too hard for me, because I do a lot of writing, and even when I'm not, I have a tendency to imagine what one of my characters/dolls/friends would say in this or that situation. I guess I'm constantly scripting things out in my head. If you're having a hard time getting it to feel natural, try to picture someone saying that in a book or a movie (or real life, depending on your genre). Don't feel bad about saying it out loud if that's what helps you. In the end, all that matters is the finished result.

 

I storyboarded one once, usually I just try to think it through, and often (especially outdoors) the story sort of develops somewhat on it's own as I'm taking photos. I don't say the dialogue, I often don't fine tune that until I'm editing the photos. I shoot out of order sometimes too. Often I just have the basic skeleton of the story and the rest just happens.

 

I say, writing comes first, then you make your dolls act out the scene, just like in RL production. You know, these days all the DVDs come with "The Making Of..." extras, explaining how the storyboarding was done, director's commentary and such. Watch the production extras of your favorite movies, it's very educational, and fun too!

 

personally i don't like to write things out beforehand. usually i think up one or two parts, like what i want to accomplish with the story or a funny punchline i want to do, and then go from there. i write while i take pics and the story develops depending on what angles i'm able to do and what the dolls themselves look like they'd be saying. i don't voice things out loud usually, unless i'm having a bit of writer's block. then i sit back and flip through the pics on the camera and hearing myself say some rough dialogue out loud helps get my brain going.

i often work with my friend hakari-chan, and usually it's the same. she typically just sits off to the side and waits until i need ideas. but i'll say dialogue out loud (while taking pics) so she can follow along and toss a few ideas out here and there, then we'll flip through the pics together. if she's not here it's usually the same, like if we're just tossing ideas for stories back and forth or working on video chat together. as for her, she likes scripting things out ahead of time sometimes but not always. if she's the one taking pics usually i'll read her script for her (in an overly dramatic voice acting way), but most of the time when the two of us are together i'm the one taking the pics.

usually what's written during pics is pretty rough, and i write the actual story while placing the pictures and typing out the captions. then i read over it a few more times changing things so the story flows right (ie: obsessively read/rewrite over and over and over and over all night) before posting it.

*pretends that hopefully wasn't all gibberish*

 

Hm! Good question... *thinks* I used to write them out, but lately it's kinda just been instinct. I'll have a vague idea in my head, such as "Esme is gonna explore today!" and then just start taking pictures. XD I can't help it, but I do say things outloud as the characters, especially the more excitable ones.

While taking pictures, I'll have an idea and try to incooperate it. Ususally it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but hey, that happens. For instance, with Esme exploring, I was just gonna have her go through various rooms. Then the idea of her meeting up with Melbourne popped up and it happened to work out!

Throughout the entire process though, I'm keeping the BIG storyline in the back of my head to make sure I don't do anything that'll screw it up. Hope this helps~!

 

I start with one concept/idea/event that I want to happen/portray in a photostory, and then go from there. After that, I put pen to paper and work up a script, adjusting language/flow until it's a good length and gets everything I want out. I don't usually mess with the dolls, themselves, until I'm actually shooting, but while I'm scripting I keep the character's personality in mind, and usually I have a lot of poses flit through my head that I end up using to help punctuate the story. Than I take photographs based on the dialogue, posing the dolls accordingly, and making sure I try to convey maybe some subtle feeling or undertone that I want in there, as well.

 

Usually I just have a concept in my head with maybe a few points I need to hit in the story and then I see what I can get done picture-wise because sometimes the environment or dolls won't hold up to my expectations so I kind of have to make things up on the fly. Sometimes I imagine the dialogue in my head, and I've actually written out some of it if I had something really good that I was afraid I'd forget, but I don't really speak outloud (unless it's to complain to my dolls that they're not posing properly, ).

It's hard to get everything absolutely concrete, as you never know what issue may come up in the actual picture-taking process so sometimes it's better to just have a very good idea what you hope to accomplish.

 

I feel really, really new here, but what is a photostory? Can some one point me to an example? Sorry, newbie.

 

I only do wordless photostories when I do photostories at all, so I suppose in a lot of ways it's easier for me in that respect. I don't have any dialogue, so there's no need to speak at all. I usually start by coming up with a very basic idea and think on how best to express it through lighting, angles, setting and doll poses. Then expand upon it if I need to or something comes up which I think deserves to be added.

An example of one of those very basic ideas is the idea of a doll going for a walk in the park. Very basic theme, now to expand upon it by thinking of the exact types of photos I'd like to get. I picture that scenario in my head; the path laid out in front of her, her feet as she walks, the wind blowing through her hair, walking by a bush, inspecting a flower, staring into the pond, taking a break on a bench.

Before I know it, there's my photostory! I prefer to do it this way because it's more spontaneous and fun for me. If I were to plan things out too seriously I know I would become stressed and not enjoy it as much because I'd be trying too hard to perfect everything.

 

I usually have something in mind what I would like to happen, as in "oh, maybe it would be funny if..." Then I start thinking about it and most of the time I also discuss my ideas with someone else. I find that just discussing it gets my creativity flowing And my friends' input is also great! =D
Then I think about the photostory for a few days. When I have a general idea of what I want to do, I make a "script". I scribble down very simple drawings of how I imagine the story (stick figures) and add some dialogue. Dialogue tends to flow very easily for me, but I do make sure that it isn't too lengthy. Then I adjust the order and flow of the story by moving scenes around or deleting them.

When shooting, I make sure the environment is clear of distractions. I always take more than one photo of the same scene, so I can choose later. If it turns out my doll or other "actors" can't do a certain thing, I'll make something up on the go.

Truth is, I never start taking photos just like that :P It's interesting to read how people approach this differently

 

I don't write it out before as sometimes the pictures tell their own stories or what I wrote wouldn't work where I put it.

I usually have my backdrop minimalist but recently I've been REALLY wanting to try making scenery for my dolls