How to Write a Photo Caption

I won't argue that a good photo is worth a thousand words. However, photos that are published in print or online usually need some descriptive copy to provide readers with context. In this article, you will learn how to write photo captions (also called cutlines) like a professional.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The photos for which you are writing captions
• A pen and paper or a word processing program
• Information about the photo
• A creative mind

1. Good captions (also called cutlines) usually are two sentences long. In the first sentence, describe the photo's action in present tense and address the who, what, when and where. Example: John Doe tosses a football with his son, Scott, Tuesday evening at the city park.

2. In the second sentence, provide background information about the photo in the appropriate tense. This could include any information of interest that increases a reader's understanding of the photo's content. Example: The Doe family took advantage of the 70-degree weather Tuesday, which was the first day of sunshine after more than two weeks of cold, wet weather.

3. Reread your caption and look for useless words or phrases that you can eliminate. Efficiency is important when writing captions.

4. Reread your caption and look for errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation.

5. Be sure to include a photo credit somewhere with the published photograph. Some publishers include the photo credit within the caption. Example: John Smith tosses a football with his son, Scott, Tuesday evening at the city park. The Smith family took advantage of the 70-degree weather Tuesday, which was the first day of sunshine after more than two weeks of cold, wet weather. (Photo by Jane Doe)

Tips & Warnings

• Write in active voice. Instead of "The ball was thrown by John," write "John threw the ball."
• Avoid long introductory clauses. (Example: After several weeks of rain, the sun came out Tuesday.) Simple sentences are usually better. (Example: The sun came out Tuesday after several weeks of rain.)
• If several people are pictured in a photograph, identify each of them by name from left to right.