Motion Storytelling for Photographers

Photographer and Director, Scott Thompson teach the principles of storytelling for motion.

Course description

Visual stories about life, history, lessons, and emotion draws the human race together. As a photographer, we work on capturing that single frame using various foundational elements and storytelling techniques. How do we transition into telling compelling motion stories?

In this hands-on workshop, we will learn how to use the foundations of photography and build upon that with proven techniques that provide confidence. Each participant will create a 45-60 sec motion story from the methods taught in the workshop. With virtual classroom lectures and scheduled one-on-one mentorship, each participant will get tailored training to there needs and walk away with a finished product.

Course topics

The workshop is broken down into 3 phases; in the end, every attendee will understand all aspects of:

Pre-Production

• Finding your story (beginning, middle, end)
• Five (5) elements of storytelling
• Shot sequencing
• Shot list/storyboard
• Audio/music/ambient sound/narration

Production

• Basic camera set up
• Differences between shooting still and motion
• Shooting techniques
• Cinematic movement
• Audio/ambient sound/narration

Post-Production

• Ingest/organize/select clips
• Audio base
• 1st rough cut
• Develop audio
• 2nd cut
• Critique
• 3rd cut and fine-tune
• Export for presentation

Workshop Schedule

1. Oct 22 - 2-5 PM, 3-hour virtual class
2. Oct 23 - 1 hour virtual class going over pre-production
3. Oct 24-Oct 26 - Schedule a 90 min virtual one-on-one with Scott
4. Oct 27-Oct 28 - Schedule a 30 min virtual one-on-one with Scott
5. Oct 29 - 3pm cut off final project is sent to Scott
6. Oct 29 - 7pm group viewing and critique of project

Note: exact workshop times to be determined.

Workshop prerequisite

1. Basic understanding and how to use video editing software. (Premiere, Divinci Resolve, Final Cut, etc.) How to import footage, cut footage, work with a timeline. (I can supply some links to youtube for basic setup)
2. Come with 3 possible story ideas that you have access to and can easily reshoot.
3. Equipment - a camera that shoots video.

Equipment Rental

APA Chicago has partnered with Sony to provide an equipment kit (digital camera and mic) to attendees who need rentals free of charge. Equipment kits can be requested by sending us an email (director@apachicago.org) and conveniently picked-up at Dodd Camera.

Sample story ideas

Here are a few story ideas that are easy to shoot and reshoot. You can take a simple story and turn it into a strong emotional film.

• Making breakfast
• My dog and his new toy
• My child building a fort out of blankets
• A pillow fight
• Harvesting honey from my beehive
• Drinking beer and playing cards with my friends
• The smell of clean clothes coming out of the dryer
• Running around the block

Scott Thompson Bio

Scott's work strives to tell the stories of its subjects. He creates photography and motion that is a mix of narrative, life, and authentic imagery that brings to the surface the nuance and beauty of everyday adventures. Personal storytelling serves as the perfect embellishment to his work, enabling the viewer to be transported into the vision created.

Partial client list
Caterpillar, Allstate, Google, Rubbermaid, Soho House, Chicago Magazine, McDonald’s, Walt Disney, Toyota, Sony Music, RCA Records, American Airlines, Keurig, KIA, Subaru

Workshop sponsors