A photo essay is a unique form of academic writing that allows you to combine textual and visual craft to produce an engaging narrative. This is one of the types of essays that tests your ability to create or select thematically organized photos and weave them into your text in a way that will tell a story. Such an assignment requires students to develop a central concept and frame an illustrated discussion around it. Therefore, writing this task may turn into a demanding challenge for students unfamiliar with assignments of this type. 

Are you experiencing friction with a photo essay, with no clue of how to start and where to head with it? Here, you will find a long list of exciting photo essay topics and an illustrative example of a photo essay to progress through this assignment with less confusion or friction. 

What is a Photo Essay?

So, you´re probably thinking, what is a photo essay? We´re glad you asked! The photo essay definition is not one that is easy to come by due to the variations in style. Its most basic definition is that of a set or series of photographs linked together to evoke the intended emotions in the viewers. These images are often very impactful and produce feelings at the first glance.

The variation not only comes from the type of pictures and the order in which you choose to place them but also in the use of words accompanying the visual data. It is possible to let only the images tell the story or choose wisely structured statements that will only add to the impact of your pictures. Check out some of our top tips to rock your essay and some further advice on making it a hit.

Top Tips.

• Choose impactful images that truly convey the message you are going for. Remember the pics are the star here, and they need to be the center of all the attention.
• When you do use words, make sure that they are congruent with the images and keep them simple. As stated earlier, it´s not what you say, but it´s how you word it that matters.
• Organize your shots in a way where they tell the story before adding any words. In this way, you keep the focus on the images and only use the words to make an additional emphasis.

Make a Hit.

• Choose a universally important topic. In this way, you´ll find ideally suiting images and will make a substantial impact on your readers.
• Choose pics that make you feel something. You are the creator of this masterpiece and the first one to feel the kind of impact the shots have.
• After you find a suitable image, take a second and write down everything coming to mind when you see it. In this way, you can narrow down the tone of your assignment and be sure to make your point clear and accurate.

Photo Essays Outline Example

Unfortunately, assignments based on images are quite a rare type of written assignment for students of non-art faculties, which is a shame. It seems a lot more fun than just pumping out words and turning in some boring essay! But is it wise to think of a photo paper as only a series of images? Not exactly, as this paper is also an academic assignment that has to meet certain academic standards. There is a specific outline to follow to make your home task make a point. Here is an outline example.

• The lead image. Perhaps the most essential part of your essay. The lead pic not only introduces your topic but also engages your readers. Your goal here is to set the theme and context of your paper and to ignite an emotional connection through the image.
• Informative image. After creating the initial impact, you need to give the reader a bit more information. Think of this as your introduction, where you inform the readers of the overall structure of your essay.
• In-depth shots. Here you get more specific. Make sure that these pics are genuinely focused on the topic you are speaking about. The idea here is to inform the readers further and give them all the intended information. Think of this part as the body of your essay.
• The clincher. This image is the last thing that your reader is going to see; therefore, it is essential to make it the most powerful, leaving the strongest impression on the reader, and matching the message you are trying to convey. So, make it a good one!

Great Photo Essay Topics to Explore 

It’s hard to craft an engaging essay if you’re clueless about what to write about. Interesting photo essay topics are what distinguishes a mediocre assignment from an outstanding one. Thus, if you’re finding it hard to identify worthy photo essay ideas for your next home task, here is a list of photo essay topics to help you out. 

1. A day from life in a small town. 
2. A photo comparison of urban and rural living. 
3. The many faces of aging: portraits of people of different life periods. 
4. The documentation of an immigrant’s journey. 
5. A cultural festival: exploring the shades of cultural differences and manifestations. 
6. Natural green spaces in a city. 
7. The photo record of coastal erosion problems. 
8. Changing seasons: tracing the change of nature in one setting. 
9. Portraits of resilient people: a photo record of calamity survivors. 
10. The world from a child’s perspective: a photo essay about photos made by a child. 
11. The homeless crisis in your city: a photo record of homeless-inhabited neighborhoods. 
12. The invisible workers: photos of unnoticed professions. 
13. An abandoned space in your city. 
14. The play of light and shadow. 
15. The intricate world of mirror reflections. 
16. Street art and graffiti in your city: the records of urban culture and themes these artworks explore. 
17. Vivid color combinations around us: a photo essay with images of bright color elements in the surroundings. 
18. Gender and identity talk: a photo essay with images of LGBTQ+ individuals and their explorations of identity through visual appearance alterations. 
19. A day from my family’s life: routines and unique moments. 
20. Art and art viewers: a photo essay from your visit to the local art gallery or museum. 

Use any of these photo essay ideas to create a thought-provoking analysis and examine an assigned photo comprehensively. You are sure to find interesting angles and perspectives that your professor will like. Besides, photos for each of the provided prompts are pretty easy to produce with little preparation or get online.   

Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Photo Essay

Now that you know what a photo essay is and have a fantastic list of topics for inspiration let’s consider some do´s and don´ts when it comes to the actual writing process. After reading this, you’ll surely excel in the skill of such assignment’s creation, making your peers envy and ask you how to make a photo essay.

Do’s:

• Choose a topic and stick to that topic. Make sure that all of your images genuinely tell a story and convey the meaning and message you are going for.
• Keep it short and sweet. Use words and statements that add to the emotion or overall tone of your topic.
• Make sure that your pics follow some outline or flow. If it helps, try and practice your presentation with only images and see if it makes sense on its own. Then you can add words to increase the effect.

Don´ts:

• Don’t choose too many impactful pics as you want your “clincher” to have the strongest, lasting effect.
• Never explain the image in detail. Understandably, you may want to use words that add to the overall message you are trying to convey, but let the photo speak for itself. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!
• Don’t slop pics together. Remember this is not a show and tell of your vacation where the order doesn´t matter. Make these images follow some logical order. The clearer your message is without words, the more emotions you´ll evoke within your viewers.

In case you find yourself in a writer’s block and need some boost of inspiration, here are some tips to use:

1. Take a walk: got a favorite part of town or a favorite park? Go for a walk and see if inspiration strikes.
2. Get with the times: It may sound old school but pick up a newspaper or magazine for some inspiration. They do a fantastic job of using images that correspond with the story and message they are trying to convey. Most of the time, the image is more powerful than the words.
3. Pump up the volume: Music has a way of bringing out thoughts and emotions. We know you have a favorite group or artist. So put your headphones in and turn it up, you´ll feel free, inspired, and relieved after!

Get Inspired by a Photo Essay Example 

It’s much easier to craft a logical, correct academic paper if you have a template in front of you. Here is a brief photo essay example that may help you ace this assignment faster. 

Topic: One day in a village 

[photo #1 – green landscape] 

The most notable first impression of every urban dweller arriving in the village is the lack of organization or system in the wilderness of nature. Modern cities are full of green spaces, but unlike their careful designs with purpose and meaning, wild nature has its own organization, symmetry, and unique beauty of chaos. 

[photo #2 – a small village house] 

Rural architecture is also a significant part of our long-forgotten, an almost alien part of the culture we were so quick to abandon for the sake of skyscrapers and efficiency. Living in a rural area is more spacious and simpler; it is a great example of humble co-existence with nature that never aims to compete with natural forces but rather integrates with them in a perfect balance and harmony. 

[photo #3 – domestic animals] 

Humans’ partnership with animals is another unique bridge between prehistoric times and modern living that an urban dweller can hardly grasp. City residents also have dogs, cats, and dozens of other animals residing in the confines of their apartments. Yet, only in a village can animals live their own lives and serve people in a mutually gratifying bond. 

[photo #4 – serene skyline at the dusk] 

The quietness and serenity of rural dusks are the best moments of unity with nature. It helps every careful and skilled appreciator embrace the timeless nature of beauty and go beyond the conventions of city standards, expectations, and pressing schedules. By observing the sun setting behind the horizon in the wilderness, people may regain the feeling of eternity and transcend the physical boundaries of their lives for the sake of attaining true harmony with their inner selves. 

Need Help with Photo Essays?

There are some fantastic resources when it comes to photo essay examples for students like you. Don´t be afraid to take advantage of free useful resources available on the Internet. Here you can find beautiful examples on every topic that will get your mind running with inspiration. But be cautious about copyright laws when it comes to using photos. If possible, try to use your shots for an added emotional effect. If you´re having trouble, also don´t hesitate to ask your professors or peers for advice.

It’s also OK to utilize some external help for the completion of a lovely image composition, which you may find here, in our company. We know that just like with traditional essays, the dreadful writer’s block is real for photo work as well. When inspiration isn´t striking, follow some of the tips we enumerated above or hire our professionals for assistance.

Our expert writers have many years of hands-on experience in dealing with assignments of all kinds, so they are always ready to help you create a photo assignment that will leave your professors and peers speechless. We hope that some of the tips and tricks have left you in the mood to brainstorm and given you some insight into the popular new form of writing, the photo essay. But even if they haven’t – we are here to provide you with a helping hand.