How do you do photostories? And what have you learnt from doing them?

[Karhys]

So, I've been doing a fair few photostories recently, and I got to wondering how other people do them. I figure there must be a whole plethora of different ways that people do them, so I'd love to hear your input -- if you're a photostory kind of person, how do you tackle them? And what have you learnt most of all from taking photostories?

This is how I do them:
First of all, I come up with an idea, obviously. :p
Next, I write a script, which is just straight dialogue between whichever dolls are involved. (Although if there's some obvious action that I know will occur, such as "sits down" or "moves closer" I'll make a note of it.) I'll usually read over the script a few times and vaguely plan out in my head who is doing what at any given moment, but I leave that open to interpretation for now.
Next, I wait for it to stop raining. :p I use natural lighting for most of my photostories, so I need a sunny (or at least not wickedly overcast) day! Of which there are far too few lately.
When the weather is good, I set up my 'doll room', and bring out the participating dolls. I also bring a print-out of the script. For me, I like to know exactly what the dolls are saying at each point in the photostory so that I can get a pose that I think suits those words.
When I'm taking the photos, I then make my final decisions on how many lines of text apply to each photo. I've usually vaguely planned this in advance, but I never make a final decision until I'm taking the actual shots. Sometimes I may find that one pose/scene only works for a single line of dialogue; other times a pose/scene suits maybe up to four-five lines of dialogue. I never decide till I'm doing the pictures, and when I decide, I mark it down on my script.
While I'm doing that, I always consider the scope of each picture and who the focus is on at any given time. If doll A is saying something more important than doll B, then I want to focus on his face, or his posture, or even just put doll B blurred in the background, or have the camera looking over his shoulder. I also like to consider the attitude I'm trying to convey; if doll A is trying to be threatening, setting up the camera so that he seems to be looming over doll B is a good idea.
Once all my pictures are taken, I pack everything up, upload them to the PC, and start editing. When I've done my final edits, I insert all the pictures into a webpage, and I may make changes to the script at this point, or change which dialogue parts go with which picture. But they're usually pretty minor changes.
And then when I'm satisfied, I unveil! :clap

Thing I've learnt best when taking photostories:
1) take multiple pictures, even of the same shot and angle, with varying lighting. If I do straight direct sunlight, I get a lot of washed out pictures. I diffuse the sunlight to different degrees and take multiple shots to get something that works best per picture. It's better to grab a lot of shots at once then to have to go back and redo a scene because it's washed out or badly lit.
2) if you're not sure that you like how a scene looks while you're taking the picture, chances are you won't like it when you upload it, either. it's a LOT easier to take pictures of a scene from multiple different angles during the one photoshoot, rather than finding you don't like the scene after all and having to go and set everything up again just to redo one scene. :p

Now that I think about it, I think I go about photostories from a writer's perspective -- so I 'write' it first. But I can imagine that those of you who are artists or more visually inclined might go at it from a more visual aspect, and consider layout, setting, even storyboarding in advance. And I'm also rather overly organised, hence why I print out the script and arrange things in advance -- but I'm sure there are also people who just go in with an idea, start taking pictures, and see where they end up! So I'm really curious to hear how other people approach photostories! And also anything you've learned along the way. :D

[Kokoryta]

Any photostories that I've done have all been spontanious. No pre planning, no thinking about it, just taking pictures in sequesnce and adding words to it later. :oops

Mind you, most of my photostories have all been pretty short and simple. Not sure how I would go about a more complex photostory.

[carawen]

I'm more of a 'wing it as I go' type of photostory-er myself, so there isn't usually much planning at all. I tend to have a basic idea of what I want to happen in the photostory, but I don't script it first. Since most everything I do is at night, I don't worry about needing to go back and re-photograph something, because the lighting is always the same for me. I don't do particularly long photostories, so I don't know how I'd go about doing something more complex.

[Brightfires]

[laughs] I learned very quickly that I have absolutley no talent for them... So, in answer to "How do I do them?", I have to say that I don't! Like free-form RP, they're just 'not my thing'. :nod

With the few I did try... I scripted them first, then made sort-of a mental story-board to plan out the shots I needed. The actual photography came fairly late in the process.

[Luckyl]

And I'm also rather overly organised, hence why I print out the script and arrange things in advance -- but I'm sure there are also people who just go in with an idea, start taking pictures, and see where they end up! So I'm really curious to hear how other people approach photostories! And also anything you've learned along the way.
Good question! I have started thinking more about my approach to the rather complex sci-fi/fantasy story that I have started, and wondered if I am kind of strange in the way I get inspiration.

Everything started with my characters. While waiting for my new doll to arrive a few months ago, I started thinking about his character and the story line I wanted to develop. Before I knew it, I started thinking about what costumes, set designs, props, etc. I would need to do photoshoots. From there, I started coming up with more detailed ideas for the storyline.

The way my process with my current story is going is starting to become more of a pattern, and it is getting easier for me. I don't print out a script, but I mentally formulate one in my head about what will play out in each scene in the chapter. Then I do the photoshoot, and like Karhys take numerous photos of each shot to ensure I can get what I am striving for. If I don't get close enough to what I am wanting, I will try again another time. So much depends on my photos, because I am just developing my story telling ability and find that with the right photo, the story almost writes itself. After I select the photos I plan to use for a chapter, I post them and start fleshing out the written part of the story that was in my head.

My story is now a major part of my doll hobby, and I enjoy thinking about what prop/outift/backdrop etc. I will need for my next installment. I find it is an artistic outlet that is very satisfying.

[Phoenix]

I learned that doing photostories is really harder than it looks. I do as much planning as you do, Karhys, because if I just wing it, I end up missing shots to fill up the storyline. Going back and setting things back up is rather hard, and usually the lighting is already different by then. This is only for simple and rather short stories, too! I can only imagine the amount of work those owners had to do if they want to do long stories.

I have a lot of respect for those that do long, to-be-continued stories, cause it's just hard to keep it interesting without a lot of props/tools/proper backgrounds to work with. Photostories are a lot of work!

[Myth]

I've only done a few, but they were pretty much the same way as Karhys. I write the script first which includes the dialogue, action and the way the dolls should be positioned.. (for my first one I even drew a storyboard!)
unfortunately I don't have a good background setup with doll-size items so it's harder to go on with the plans... I've learned that the little details are very important. and since I hardly have time to take photos anymore, I stopped doing photostories... but I have some planned so maybe one day...

[lyrajean]

I do it the other way 'round. usually I just decide that I want to take some doll pictures for other reasons, new location, new doll, new clothes etc.. And then while i'm snapping away I think of all the funny things the dolls might be saying or thinking posed in that particular way. Sometimes it evolves into a story.

[Chops]

I have done one photostory and it was a lot of work! A admire Karhys' focus and ambition in making photostories. No wonder they are so good!

My one photostory was created as I took the photos, very generalized idea and knew what I wanted to say. I was pleased with it, but now I have a whole lot of respect for the posters who do photostories!

[Zozolala]

I only do one-photo stories with Sparrow.. which might sound odd ^^;
But it's always a challenge to capture a moment in time with just one character and the right props, with a plain white or black background, and to let the photo speak mostly for itself. Hardly any preparation or script, but I enjoy it very much :)

[byouyuuken]

I'm halfway between scripting and "winging it"...depends on the photostory really.

Usually I start out with a rough script (dialogue, not including action). Then I sketch a storyboard of the posing/background/composition of each desired photo on paper. I then think about the lighting or mood I want the photostory to be...and either set up or wait until the right timing if I need a certain lighting.

And then I just snap away! Sometimes the pictures don't come out exactly like how I want them, since there is usually some discrepancy between what can be drawn and what the dolls can actually do...in that case I just improvise and move on. Also during the actual shooting I'd play with focus and some different angles and go free with deviating from plan if anything cool pops up.

...That's for a "real complete" photostory anyways. Sometimes I just go with an idea in my head and take shots that go with the flow, and fill in proper dialogue afterwards. In that case the part of determining "what would my doll do or say next" depends entirely on what kind of pictures I ended up with.

[freya1924]

I've only done photostories at my LJ. But for the most part, they write their own story. I might just be posing Alice and suddenly there's a thought of what she's doing and why. Then along comes the rest, including dialogue and I snap to go with it. The problem is remembering it all... XD

However, as I've written in excess of 500,000 words in stories for them, I think I mostly just shoot a picture to illustrate an idea. or as inspiration. If i ever have time to edit the raw writing, hoo boy.

[derilan85]

Batteries are important, my camera eats them like water, also posing the dolls and getting them to stay but that does not happen when you take the picture, also very good story line like if you have some drama going on and props to go with it that look like smaller versions of human size things. It helps if you got photo shop, but I may look into it and see if it will be good to invest in for my computer. Don't take too long to finish up the story if there are more than 1or 2 parts to it. Don't copy someone else's style be original and creative. My doll characters vary from anime or comic book, but primarily they come from another planet, and demand all my attention and money*_*

[aernath]

I usually start with a punchline, and then build around that. Usually, I take the pictures with a vague dialogue in mind, but many times when I go to edit the pictures, I find the dolls are saying something else. ^^; And then I just go with the flow. ;)
The one exception to this was the four part story I just did a little while ago. THAT one, I had a rough script and had to choreograph the fight scenes. Went over everything a million times to see if everything flowed. Took forever and a day to do the shoots and editing! I'm so used to my quick and dirty stories, that one just wore me out. But I got it out of my system, and I'm all better now. ;)

So I guess for me: mostly Vague Idea, Shoot Pictures, Edit Pictures, Paste Dialogue.
I just don't have the patience or memory for doing longer stories.

[Mercy]

I've done a lot of photostories. I always have an idea of what the point of the "section" is. I will think about the section for several weeks and have the dialog in my head. I very rarely write it down or set it up until I start shooting because I find that sometimes, a pose or a scene may not be worth shooting or I can cut it down. So, working off the top of my head is a lot more fluid (for me at least... everyone works differently).

I use mostly artificial light 90% of the time and usually avoid shooting outdoors because Los Angeles light and my dolls do not mix well. I don't have a large light diffuser, and most of the best places to shoot have too many people to worry about coming up to bother me. SO... I've just learned to use my lighting. And I enjoy my lighting as well. My environments are all 100% controlled and controllable. Plus I have AC in my house and no dogs and runaway children wanting to grab my dolls (this has happens MORE than once let me tell you). WHEE! :)

As I shoot, I will sometimes speak the lines if I am with someone. Just to make sure the pose fits the words. I also remember the lines better when I say them out loud.

I shoot each "pose" in a 180 degree rotation and usually I try to get samplings from 4 to 6 shots per pose even if I plan to only use one shot. I also get close ups and full body shots of each pose (so it turned into more like 15-20 of each pose). That way, as I write and say, I come up with longer dialog, I will have a lot of different poses and angles that may not even look the same to choose from. Usually I never use more than two two three from the same "section/pose" because when you use the same shot over and over again, it gets boring and static... and people notice. The more variety you have, the more movement you show or at least, can fake. There is more impact on one shot too, so I TRY to only use one angle, but sometimes because I have too much dialog coming, I will spill over.

I'm sure I am missing something. Hopefully this makes sense.

[enmirii]

I guess I'm not alone when it comes to the "Winging it" motion. I guess it just depends on my mood. Sometimes I just go ahead and write whatever comes to me then I go and take the photos. Or I take the photos with a general idea of what I want them all to say and do some editing and actual script writing when I'm finished.

Otherwise, I think it's best to actually plan something out if it doesn't take one photostory to tell the tale. Some people find if they don't plan larger works then they'll never end up writing more or they'll have a confused audience member.

Though, I'm not an expert. I try, but I know I can never end anything well.

[Wotan]

Of the actual "photostories" I've done (2, if I remember) I was winging it. The first one came from a handful of shots I took. As I was looking at them, a short and simple story emerged. I Photoshopped in some dialogue balloons, and that was that. The second one was more of the same-- I liked the pose one of my dolls was in, and a mini-story grew around it.

Now, for the backlog of stories I haven't gotten to yet, I've done a fair amount of planning. I've scripted the dialogue and even sketched out some storyboards to work out the framing of the shot and the posing of the dolls. It's easier for me to draw it out that way, because everything I plan photostory-wise plays out mostly like a 4-panel gag manga (think Azumanga Daioh). I guess, that being said, I overstate things a bit when I say they're "scripted". :sweat

[EilonwyG]

I haven't done too many, I'm not very good at it, but the ones I've done I've winged it. I take some pictures with a general idea as to what they might be saying. I am currently thinking about doing another one, but I need a particular prop first, and until I have that, I can't do the photostory. Once I do, most likely I'll probably just start taking pictures first. I'm too anxious to sit down and storyboard it. I wish I could do those long, complex story plots with "to be continued" on them, but I suppose my kids' backgrounds aren't built to be good for photostories. Oh well.

[saint_savin]

I'm going to be doing photostories again after a REALLY long hiatus- more than two years I think.

Most of my photoshow ideas develop from "Wouldn't it be funny if...?". I generally like to do funny or at least lighthearted photostories. There's enough drama on DoA *rimshot*. Sometimes, I get ideas from conversations with other doll buddies, in which case, I give them credit.

When I outline prose, I tend to write events out in script form, and I do the same thing for photostories, only then never get turned into straight prose. I like to use OneNote so I can easily break up the text to fit with single images and move it around. I find I stay on topic more if I can have the sensation of physically arranging things.

Some of the "pictures" get what the photo should be written above them right away. Others I write in while I'm revising the next day or next week.

Before I start shooting, I scraw what I need pictures of onto a series of note papers using nearly illegible shorthand. Good for protecting housemates from spoilers, maybe not so good for other purposes.

If I need any scenery shots, I usually take them first, maybe even on a different day than the rest of the show. I try to shoot every "frame" from at least two angles. I always take some extra closeups for cute purposes.

Then, I sort my pics. I select the best version of each angle, and then do the eyedoctor thing: if this is one and this is two... When I'm finished with that, I edit the pics. Sometimes, if I have a problem deciding I'll keep more than one version of a frame and see which one cleans up nicer.

Then, I usually set everything up in Word and convert it to an HTML file when I'm ready to share. However, I'm thinking I might make comics out of my new photostories using Comic Life. I brought this up with some of my former readers and they seemed enthused!

[nek]

I think I'm half way between winging it and planning :oops
Generally, before I start, I'll have an idea and some dialogue in my head of which way I want things to go, who says what and moves where to do//say it, but it never gets written down.
After I kind of know what I'm doing I'll go and take some photo's and load them into my computer to see what I've got, I'll pick the best ones from however many I've taken that day and arrange them in a logical-looking order. After that the dialogue I've thought about before either slips in or doesn't, I then post it to my LJ and I'm done. {After a couple of photo stories I think I realized that not everything needs words for a story to be conveyed properly. I really like the no-dialogue kind of photostories, they rely a lot more on emotion//pose and remind me of silent movies.}

[Luckyl]

Halfway between winging it and planning it is very close to what I like to do. It is a very creative, impromtu, but semi-rehearsed process.

Nek, I never thought of comparing photostories without words to silent movies...that seems like you really have to get the "perfect" photos to
pull that off! Sometimes I have to take 25 shots to get what I need, but it is still not always exactly what I want...*palm to head*:sweat