When we think about developing skills, we often believe that with enough hard work and practice, anyone can master anything. While effort and training can undoubtedly lead to growth, there’s a more profound truth: some people are wired differently, and specific skills come more naturally. In my own experience, I used to think all I needed was a chance to prove myself. Given the right opportunity, I believed I could do anything.

However, as I progressed in my career, I realized that enthusiasm alone isn’t enough. For some people, it takes years—sometimes even decades—of focused learning to reach a basic level of competency. In contrast, others with a natural inclination can achieve mastery much faster. It’s essential to understand that no matter how long you work on something, some skills require more than just effort. They need a deep connection, a natural gift, or an inherent understanding of the craft.

The Myth of the ‘Overnight Success’
We often hear stories of people who seem to appear out of nowhere, achieving success almost instantly. But the reality is that “overnight success” is usually the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and persistence. Research supports this idea: according to a 2006 study by psychologist K. Anders Ericsson, it typically takes 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field. In other words, behind every “instant” success story are likely years of unseen effort and preparation.

A Personal Journey: Lessons from the Southwestern Photojournalism Seminar
In 1990, I helped organize the Southwestern Photojournalism Seminar, which ran for 25 years in Fort Worth, Texas. The seminar brought together people eager to tell stories, many of whom wanted to document the gospel’s spread. The speakers and presenters were inspiring, but there was one significant gap: while attendees left motivated, they often lacked the hands-on experience necessary to bring their vision to life.

At that time, aspiring storytellers were advised to work at small newspapers, where they could learn from experienced editors and photographers. This slow, steady apprenticeship was how you built a portfolio that could eventually take you worldwide to tell stories of missionaries and their work.

But times changed, and those small newspapers began disappearing. That’s when my friend Greg Thompson and I had an idea: what if we could give aspiring storytellers the chance to work with seasoned veterans on real, cross-cultural stories? 2013 Jeff Raymond called me, having been referred by Greg, and we launched the first Storytellers Abroad Multimedia Missions Workshop in Lisbon, Portugal. Our goal was to offer photographers hands-on experience in a mission context, guided by those who had spent years refining their craft.

Skill vs. Talent: What Makes a Storyteller?
Over the years, I’ve seen a consistent truth: storytelling isn’t something you can pick up after a class or two. It takes time, dedication, and, frankly, a natural gift. Most people who know how to use a camera or edit a video don’t automatically know how to tell a compelling story. Storytellers are strategic thinkers who understand the heart of a narrative, while videographers often focus more on the technical tactical aspects of the craft.

You must deliver on that promise when you’re sent into the field to help a missionary or nonprofit tell their story. It’s not just about taking great footage; it’s about translating that into a story that moves people to action.

After ten years of running this workshop, I can say that many people are interested in storytelling. Still, most will disappoint unless they’ve already demonstrated their skill in their local context. However, those honed their craft can be coached to produce exceptional work in a cross-cultural setting.

Learning from Experience: Why Veterans Get the Best Stories
There’s a reason seasoned storytellers often get better assignments. They have a track record of success that speaks for itself. Organizations want results, and they trust those with proven experience. You can’t take a class and suddenly become a great storyteller. It would be best if you were teachable, practice your craft, and, most importantly, have an innate understanding of what makes a good story.

For some, the role of storyteller might not be the best fit. In that case, you may excel in roles like camera operator, sound engineer, or editor—essential parts of the storytelling team. It’s important to recognize your strengths and work to perfect them.

The Value of Commitment and Compensation
I’ve also learned that organizations, especially missionaries and nonprofits, must have skin in the game. When they don’t, they may not fully appreciate the value of your work. Covering expenses and paying a livable wage is critical to ensuring storytellers can continue to provide quality content. Supporters can sometimes help offset costs, but the organization must cover the core expenses.

Raising the Bar for Storytellers
After years of leading storytelling workshops, I’ve realized that not everyone is cut out for this work. To tell stories across cultures in different languages requires a skill set that not everyone has, even if they’re great at producing videos in their community. That’s why I’ve raised the bar on what it takes to be part of these workshops.

Where I Am Now
While I’m still passionate about teaching storytelling, my main focus now is working directly with nonprofits to tell their stories effectively. I guide organizations through a strategic process that identifies the stories that will move their audience to action. This is my strength—helping organizations identify and share stories that matter.

If you’re looking for someone who can help your organization tell stories that resonate and move people, or if you’re interested in developing a team of storytellers ready to leap cross-cultural, multilingual storytelling, let’s talk. Together, we can tell stories that make a difference.

It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since our first Storytellers Abroad workshop in Lisbon, Portugal. This week, we find ourselves in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, reflecting on how far we’ve come—and how much we continue to learn with each new workshop.

One of the biggest takeaways from our journey is the importance of continuous improvement. We tweak our process with each workshop based on the lessons learned from the previous one. And this year, we’ve seen the most significant evolution yet.

The Power of Preparation: Crafting Story Outlines Early

For the first time, we arrived in Tanzania with a story outline prepared for each storyteller. Having these outlines ahead of time transformed the storytelling process. Before even hitting record, the storyteller, their coach, and the missionary sat down with the story’s subject—one of the local nationals—to connect with them. This wasn’t just about gathering facts and understanding the story’s heart.

After spending two hours building this relationship and getting familiar with the narrative, we scheduled the formal interview for the following day—the depth of connection from that initial meeting allowed for a more authentic and meaningful interview.

Bridging Language Gaps: Capturing Authenticity in Translation

Conducting the interviews in Swahili, with missionaries serving as translators, we faced the challenge of ensuring that the essence of the story essence of the story wasn’t lost in translation. In previous workshops, we struggled with software that provided word-for-word transliterations rather than capturing the true meaning behind the words.

This time, we used ChatGPT to translate the Swahili captions into English—and the results were astounding. For the first time, we achieved a translation that didn’t just deliver words but conveyed the heart of the message. The difference between a mere translation and an understanding of intent was pivotal.

Of course, we didn’t stop there. A professional translator reviewed the captions, ironing out minor hiccups, such as stutters or non-verbal sounds.

Connecting the Audience: Building Bridges Through Storytelling

With the translated interview in hand, we collaborated with the ABWE organization’s editor to ensure that the final story resonated with our intended audience: U.S. church communities. It was crucial to create a narrative thread that linked the missionaries’ work with the nationals’ experiences in a way that would inspire and engage the viewers back home.

Coaching and Crafting the Visuals

Each storyteller worked closely with a coach throughout the workshop, from story inception to the final edit. Now that the stories were captured, the focus shifted to visual storytelling—creating a shot list for B-roll footage. This supporting imagery adds another layer to the story, helping to immerse the audience and visually convey narrative aspects that words alone cannot.

Editing on the Ground: Bringing It All Together

We spent the afternoons and full days immersed in Adobe Premiere Pro, editing the stories while still in Tanzania. After an initial round of edits, we will share the videos with the class for feedback. Once any adjustments are made, we will present the final versions to the community.

A Breakthrough Moment

This year, more than ever before, everything flowed. Having clear storylines before filming allowed us to focus on capturing the visuals and creating an emotionally resonant experience for the audience. The clarity and preparation made the entire workshop smoother and more fulfilling than any other.

There’s such joy in witnessing how the power of visual storytelling continues to grow, evolve, and connect people from different walks of life. Here’s to the next ten years of stories yet to be told!

In our connected world, smartphones do a remarkable job of keeping time. They sync to the correct time and adjust automatically to the local time zone, thanks to their integration with cellular networks and GPS. However, a bit of manual intervention is still required when it comes to cameras, even high-end models like my Nikon Z9.

The Nikon Z9: GPS-Enabled But Not Fully Automatic

The Nikon Z9 is an incredible technology with a built-in GPS that syncs with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This is a fantastic feature for ensuring your camera’s internal clock stays accurate. However, there’s a catch: while the GPS can sync to GMT, it doesn’t automatically adjust for your local time zone. This means you must still go into the settings and manually set the correct time zone.

This extra step is essential, especially for photographers who travel frequently or work across different time zones. Without adjusting the time zone, your images might be stamped with the wrong time, leading to confusion later when organizing your photos.

Setting the Time on Other Cameras

Most cameras, even those without the advanced GPS capabilities of the Nikon Z9, allow you to set the time manually. The process is typically straightforward, but it varies depending on the make and model of your camera. The best way to ensure accuracy is to consult your camera’s manual. If you don’t have the manual on hand, it’s easy to find online—search for your camera brand and model, and you should be able to locate the instructions.

This small step of accurately setting your camera’s time can save you many headaches down the road.

The Benefits of Accurate Time Stamping

Accurate time stamping on your images offers several significant benefits, especially regarding cataloging and teamwork. Here are a few examples:

1. Efficient Cataloging: When your images are time-stamped correctly, it becomes much easier to organize them chronologically. This is particularly useful when sorting through thousands of photos from a long shoot or a multi-day event.
2. Seamless Collaboration: Having all cameras set simultaneously ensures everyone’s photos are in sync if you’re shooting with a team. This is crucial for events like weddings or sports, where multiple photographers might capture the exact moment from different angles. Consistent time stamps make creating a timeline of events simple without confusion.
3. Geo-Tagging Accuracy: For cameras like the Nikon Z9 that include GPS, accurate time settings are essential for precise geo-tagging. This feature can be invaluable for photographers who need to track the exact location of their shots, whether for documentary purposes or location-based projects.

In conclusion, while our phones may make timekeeping effortless, our cameras require more attention. Taking the time to ensure your camera’s clock is accurate—and set to the correct time zone—can make a world of difference in your photography workflow. So, before your next shoot, take a moment to check your camera’s time settings. It’s a simple step that can save you much trouble later on.