Skip to content
Storyteller Blog

Storyteller Blog

Human Eyes. Honest Stories.

  • StanleyLeary.com
  • More
    • Client Galleries
    • Workshops
    • Private Lessons
    • Client List
    • Testimonials
    • Photo Tips
    • My Mentor
  • College Course
    • Introduction to Photojournalism Syllabus (Spring 2019) UGA
    • Depth of Field & Lens Selection
    • Multimedia Package
    • Audio Package
    • Features
    • News Package
    • One Face, One Story
    • Captions
    • Manual Exposure
    • Copying, Renaming and Batch Captioning in Adobe Lightroom & Bridge
    • Resizing in Adobe Bridge and Compressing Your Folder
  • Lighting Exercises
    • 1) Rembrandt Lighting Assignment
    • 2) Mixing Strobes with Available Light
    • 3) Lighting Assignment 3:1 Lighting Ratio
    • 4) Mastering the Art of Clamshell Lighting
    • 5) Shooting Flambient Real Estate Shots
    • 6) Creative Backgrounds for Tabletop Photography
  • Newsletter
  • Bio
  • Contact

Author: Stanley Leary

Most companies know the value of a good story, but do not know how to tell their own story. Leary has a process to find and tell stories that communicate how they change lives, so that their companies grow again. Some of his clients include Chick-fil-A, Newell-Rubbermaid, Coke, Georgia Tech, and The Carter Center. Leary’s work has taken him across the United States and beyond — to Chile, Peru, Burkina Faso, Canada, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Portugal and Romania. The experiences of this award-winning communications allow him to engage audiences with storytelling that builds organization’s brand. His U.S. clients find that ability translates into making their messages cross-culturally relevant with diverse American audiences and within the mainstream media. Prior to forming his own company, Leary worked on staff for The Hickory (N.C.) Daily Record and theCOMMISSION magazine in Richmond, VA. For nine years he was on staff with PR team at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga. Leary is also a teacher. He enjoys sharing his expertise with others. He has taught storytelling and brand building at Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.; The University of the Nations, Kona, Hawaii; Reinhardt College, Waleska, Ga.; Berry College, Rome, Ga.; Portfolio Center, Atlanta, Ga.; and Dallas (Texas) Baptist University. He also has been a guest lecturer at World Journalism Institute, Washington, D.C.; Southwestern Photojournalist Conference, Fort Worth, Texas; Art Institute of Atlanta, Ga.; American Society of Media Photographers. Atlanta (Ga.) Chapter; and the Southeastern Photographic Society, Atlanta Ga. Clients often contract him to teach their staffs to become more visually effective in building their brand. Leary lives in Roswell, Ga., holds degrees in social work and communications, and is married to Dorie Griggs. They have three children.
  • Home
  • Stanley Leary
  • Page 18
Story First: Why Strategy Beats Speed Every Time

Story First: Why Strategy Beats Speed Every Time

by Stanley LearyApril 28, 2025September 1, 2025

One of the most common conversations I have with clients starts with this: "We need a quick video."or"Can you come take a few photos for us?" While it’s always tempting to jump straight to creating…

Why Photographing Birds at Your Birdfeeder is Surprisingly Therapeutic

Why Photographing Birds at Your Birdfeeder is Surprisingly Therapeutic

by Stanley LearyApril 28, 2025September 1, 2025

Caption: A male rose-breasted grosbeak, often called a "cut-throat" for its striking red chest, stops by my feeder during spring migration. Sometimes the best photography subjects aren't far away.They're right outside your window. Lately, I’ve…

How Alvin Toffler’s Powershift Shaped the World We Live In — and Why Storytellers Matter More Than Ever

How Alvin Toffler’s Powershift Shaped the World We Live In — and Why Storytellers Matter More Than Ever

by Stanley LearyApril 26, 2025September 1, 2025

When Alvin Toffler’s book Powershift hit the shelves in 1990, I was one of the many who picked it up, read it with curiosity, and wondered what the future might hold. Toffler made a bold…

How Often Should a Storyteller Tell Their Own Story?

How Often Should a Storyteller Tell Their Own Story?

by Stanley LearyApril 25, 2025February 18, 2026

Photo by Dennis Fahringer As someone who helps businesses and nonprofits tell compelling stories to connect with their audiences, I've often wrestled with this question: How frequently should I tell my own story? When you…

What Made Mother Teresa Different? It Wasn’t Just the Work.

What Made Mother Teresa Different? It Wasn’t Just the Work.

by Stanley LearyApril 24, 2025September 1, 2025

Every day, around the world, nuns, missionaries, aid workers, and volunteers roll up their sleeves and do the quiet work of caring for the hungry, the sick, the lonely, and the forgotten. So, how did…

Why My Backup CDs Failed — And What I Learned About Proper Storage

Why My Backup CDs Failed — And What I Learned About Proper Storage

by Stanley LearyApril 22, 2025September 1, 2025

I used to think backing up my photos to CD and DVD was a smart move. I used high-quality discs, labeled them carefully, and even stored them neatly in binders—four per page, front and back.…

Don’t Retire Your Strongest Stories: How Missionaries Can Lead with Impact While Expanding Support

Don’t Retire Your Strongest Stories: How Missionaries Can Lead with Impact While Expanding Support

by Stanley LearyApril 21, 2025September 1, 2025

David Cifuentes Velazquez, a coffee grower and member of the Just Coffee Cooperative, shares with visitors how coffee is grown in Salvador Urbina, Chiapas, Mexico. His excitement is contagious, especially as he tells how the…

Techniques for Authentic Storytelling in Photography

Techniques for Authentic Storytelling in Photography

by Stanley LearyApril 18, 2025September 1, 2025

Caption: Pastor Anani Martouka stands in front of the thriving ABWE church plant he leads in Kpegelonou, Togo. In addition to pastoring, he teaches at the Bible Institute, equipping future pastors to help transform communities…

Stop Hiding Behind Style: How Gimmicks Can Hold You Back as a Visual Storyteller

Stop Hiding Behind Style: How Gimmicks Can Hold You Back as a Visual Storyteller

by Stanley LearyApril 17, 2025September 1, 2025

As storytellers and photojournalists, it’s easy to fall in love with a “look.” We all have go-to techniques—such as shallow depth of field, dramatic off-camera lighting, or a high-contrast edit—that feel safe and impressive. But…

The One Question That Can Transform Your Storytelling (and Fundraising)

The One Question That Can Transform Your Storytelling (and Fundraising)

by Stanley LearyApril 16, 2025September 1, 2025

Photo Caption: Rynaldo Cifuentes, president of the Café Justo Cooperative and a respected leader in Salvador Urbina, emphasizes one powerful truth — one community, one mission, one vision for a better future. Most ministries and…

What Most Creatives Need Help With (And How I Can Help You)

What Most Creatives Need Help With (And How I Can Help You)

by Stanley LearyApril 14, 2025September 1, 2025

Photo by Jeff Raymond: Stanley Leary in front of the Government Palace of Peru during a storytelling workshop in Lima, guiding participants on capturing powerful visual narratives. Over the years, I’ve mentored creatives at all…

How to Pitch Story Ideas That Get Noticed

How to Pitch Story Ideas That Get Noticed

by Stanley LearyApril 13, 2025February 18, 2026

One of the most valuable advice I give aspiring photojournalists, videographers, and writers is to learn to pitch their ideas well. It’s not just about having talent—it’s about showing people you can deliver and that you’re…

Posts pagination

Previous 1 … 17 18 19 … 150 Next
September 2026
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
« Aug    

Popular Posts

  • Writing With Light
  • Disaster strikes due to a mistake
  • Shooting Video with your DSLR (Part 2)
  • Plan ahead for great Prom Pictures
  • The feedback we give to first time Multimedia Storytellers
  • Why the MagMod Sphere is a Game-Changer for Event Photography
  • Creative Synergy: Collaborating at the Springer Opera House for Impactful Storytelling
  • Storyline involves a Plot
  • The Crisis Threatening Professional Photography
  • Found my Kodak Master Photoguide

Copyright © 2026 Storyteller Blog Theme: Blog Ink By Artify Themes.