Storytelling is at the heart of meaningful communication. Whether you’re working for a nonprofit, a business, or a community organization, a well-produced storytelling video can amplify your message and connect with your audience profoundly and emotionally.
In this post, I’m excited to walk you through the critical steps in producing a storytelling video for your organization. These steps are based on years of experience helping organizations craft stories that change lives. Check out the video embedded below for a more in-depth look!
1. Know the Story Before the cameras start rolling, you must understand the organization’s heart. What is their mission? Who is their target audience? And most importantly, what story needs to be told to move that audience?
Taking the time to research the organization’s core values and message is essential. This step will guide the rest of the production, ensuring the video feels authentic and focused.
Key Questions to Ask:
What is the organization’s mission and vision?
Who are they trying to reach with their story?
What is the message that will resonate most with the audience?
2. Pre-production Planning Planning is where the magic starts. You’ll need to create a detailed outline or script, figure out who the key people in the story are, and determine where and when to shoot. A smooth pre-production process sets the tone for the entire project.
Considerations for Pre-production:
Craft a story outline or script that aligns with the organization’s message.
Identify the key individuals whose stories will be shared.
Plan logistics: schedule the shoot, book locations, and gather necessary equipment.
3. Capture Real Stories Once filming begins, it’s time to focus on authenticity. Real stories from real people are what makes storytelling videos powerful. Instead of scripting every line, encourage your subjects to speak from the heart. Their personal experiences are what will resonate with the audience.
Tips for Capturing Authenticity:
Let the subjects share their stories naturally—don’t force them into a script.
Create a relaxed environment where people feel comfortable sharing their experiences.
Capture emotion through candid, real-life moments.
4. Use Visuals to Enhance the Story Visual storytelling goes beyond just recording people talking. The environment, lighting, and supporting footage add to the story’s emotional impact. Think about how the visuals can enhance the narrative.
Visual Elements to Consider:
Show more than just talking heads—film the environment, the work, and the people in action.
Use thoughtful lighting and composition to emphasize the emotional tone.
Capture different angles and scenes to create a visually engaging story.
5. Craft the Sound Good sound design and music are critical to making the story come alive. Clear audio ensures your message is understood, while carefully selected music can set the emotional tone without overpowering the story.
Sound Considerations:
Use high-quality audio equipment for clear dialogue.
Choose music that supports the story’s mood and helps evoke the right emotions.
6. Weaving the Story in Post-production In the editing phase, you’ll bring all the elements together. The pacing of the video, how the shots flow into each other, and the placement of interviews and supporting visuals all contribute to compellingly telling the story.
Editing Tips:
Focus on pacing that keeps the viewer engaged.
Think about how each visual and audio element serves the overall story.
Don’t be afraid to trim footage if it distracts from the core message.
7. Deliver with Purpose Every storytelling video should have a clear purpose. Whether raising awareness, inspiring action, or educating the audience, the video must lead the viewer toward a specific goal.
Final Steps:
Make sure the video aligns with the organization’s overall goals.
Add a solid call to action—this could be a prompt to donate, get involved, or learn more.
Conclusion Producing a storytelling video is about more than just putting footage together—it’s about connecting with your audience on a deeper level and communicating a message that can inspire change. By following these steps, you can create videos that leave a lasting impact on both the organization and its audience.
Check out the embedded video below for a behind-the-scenes look at the storytelling process and to see these tips in action. Happy storytelling!
As a photographer, I always look for tools to enhance my work while keeping my setup simple and efficient. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to put the MagMod Sphere to the test during an event that included both outdoor and indoor settings. The results were impressive, and I can confidently say this flash attachment is the way to go for on-camera event photography.
I am standing on the porch, which means they were pretty much silhouetted [extremely dark], so by using the MagMod Sphere, it is bouncing off the porch’s white ceiling and directly at them, making it easier to show this bride/groom and daughter with those who showed up for the party in the background. [NIKON Z 9, NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 10000, 1/25, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 24)]
The Benefits of the MagMod Sphere
The MagMod Sphere is designed to transform harsh flash light into a soft, diffused glow. This is particularly useful in event photography, where you must adapt quickly to varying lighting conditions.
Here are a few reasons why I believe the MagMod Sphere is an essential tool for photographers:
Easy Attachment: The magnetic design makes it incredibly easy to attach and detach. Depending on the available light, I could quickly switch between using the Sphere and shooting without flash during the event.
Soft, Even Light: The diffusion provided by the Sphere allows for a soft light that reduces harsh shadows and creates a more flattering look for subjects. I noticed a significant difference in the quality of my flash shots compared to when I shot with direct flash.
Compact and Lightweight: The Sphere is lightweight and doesn’t add much bulk to your gear. This is crucial when walking around an event space, where you must be agile and quick.
Versatile for Different Settings: Whether I was shooting outside during the day or indoors with mixed lighting, the MagMod Sphere adapted beautifully. If the available light was sufficient, I could quickly turn off the flash and capture natural, ambient shots without hassle.
The sun was setting, and it was much darker under the porch. I used the MagMod Sphere but pointed the flash straight at the couple. In the post, I used the gradient mask on the lower half to darken the banister. [NIKON Z 9, NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 3600, 1/80, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 52)]
Speeding Up Your Workflow in Lightroom with the MagMod Sphere
In addition to its advantages during shooting, the MagMod Sphere can significantly streamline your post-processing workflow in Lightroom. Here are a few reasons why:
Consistent Lighting: The soft, diffused light from the MagMod Sphere creates a more uniform exposure across your images. This consistency means less time spent adjusting individual photos in Lightroom, allowing you to edit in batches more efficiently.
Reduced Post-Processing: Because the Sphere minimizes harsh shadows and helps achieve more flattering skin tones, you won’t need to spend as much time correcting or retouching in post. This translates to faster edits and more time for other projects.
Easier Color Correction: The quality of light from the Sphere can lead to more accurate colors in your photos. This makes color correction easier and quicker in Lightroom, as you’ll spend less time adjusting white balance and saturation.
Fewer Exposures to Adjust: When using the MagMod Sphere, your images are less likely to have extreme highlights or shadows. This means fewer exposures to fine-tune during editing, speeding up your workflow.
Streamlined Preset Application: If you use presets in Lightroom, consistent lighting can make it easier to apply your favorite presets across multiple images without needing to tweak settings for each photo.
By using the MagMod Sphere, you improve the quality of your images during the shoot and set yourself up for a more efficient editing process later. This means more time doing what you love—capturing moments—while minimizing time spent behind the computer.
No Flash Example [NIKON Z 9, 35mm f/1.4G, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 2000, 1/250, ƒ/1.4, (35mm = 35)]
Real-World Application
During the event, I relied on the MagMod Sphere for various shots. For example, outside, I used the flash to fill in shadows on faces, which helped create a balanced exposure. Indoors, I used it to illuminate subjects without overwhelming them with light.
I will share some examples of my work: shots taken with the MagMod Sphere and those taken without flash, showcasing how the quality of light can significantly affect the final image.
Challenges with Off-Camera Flash
While off-camera flash can yield stunning results, it can be impractical in an event setting. Even with an assistant, it’s easy for guests to cast unwanted shadows, disrupting the event flow. Using the MagMod Sphere as an on-camera flash solution helped me avoid these pitfalls while providing the necessary lighting.
Flash is mixing with the available light. [NIKON Z 9, NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S, Mode = Manual, ISO 25600, 1/160, ƒ/4.5, (35mm = 36)]
Tips for Using the MagMod Sphere in Event Photography
Assess Available Light: Before you start shooting, evaluate the lighting conditions. If the available light is good, don’t hesitate to turn off the flash for a more natural look.
Use Flash as Fill Light: In bright outdoor settings, use the flash to fill in shadows rather than overpowering the ambient light.
Experiment with Angles: Slightly angling your flash can change how the light falls on your subject, so don’t be afraid to play around.
Keep It Simple: The MagMod Sphere is designed for quick changes. You can do so in seconds if you need to switch back to natural light.
Capture the Moments: Focus on candid moments and interactions. The Sphere allows you to illuminate your subjects without drawing too much attention.
Conclusion
Incorporating the MagMod Sphere into my event photography this past weekend was a game-changer. It allowed me to navigate different lighting conditions effortlessly while maintaining the quality of my images. If you’re looking for a versatile, efficient, and effective flash attachment for event photography, the MagMod Sphere should be at the top.
In the fast-paced world of photography, efficiency is critical, primarily when culling your images. With countless photos taken during a shoot, quickly sorting through them can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, combining the power of Photo Mechanic and Adobe Lightroom can streamline this process significantly. Here’s how to leverage both tools for faster image culling, whether starting fresh or working with images already in Lightroom.
Getting Started with Photo Mechanic
Photo Mechanic, developed by Camera Bits, is a fast and efficient tool for photographers to manage their images. It’s perfect for the initial ingest and culling process. Here’s how to begin:
Ingesting Images into Photo Mechanic
Open Photo Mechanic and select Ingest from the top menu.
Choose your source—a memory card or a folder on your hard drive or external drive.
Set your destination folder for the images.
Start the ingest process. This will import your photos and allow you to review them instantly.
Culling Your Images
Once your images are ingested, you can quickly sort through them:
Use the arrow keys to navigate through your pictures.
Press “T” to tag the images you want to keep. This is a quick way to mark your favorites without interrupting your flow.
For images you don’t want to keep, use the arrow keys to move on.
Deleting Unwanted Images
To delete images you don’t want:
Navigate to the top pull-down menu in Photo Mechanic.
Select “Untagged” from the middle menu. This will filter out all the tagged images, showing only those you’ve rejected.
Press ⌘ + A to select all untagged images, then hit ⌘ + ␡ to delete them.
Using Photo Mechanic this way, you’ll have quickly culled your images before pictures stepping into Lightroom.
Syncing Changes with Lightroom
If you’ve already ingested your images into Lightroom, you can still use Photo Mechanic for a fast cull:
Open Photo Mechanic and navigate to the folder where your images are stored.
Use the same tagging method as above to mark the keepers.
After you’ve tagged and deleted the unwanted photos, return to Lightroom.
Synchronizing Folders in Lightroom
To update Lightroom with the changes made in Photo Mechanic:
Go to the Library Module in Lightroom.
Locate the folder on the left panel containing your images.
Hover over the folder name, right-click (or hold the Control key and click) to bring up the context menu.
Choose “Synchronize Folder”.
In the dialog that appears, click “Synchronize”. Lightroom will automatically highlight any changes, updating your catalog accordingly.
Conclusion
Using Photo Mechanic with Lightroom can drastically reduce the time spent culling through your images. By ingesting images first into Photo Mechanic, you streamline the culling process, allowing you to focus on your best shots before they even enter Lightroom. Even if you start with Lightroom, Photo Mechanic can enhance your workflow, making tagging and deleting unwanted images easier.
Embrace this powerful duo and watch your productivity soar, giving you more time to focus on what you love most—creating stunning photography!
For nonprofits, compelling storytelling is not just about the images themselves but also about making those images easy to find, share, and reuse. Properly managing your photo library requires a thoughtful approach to metadata. Keywords are essential for helping your team, donors, and supporters discover the right images, but they are only part of the equation. In this post, I’ll walk you through creating a custom keyword list for your nonprofit and explore the additional fields you should use to optimize your photos.
Step 1: Define the Purpose of Your Keywords
Before diving into the keyword list, it is essential to understand how your photos will be used. Are they primarily for social media, newsletters, annual reports, or fundraising campaigns? The purpose will help shape your keywords to ensure they align with your nonprofit’s goals.
Audience Focused: Are your target audiences donors, volunteers, or beneficiaries? Keywords should reflect the type of people you want to engage with the photos.
Project-Based: If your nonprofit works on specific projects or campaigns, these should be included in your keyword list. Think about the different causes or events your photos represent.
Step 2: Categorize Your Keywords
Create different categories of keywords to ensure a comprehensive tagging system:
Who: People involved (e.g., staff, volunteers, partners, beneficiaries).
What: The action or event captured in the photo (e.g., fundraiser, community outreach, educational workshop).
Where: Locations, whether it’s the name of the city, a specific venue, or the broader region.
When: Keywords like seasons, years, or notable events in the nonprofit timeline.
Why: The causes behind the image include “environmental sustainability,” “poverty relief,” and “child education.”
This organized approach ensures your photos are easily searchable and usable across various platforms.
Step 3: Create a Consistent Format
Your keywords need to be standardized to make sure everything is clear. Please decide on formats for locations (e.g., city name, country name), abbreviations, and singular vs. plural forms of words. For example, decide whether to consistently use “volunteer” or “volunteers” throughout your library.
Pro Tip: Create a reference document where all team members can see the list of accepted keywords and how they should be used.
Beyond Keywords: Other Important Metadata Fields
While keywords are essential, there are several other fields you should use to enhance the searchability and utility of your photos.
1. Title
A brief, descriptive title can be just as helpful as keywords. The title should summarize the content in a few words, such as “2023 Annual Gala Event” or “Community Garden Volunteer Day”
2. Description
A more detailed description adds context to the photo, describing who is in it, what’s happening, and why it’s significant to your nonprofit. This field is crucial to ensure that anyone searching your archives can understand the image without needing the whole backstory. For example:
“Volunteers distributing meals to homeless individuals in downtown Atlanta during our summer outreach program.”
3. Copyright Information
Don’t overlook the importance of crediting the photographer or your organization for the images. This field ensures that your nonprofit’s work is appropriately attributed whenever the image is shared externally.
4. Date Created
The date field ensures that you can quickly locate photos by the time they were taken. This is especially useful for annual reports, event recaps, or when tracking the progress of ongoing projects.
5. Location (GPS or Geotagging)
GPS coordinates or general location fields are handy if your nonprofit works in multiple regions. It allows for filtering by location, which can be helpful for localized campaigns or reporting on geographic impact.
6. Usage Rights
If your photos come with specific usage restrictions (e.g., for internal use only, not for social media), having a field to track usage rights will help prevent misuse or accidental distribution of sensitive images.
7. Tags for Accessibility
Consider accessibility metadata, such as alt text or descriptions for people with visual impairments. Including this information in your metadata ensures that your content is inclusive and accessible to all audiences.
Who Should Be Adding Metadata and Why It Matters
Now that we’ve covered the importance of keywords and other metadata fields, the next question is: who should be responsible for adding this information? Metadata is critical to ensuring your photo library remains organized, discoverable, and valuable. Let’s look at the roles that might be responsible and why their involvement is crucial.
Storytellers Abroad Multimedia Missions Workshop in Togo, West Africa.
1. Photographers
If you’re working with professional photographers—whether staff or freelancers—they should be responsible for adding some of the initial metadata, particularly technical and location-based information. As the creators, they are best positioned to include accurate details like the date, location (GPS data), and any specific copyright information. It’s also helpful for photographers to add essential keywords or titles that reflect the context of the shoot.
Why Photographers? Photographers are often the first point of contact with the images. Adding accurate metadata during the upload or post-production process ensures that the files are well-organized and saves time for anyone using the photos later.
2. Content or Media Managers
Content managers, communications staff, or media librarians typically manage your nonprofit’s digital assets. They should refine and expand the metadata added by the photographer, ensuring it aligns with your nonprofit’s broader communication strategy. This includes adding campaign-specific keywords, titles, and descriptions that make the images relevant and accessible to the organization.
Why Content Managers? They understand the organization’s messaging, audience, and goals. Content managers ensure consistency across all assets, enabling seamless integration of visuals into newsletters, social media, or reports. They can also ensure that metadata standards are upheld, keeping the library organized and usable long-term.
3. Project Leaders or Department Heads
Sometimes, it’s beneficial for department heads or project leaders to review or add metadata related to specific initiatives. For example, if a photo is part of a health outreach program, the person leading that project might add critical context that only they would know, such as names of participants, key milestones, or grant-related information.
Why Project Leaders? They bring subject matter expertise that can add depth to the metadata. By providing specific details related to the project or initiative, they ensure that the photos accurately represent the impact of your nonprofit’s work.
4. Marketing and Social Media Teams
Once photos are uploaded and fully tagged, marketing teams often add metadata fields related to social media or future campaigns. They might adjust tags to fit SEO best practices or add campaign-specific terms that increase the discoverability of images for fundraising, advocacy, or donor engagement.
Why Marketing Teams? Metadata helps ensure that the right images surface for different platforms or purposes. If social media visibility is essential, the marketing team can ensure that keywords are aligned with trending hashtags or relevant calls to action for specific audiences.
Conclusion: Metadata as a Shared Responsibility
The task of adding metadata should fall on more than one person. It is a shared responsibility that involves photographers, content managers, project leaders, and marketing teams. Each role brings its unique perspective, ensuring that your nonprofit photos are fully optimized for both internal use and external storytelling.
Having a well-structured approach to who adds what metadata keeps your library organized and maximizes the impact your photos can have. With the right keywords, descriptions, and contextual information, your nonprofit can tell its story, engage supporters, and showcase your meaningful work.
Crediting photographers
Crediting photographers for their work is not just a professional courtesy—it’s a vital practice, especially for nonprofits. Here’s why it’s important:
1. Respecting Intellectual Property Rights
Photographers retain intellectual property rights over their images, and proper credit acknowledges their ownership. This respect for their work is legally essential, ensuring nonprofits aren’t infringing copyright laws.
2. Building Trust and Professional Relationships
By giving credit, nonprofits foster strong relationships with photographers. Whether the photographer is a volunteer, staff member, or freelancer, showing appreciation through credit helps maintain goodwill and encourages future collaboration.
3. Maintaining Transparency
Nonprofits rely on public trust, and crediting photographers is part of demonstrating transparency. By attributing the source of their images, nonprofits show that they respect and value the contributions of all their partners, including creatives. This enhances the organization’s reputation and professionalism.
4. Incentivizing High-Quality Work
When photographers are credited for their work, they are more likely to provide high-quality images, knowing their name and talent will be recognized. This is particularly important for nonprofits, as compelling imagery is crucial for effective storytelling and engagement.
5. Supporting the Creative Community
Nonprofits often align with missions that support fairness, community, and collaboration. Crediting photographers aligns with these values, as it acknowledges the creative contributions of individuals and helps support their livelihoods, especially when working with freelancers or smaller creative teams.
6. Ensuring Proper Attribution in Public Use
Many nonprofit photos are shared widely across social media, websites, reports, and news outlets. Crediting the photographer ensures that, as the images get distributed, the creator continues to receive recognition for their work. This also helps avoid any misrepresentation or confusion about who took the image.
In summary, crediting photographers not only upholds legal and ethical standards but also strengthens professional relationships, ensures transparency, and encourages the creation of quality visuals—all essential for the success of a nonprofit’s storytelling efforts.
During the pandemic, Stanley set up and interviewed Chiropractor Dr. Charlie Weiss of Holcomb Bridge Chiropractic in Rowell, Georgia.
Nonprofits often struggle to decide between using volunteers or hiring professional communicators such as producers, photographers, and videographers. While it may be tempting to use volunteers to save money, relying on professionals can significantly impact the effectiveness and sustainability of a nonprofit’s mission, especially regarding communication strategies.
Stanley is doing a two-camera interview in Lisbon, Portugal.
Why Nonprofits Should Use Professionals in Communications:
Impactful Storytelling: Professional communicators bring a high level of expertise in crafting stories that resonate emotionally with audiences. This is critical for nonprofits, as compelling stories help donors connect with the cause more deeply. Organizations like Charity Water have used professional storytelling to engage supporters with authentic, emotionally charged narratives, which have led to higher donor trust and more significant contributions.
Consistency in Branding: One of the critical aspects of maintaining donor trust is having a consistent and professional brand image. Volunteers, while passionate, may not have the experience needed to maintain uniform messaging across platforms. Professionals are trained to handle multi-channel strategies and create brand guides that ensure the nonprofit’s identity is cohesive, which enhances long-term donor relationships.
Efficiency and Focus: Professionals are equipped with the tools and knowledge to handle the complexities of media production efficiently. From pre-production planning to post-production editing, they streamline the process, ensuring deadlines and resources are effectively utilized. On the other hand, volunteers may lack the necessary time and expertise, leading to delays and suboptimal outcomes.
Audience Engagement: Nonprofits need to engage their supporters through various media channels. A professional photographer or videographer can capture high-quality content that tells a story visually, engaging audiences in ways that statistics alone cannot. This engagement often leads to higher donations, as supporters can see the direct impact of their contributions.
Avoiding Risk: Without trained professionals, nonprofits risk producing content that could be perceived as amateurish or even misleading. Poor-quality media can damage a nonprofit’s reputation, making it appear untrustworthy. Moreover, volunteers may not always understand the nuances of sensitive storytelling, which could inadvertently lead to legal or ethical issues, further undermining the organization’s credibility.
Stanley’s interview setup with Dr. Jack Sorg for the Moldova Medical Short-Term Missions Team
Risks of Not Using Trained Communications Professionals:
Brand Dilution: Inconsistent messaging and visuals can dilute the nonprofit’s brand, making it harder to differentiate from competitors. Without professional oversight, the organization’s voice may lack clarity, causing confusion among supporters and stakeholders.
Lost Donor Engagement: Volunteers might need to gain the skills to create media that effectively capture the attention of potential donors. This could result in less engagement on social media, fewer website visits, and, ultimately, a decline in fundraising.
Long-term Costs: While volunteers may seem cost-effective initially, the long-term costs of ineffective communication—such as lower donor retention or decreased fundraising—can outweigh the short-term savings. Correcting poorly executed media projects can be more expensive than getting it right the first time with professionals.
Conclusion: For nonprofits, communication is more than just delivering a message; it’s about connecting with donors and supporters. Hiring professional photographers, videographers, and producers ensures this communication is done effectively, increasing monetary donations and volunteer involvement. While volunteers are invaluable in many areas, the role of skilled professionals in nonprofit communications should not be underestimated, as it is a crucial part of building a sustainable and prosperous organization.
With over two decades of experience organizing the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference and creating mission Storytelling Abroad Workshops, I’ve seen firsthand professionals’ vital role in nonprofit communications. From 1990 to 2024, I worked with both amateurs and professionals, particularly in mission photography. Through this, I firmly believe that organizations should prioritize hiring professionals for storytelling, especially for projects to raise funds or build public engagement. Professionals bring expertise, consistency, and the ability to craft impactful narratives. Once these critical stories are in place, volunteers can work alongside them, learning and contributing to internal projects. This approach ensures the highest quality in external-facing communication while nurturing the next generation of storytellers.
Capturing the journey of resilience and growth: Hannah Strayer interviews Samweli Chacha in front of the home he built through hard work and dedication to farming. With the invaluable support of Apollo Mazengo, Samweli’s agriculture teacher, this conversation is made accessible through Swahili translation, showcasing the power of education and community.
I first met Hannah Strayer in 2015 during our Storytellers Abroad Missions Multimedia Workshop in Romania. At the time, she was already deep into her missionary journey. Hannah had a passion for photography, and this workshop introduced her to the world of storytelling, where words and visuals come together to create compelling narratives.
During the 2015 Storytellers Abroad Workshop in Romania, Hannah Strayer received guidance from storyteller coach James Dockery while Jon Franz worked diligently on his project beside them.
Her enthusiasm for storytelling led her to attend several more ABWE’s Storytellers Abroad workshops, traveling to places like Nicaragua, Peru, and Togo. With each experience, Hannah grew in her craft, eventually attending language school to learn French in preparation for her move to Togo, West Africa, where she would serve as a full-time missionary media specialist.
However, Hannah didn’t join a large missions team with on-field mentors. To continue improving her skills and gaining valuable feedback, she kept participating in more workshops, working closely with coaches who helped refine her storytelling abilities.
Hannah Strayer conducts a video interview with Samweli Chacha, capturing his story with the help of missionary Aaron Boon, who translates from Swahili to English for the storytelling project in Tanzania on September 7, 2024.
One of the stories we worked on in Tanzania revolved around a key challenge facing missionaries there: securing visas from the government. A vital part of that solution was the new farm established by the local missionary team. The farm helped with visa renewals and trained pastors in farming techniques, providing them with the tools to support their families while leading their churches.
One of the pastors we featured was Samweli Chacha, who attended The Biblical Center for Pastors. He was thrilled to discover the bonus of learning agriculture alongside his studies. His story is familiar in Tanzania, where many pastors are called to lead churches with little formal education. Often, pastors need a secondary job to support themselves, and without proper income, they may have to abandon their role in the church to care for their families.
Samweli’s story is a testament to the holistic approach the missionaries are taking—addressing both spiritual and financial needs.
Watch the video to see how these efforts are making a difference for Samweli and other pastors striving to serve their communities in Tanzania.
Alicia Sparkman and Jordan Timpy sit down with missionary Brittany James and Mama Daniel for the first time, sharing a meal and uncovering the layers of Mama Daniel’s story. In this heartfelt two-hour conversation, even Brittany learned new details about Mama Daniel’s journey, deepening the connection and setting the stage for the powerful video to come.
In collaboration with the Tanzania Missionary Team, our journey started by defining the ultimate goal of our visit through the Storytellers Abroad Missions Multimedia Workshop. Like many organizations I’ve worked with, their initial desire was to showcase the breadth of their efforts. In this case, they ran six different programs, all worth highlighting.
However, after they detailed all their activities, I asked, “Once people hear this, what do you want them to do?”
That’s when we honed in on the fundamental objectives for the video. The mission team needed ongoing support to keep their families in the field, funding for their main property, and their newly acquired farm, which they hoped would offset operational costs. Additionally, they wanted to raise money for scholarships to extend their outreach further.
Our workshop focuses on creating 70% inspirational and 30% informational videos. We acknowledged that some videos flip that ratio, but our approach emphasizes the human element—evoking emotion before providing information.
One of the key programs they wanted to highlight was the Dar Health Initiative, which addresses various aspects of community health, including education and prenatal care. This led us to an incredible story about Pendo Saidi and her son Daniel, a woman the missionaries had helped through this initiative. The missionaries worked closely with mother and son, providing health care and emotional and spiritual support.
The Story Spine is very much like the ingredients of a cake; the baker still has to make the cake.
After understanding the story, I crafted a Story Spine, or outline, for Alicia Sparkman, one of the participants creating her first video in the workshop. She teamed up with veteran storyteller Jordan Timpy to bring this story to life. Together, they sat down with Pendo Saidi and missionary Brittany James, uncovering more about their journey.
The story immediately touched everyone involved, moving Alicia and the rest of the team to tears. Pendo Saidi’s life—marked by loss, as her husband left her because of Daniel’s condition—could easily be an epic on its own. However, we had a clear focus: The story wasn’t just about Pendo Saidi. It was also about missionary Brittany James’ role in Daniel’s healthcare and Pendo Saidi’s spiritual growth.
While we captured many profound moments, we made the tough decision to trim certain parts, including the emotional scene where Pendo Saidi forgave her husband for abandoning the family. Though it was a powerful moment, keeping it would have extended the video beyond the ideal length for engagement.
Alicia Sparkman works on her video in Adobe Premiere with veteran storyteller Jordan Timpy’s guidance. In our workshops, there’s a lot of back-and-forth with coaches, significantly when cutting content. It’s tough for newcomers to let go of great material, but learning to make those tough decisions ultimately strengthens the story, making it more impactful.
For videos like these, shorter is often better. Based on current trends, most viewers tend to lose interest after the two-minute mark. While more complex stories can stretch to five minutes, we aim for concise, emotionally engaging content.
Our workshop kicked off on Friday with dinner, introducing us to the nationals at the heart of the stories. By Thursday night, we were screening our final videos for the missionaries, the community, and the nationals.
Gathered together for a special evening, missionaries and the communities they serve watched as we unveiled the three stories we created to help them in their marketing. Surrounded by friends and families, the nationals who shared their powerful testimonies took center stage, bringing their inspiring journeys to life on screen—a heartfelt celebration over dinner, united by stories of faith and transformation.
Alicia had the benefit of working closely with Jordan all week, receiving personalized guidance on how to cut unnecessary material and focus on completing a compelling story within our short timeframe. There were many tear-filled moments along the way as we navigated the emotional weight of this story.
Now, I invite you to watch the finished video. I believe it achieves the objectives we set out to accomplish. Let me know what you think, and feel free to share if it resonates with you.
Raysham, hard at work on her sewing machine, is part of the SIFA Program that empowers women to become successful business owners, investing back into their communities. Faith-driven and gospel-centered, SIFA equips women with the tools to transform lives in Dar es Salaam and East Africa.
“Please, God, don’t send me to Africa.”
That’s what Ken Robinson had been saying since feeling a call to missions as a teenager. Yet, just a couple of weeks ago, Ken found himself in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with me and six others as part of the Storytellers Abroad Missions Multimedia Workshop.
This is Ken in Santiago, Chile, working on his video in his first ever video and workshop.
Ken’s journey into multimedia began in 2019 when he took a leap of faith and joined our workshop in Santiago, Chile. That’s when I first met him. As an IT professional, Ken has always been deeply connected to technology. He even volunteers at his church, helping with IT and media every Sunday. The technical side of multimedia came naturally to him, but when it came to working with people, that was a different story.
Ken is the kind of person who’s comfortable behind the scenes, ensuring that PowerPoint slides run smoothly and the Wi-Fi is working. Stepping into the world of storytelling, especially getting up close to his subjects, was out of his comfort zone.
Ken & Cassie are polishing his video on Jamilah.
During the Tanzania workshop, we paired Ken with Cassie Timpy, a veteran storyteller, as his coach. Cassie’s mission was to push Ken out of the background and into a more personal space with his subject, Jamilah. Ken had some understandable apprehension, mainly because he was a man telling the story of a single woman. I intentionally paired him with Cassie for this very reason.
As Ken sat down with Jamilah, alongside missionaries Shantelle Meta and Steph Boon, he began to listen and understand her story. Slowly but surely, Ken’s hesitations started to fade. His excitement for the project grew, but Cassie kept encouraging him to move physically closer to capture better, more intimate footage. It was a challenge, but Ken embraced it despite the discomfort.
The result is a touching and powerful video about the SIFA Threads program, one of the many initiatives run by ABWE missionaries in Tanzania to spread the Gospel.
I invite you to watch Ken’s video, Sewing Threads of Hope, and learn more about the incredible work happening through SIFA Threads and how it brings hope to the lives of many in Tanzania.
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.
This is Raysham, part of the SIFA Program in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. SIFA Threads equip marginalized women through the hope of the gospel, artisanal training, and tools to launch their local businesses.
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.
This is our Storytellers Abroad team in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We were left to Right: Jordan & Cassie Timpi, Greyson Tizo Majiyakunde, Hannah Strayer, Solomon David Ndunguru, Ken Robinson, & Alicia Sparkman. Greyson & Solomon were the coffee baristas in the classroom next to us. We ordered coffee from them, and they brought it to us.
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.
Alicia Sparkman, Cassie & Jordan Timpi, and Hannah Strayer are working on edits in the classroom we used in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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.
This is the team for the Lisbon Mission Storytelling Workshop. I took the photo. We are reviewing a video.
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.
Ken Robinson had one-on-one coaching from veteran storyteller Cassie Timpy. Cassie & her husband Jordan started Agape Visuals.
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.
Veteran storyteller Jordan Timpy is coaching Alicia Sparkman.
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.
Children run from their Sunday School class to church in Ilala Municipal, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
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.
These women are learning how to sew to start their businesses. Sifa invests in women so they can become successful small business owners who, in turn, will invest in their communities. We are faith-based, gospel-centered, and driven by a desire to see the tools of Sifa used in the hands of women, churches, and businesses in Dar es Salaam and throughout East Africa.
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.
SIFA Program
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.
She created a pattern using a stamp, dipping it into wax and putting it over the fabric to keep the dye from staining. After dying, she will wash to remove the wax, giving a beautiful pattern for creating fabric to sew.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Martin Luther King, Jr. funeral. [photo by Don Rutledge]
When I reflect on what set my mentor, Don Rutledge, apart from other photographers, one skill shines above the rest—his extraordinary ability to contextualize. This wasn’t just about taking pictures but weaving together a visual story with depth, character, and narrative.
Many photographers understand the basics of environmental portraits—placing a subject in their natural surroundings to help tell their story. But Don took this to another level. For him, it wasn’t simply about a person standing still in a setting that described their profession or personality. It was about how that person interacted with their environment and how their surroundings shaped their narrative.
Don was always after the wider shot, not for the sake of showing more but for the sake of bringing a deeper context to his subjects. His mastery of composition meant that every object, every shadow, and every beam of light in the scene played a part in telling the story. He didn’t rely on isolated moments but instead captured the interplay between the person and their world. This connection, this broader story, made his photographs feel so alive and real.
Bailey King was broken by a lifetime of poverty and dawn-to-dark labor when Don Rutledge came to spend several weeks with him and his family. Doctors claimed it was meningitis and a stroke. “It weren’t that,” a friend said. “His body just plumb wore out.” But King’s mind was keen — and his lifelong belief in accepting others and sharing what little he had shone through. Rutledge’s photographs found the windows onto his soul in the lines and ridges of King’s weathered face, in the light and shadows of his sagging clapboard house. Photo by Don Rutledge
His process was almost cinematic. Don approached photography with the patience and precision of a director, except he never directed his subjects. He knew that life would naturally create the needed moments if he just observed long enough. Rather than forcing a scene, Don learned to wait. And if the perfect moment didn’t come? He’d wait some more. He understood people so well that he knew their habits and behaviors would repeat themselves, giving him another chance to capture that elusive, perfect shot.
Don loved to include something in the edges to give context.
But it wasn’t just his patience and observation that set him apart. His understanding of context wasn’t about showing the big picture but about using the environment to add layers of meaning. Unlike an ordinary establishing shot, Don’s wider shots tell a deeper story—one where the viewer can almost step inside the frame and feel the relationship between the subject and their space.
Egypt—Missionary Mike Edens (left) worked closely with Egyptian Baptist pastors to enhance their discipleship and pastoral ministries. These pastors—(left to right) Mikhail Shehata Ghaly and Anwar Dakdouk—took MasterLife discipleship training in Cyprus in 1984. [photo by Don Rutledge]
Shallow Depth of Field vs. Depth of Story
In contrast, many photographers today rely on shallow depth of field to isolate their subjects. While there’s a place for that technique, it can feel like you might as well put the person in a studio with a muted backdrop when overused. Sure, the background becomes soft and discreet, but it also strips away the environment that could have added much more to the narrative.
Don’s approach was the opposite. He understood that depth of field wasn’t just a technical decision but a storytelling choice. Rather than erasing the background into a blur, he used a bit more depth of field to keep enough in focus to bring context. The surroundings weren’t distractions—they were essential elements of the story.
Still under Soviet rule in 1988, believers from four language groups met for Easter worship and communion in Tbilisi, Georgia. Their faith stood firm during tough times, as captured by Don Rutledge’s camera.
However, shooting with more depth in the field requires a different skill. It forces you to carefully compose your shot, working around the clutter and chaos until you can distill it into something beautiful and meaningful. It requires an understanding of light, lines, and placement—how to take what’s in front of you and mold it into a master painting where every piece of the scene contributes to the whole.
Instead of isolating the subject, Don used the environment to draw the viewer in, creating a relationship between the subject and their world. It’s a much more challenging approach, but one that, when executed well, leads to photographs that are rich in detail, layered in meaning, and powerful in their storytelling.
In an era where isolation seems to dominate photography, Don Rutledge’s ability to contextualize his subjects is a timeless reminder of what storytelling in photography can be. His work was more than just images—it was a narrative brought to life by his mastery of patience, composition, and context.
Steven Spielberg’s Mastery of Depth: Using Wide-Angle Lenses to Weave Context into Cinematic Storytelling
Steven Spielberg’s approach to depth-of-field, particularly with wide-angle lenses, is a crucial element of his filmmaking style. Unlike many directors who prefer shallow depth-of-field to isolate their subjects, Spielberg often opts for smaller apertures that allow for deep focus, where the foreground and background remain sharp. This choice adds layers of context to his scenes, making them immersive and rich in detail.
Spielberg avoids wide-open apertures and ensures that every part of the frame contributes to the story. For instance, in Jurassic Park, Spielberg uses a smaller aperture during crucial scenes, such as when the T. rex first appears. The terrified characters in the foreground and the menacing dinosaur in the background are sharply in focus. This technique enhances the viewer’s connection to the environment, creating a more realistic and engaging experience (Personal View).
Spielberg’s use of wide-angle lenses, such as the 21mm lens, is particularly effective for maintaining deep focus. By choosing these lenses, he can capture expansive shots, conveying a sense of vastness while keeping multiple planes in sharp detail. This technique was masterfully used in Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indiana Jones and the surrounding environment are in focus, allowing the viewer to grasp the significance of the character and his surroundings (Wolfcrow) (No Film School).
By employing deep focus, Spielberg can add context that enhances the narrative. Rather than isolating his characters from their environments, he integrates them into them, making the audience feel like they are part of the world he creates on screen. This approach requires skillful composition and an understanding of how to naturally balance visual elements to guide the viewer’s eye through the scene. This mastery of context through depth-of-field and wide-angle lenses distinguishes Spielberg as one of cinema’s greatest storytellers.
