Personal Stories That Move People to Action
Personal stories are the most powerful tool an organization has — but only when they’re told well.
Over the past 40+ years working as a visual storyteller, consultant, and instructor, I’ve learned that most organizations don’t struggle because they lack good work. They struggle because they don’t know how to uncover and shape the stories already inside their mission.
This collection of articles explores what makes a personal story resonate — whether you’re a nonprofit leader, missionary, business owner, or creative trying to communicate impact. You’ll find lessons from the field, reflections from real assignments, and practical insights on how to move from documenting activity to revealing meaning.
If you’re here because you want your communication to connect more deeply — not just inform but inspire — you’re in the right place.
And if you’d like help identifying and shaping the strongest stories inside your organization, let’s talk. The right story, told well, can change everything.
In Lima, Peru, we practiced mock interviews to teach missionaries how to draw out authentic stories and work effectively with a translator. Great storytelling doesn’t happen by accident—it’s learned, refined, and practiced. Early in my…
A woman draws water from a well in Dakoro, Burkina Faso, West Africa, to supply her household’s daily needs. When I was growing up, my parents made sure my sisters and I had chores. Not…
Doug Mills shares the story behind a historic black-and-white photograph from Ground Zero, capturing President George W. Bush embracing a firefighter amid the rubble and rescue workers following the September 11 attacks. Over the years,…
Billy Weeks interviews Brynn Anderson of the Associated Press during the 10th Annual Photo Night at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Anderson shared stories from more than a decade covering major sporting events—including the…
Some weddings are meaningful because of the details.Some because of the emotion.And some because of the history that led to the day. Maria & Chris’ wedding at Primrose Cottage in Roswell, Georgia was all three.…
There’s a moment many photographers, videographers, and storytellers eventually experience—but almost no one talks about it publicly. A major client goes quiet.Another one disappears entirely.Calls aren’t returned. Emails go unanswered.Work you assumed would continue… just…
Back in 2008, when Greg Thompson—then Director of Corporate Communications at Chick-fil-A—asked me to come on as a visual communications consultant, he didn’t just want pretty pictures. He wanted results. And the question he kept…
Stop Trying to Get Better Photos and Start Communicating Better Stories The beginning of a new year is when photographers tend to do two things: We look at our work from last year with a…
When I was playing trumpet in school, there was no confusion about where I stood. We challenged for chairs. First chair, second chair, third chair. Everyone knew their place because we had to prove it.…
Last night I had the privilege of covering two very different Christmas Eve services at Dunwoody United Methodist Church—and together they told one complete story. The evening began with the Family Service, filled with children’s…
Andy McCree Hern took my mother's Benfield Family photo around 1980. Growing up as the son of a pastor and a mother who supported his work, I was surrounded by people who genuinely cared about…
Our family photo from Easter 1999 at my parents' home in Kinston, North Carolina. Many of us who love photography have a favorite niche that sparks our creativity. Some chase sunsets and misty mornings. Others…
