In my newspaper days, incorrect or poorly written captions caused more problems, and required more corrections, than any other part of the newspaper.

If you can learn how to write great captions for photos you submit to the media, you will increase the chances of an accurate caption that doesn’t require a correction the following day.

A few quick pointers excerpted from my ebook “How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign.”

—Write in the present tense. Example: “Second-grader Timmy Smith swings at the T-ball while his classmate, Brady Turner, waits his turn.”

—Identify people in the photo from left to right.

—Make sure all names are spelled correctly.

—Don’t use “looks on” or “smiles” or other phony verbs that say the person is doing one thing when all they’re really doing is posing.

—Don’t use the verb “poses” or “is posing.”

Studying photo captions in newspapers and magazines will help you write better captions for your own photos.
 

Posted In: General
posted On: 9/12/2006: 7:05 am: By Joan
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