A SYSTEM FOR STORYTELLING:
Go from collecting images to telling stories.
This course gives you the steps of photographic storytelling at your own pace.
Imagine that magazine spread with ten images laid out beautifully.
Or that magical Instagram slideshow you just had to flip through several times to take in all the pictures.
Now imagine you made those pictures. You made someone feel the story you created.
It is an unbelievable feeling to look at a group of photos that you made and feel the story resonate.
I want you to know this feeling, in fact I’m dedicated to help you get there.
The Opening Line is your online go-to place to learn how to build a visual narrative from the ground up.
This course offers you a step-by-step approach to photographic storytelling, from what images you need to gather, to how you can edit and sequence the images you need for your story.
Through this course you will learn to:
- Identify the story you want to tell.
- Images to collect.
- Moving past mental blocks.
- Editing, sequencing and toning your images
- When you finish you sign up for a one-on-one feedback session from Kristine
Each of the modules will walk you through the necessary work and give you assignments to complete at your own pace. You work the course around your schedule.
Each module has a comment section and any time you’re stuck, drop a line there and I’ll be right there by your side to help you move past it.
Telling a story in photographs has a baseline structure and that is the foundation of this course. Giving you the tools to collect for your own stories.
I can’t wait to see the fruits of your labour.
Get started today!
Your Instructor
Hello! I’m Kristine, photographer, journalist, educator and photography coach. I have photographed presidents, rock stars, kings and queens, actors and my most favourite: everyday folks. My work has been published worldwide in magazines and newspapers, and I both write and photograph long-form feature stories, my primary focus being our everyday connection to our geography and how we live. I build online courses for photographers wanting to expand on their work and connect with their inner storyteller, because if there is one thing at the core of everything I do it is story.
Testimonials
★
“Kristine is such a gifted story teller and photographer. She is very open honest and encouraging. I loved taking this workshop, it really helped with my story telling, and sequencing my photos putting together a story.”
-Diana, UK
★
“Kristine will guide you through the steps of building a photographic story and she gives you invaluable feedback that encourages you to look deeper into the story you want to tell..”
-Tamara Dayle, Canada
★
“There are no shortcuts to a make story based on photographs. There is only hard work and a clear point of view in front of you if you want to become a good storyteller. In this workshop I got new knowledge on how to put the puzzle together.”
-Minna Ridderstolpe, Sweden
★
“I had issues with storytelling and I hadn’t really done any personal project or stuck to a 365. So I went for it with no doubt. I feel I have grown and have space for improvement but also that I have tools to do it now..”
-Lucia Vaquero, Spain
★
“Kristine’s ability to translate her expertise into guidance for her students is unmatched. Her courses are carefully and throughly designed and delivered. Anyone who puts in the work will see results and feel proud of their progress. She’s nurturing and practical and super fun to be around. .”
-Katie Jett Walls, USA
★
“I now know how to approach a project to make sure I am collecting images that will include visual variety, storytelling elements, and my own point of view. I have learned how to use words to help me understand what it is I want to say, and I have gotten practice editing and sequencing for purpose and clarity.”
-Kaleen Enke, USA
Module Breakdown
01- Finding the story
Learn to identify what makes a story and where to look for it.
- 30 minutes of lessons
- 2 assignments
02 - Photographic language
A written story needs a variety of words, a photographic story needs a variety of images. Learn to find them.
- 30 minutes of lessons
- 2 assignments
03 - Make monotony work
When boredom hits is when genius strikes. Be prepared and welcome monotony.
- 30 minutes of lessons
- 2 assignments
04 - Move past obstacles
Accepting that things don’t always go as plans, and learn to move past it.
- 30 minutes of lessons
- 2 assignments
05 - Editing
This is where the real work starts. Narrowing down your images to a small enough number for your edit.
- 50 minutes of lessons
- 2 assignments
06 - Sequencing and toning
The fun part. Piecing together your work into the puzzle that makes a story. This is when you really see the fruits of your labour.
- 80 minutes of lessons
- 2 assignments
- 20 - minute feedback session with Kristine
FAQ
I just started making photographs. Can I do this course?
Absolutely. Photographic storytelling is not about making perfect pictures but learning to see perfect situations. Perfect pictures helps, but that is also knowledge you will obtain with time and practice. Any level photographer can learn to tell a story in pictures.
I have very little extra time for courses, how is this structured?
This is a self-paced course, which means all the lessons are pre-recorded and you do the assignments at your own pace. Each module contains 30 to 80 minutes of lessons broken into several videos and 2 assignments. You can easily break this up into small bites that will fit into your schedule. You will have access to the workshop for a minimum of one year. Reach out if you need some accountability and I can help you with that.
I take courses and drop off, will I do that with this workshop?
I have options for accountability if you need some structure and nudging. It is good to remember that you take away from a course what you put into it, there is only so much you can learn from listening to me talk, at some point you have to go out and make pictures. Let me know how you best learn and I’ll see if we can make that happen.
Do I hand in the assignments?
No, The nature of this workshop is for you to learn at your own pace by doing the lessons. Each module also has a comment section where you can ask questions, and you can reach out if you’d like to work with me more directly as you move through the material.
How long will I have access to this course?
You will have access to the course for a minimum of one year.
How much time do I need for this workshop?
It is built to do one module a week, but people have gone through it faster than that and some have taken it slower. Each module has 30-80 minutes of lessons and two assignments. Assignments typically require xhours. It is self-paced which means you can spend as much time as you need. I do recommend trying to make a routine around it because it is easy to leave on the back burner if you don’t do the work regularly.
Can I do this workshop with my friend?
It is a great idea to register with a friend and hold each other accountable. I also have options for adding mentoring sessions that you and a friend could share.
Do you offer scholarships?
I have allocated a certain number of seats each year to give away to folks who are going through a hard time but still want to learn from me. Please reach out and tell me a bit about your situation.