Do you have any tips for writing captions?

• Try to use more than one sentence to describe a photo. Three to four sentences are best in order to give enough information.
• First, identify what is in the photo and use the present tense.
• Next, write about something not so obvious in the photo, such as activity that took place before and after the photo was taken, and use the past tense.
• Vary the way you begin captions. It is easy to get used to starting captions with "ing" words. Make each caption on a spread begin differently.
• Identify as many people as you can.
• In group photos, ID the group and label rows as: Front, 2nd, 3rd, Back. Don't label as left to right since that is the natural way of reading. Be sure to never leave anyone's name out!
• A good rule of thumb: make sure that the caption touches one side of the photo it is describing.
• Photo credits can go at the end of a caption instead of on the actual photograph.
• Keep your opinion out.
• Avoid phrases such as "seems to be" or "looks as if."

- - Herff Jones Yearbook Discoveries