Visual Storytelling: Part 1 - Be Engaging

CFBISD has increased engagement on their social media platforms by over 100 percent the last six months by transitioning to a more visual storytelling model for its posts. The majority of our messages contain either a picture, video, infographic, SlideShare, or visual link. Remember, visual communication has been around 32,000 years. We have only been writing for 5,000 years. Most people prefer visuals.

This is part one of a five part series on visual storytelling. Much of my ideas are modified from an excellent book called The Power of Visual Storytelling by Ekanterina Walter and Jessica Gioglio. Part one begins with be engaging in your visuals.

Part 1: Be Engaging

We all love a pretty picture… especially if it is of us. There is no difference when dealing with education and students. Here are my four tips to create a more engaging visual:

1. Create a Stunning Image

You do not want to be blah. With smart phone technology you have a nice portable camera in our pocket. There is no excuse not to get a nice photo. Don’t settle for average. Tell a story with your photo. Be creative. Be engaging.

2. Close-Ups are Key

Get the camera in the face of your subject.  The closer the better. When I taught film, I always told my students that the eyes are what tell the stories. Take pictures that tell a story by showing the emotion on your subjects face.  Emotion is what is going to sell your story.

3. Colors that Pop

Color can evoke emotion as well. Try to choose photos that have rich color that pop off the page. Not only will they stand out on your post, but they bring emotion to the story you want to tell.

4. Show the Students Engaged

You have to sell your story. If your subjects are not engaged, why would your audience. Take photos and videos that show the excitement of what is going on. A smile is your best selling tool.  They are contagious. When we smile, the whole world smiles back at us.

Part two will focus on knowing your audience, and adapting your story around their likes and dislikes.

If you are interested in Ekaterina’s book, you can find it here: