Introduction to Narrative Photography
A course by Dara ScullyPhotographer and writer
A course by Dara Scully, Photographer and writer
Learn the resources to tell a story through images
Dara Scully started taking photographs at age 17 and has since developed a unique creative voice and personal universe. Photographer and writer specialized in narrative photography, in this course she will teach you how to offer a photographic series in which the photographs have the power to tell a story in themselves and to create a global story by "reading" them as a whole.
For this, you will get to know her professional working method, from the birth of the idea to its final development in the photoshoot, and subsequent its editing and retouching in Adobe Photoshop. At the end of this course, you will have started an artistic path to tell stories in photographic series both behind and in front of the camera.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 15 downloads
What will we do in the course?
1 minute, 40 seconds
Narrating through photography: the photographic series
4 minutes, 8 seconds
Artist's Notebook
3 minutes, 20 seconds
Visual culture
11 minutes, 22 seconds
The idea: brainstorming and sketches
12 minutes, 10 seconds
The photographic equipment
2 minutes, 37 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start by meeting Dara, who talks to you about her artistic work: what inspires and seduces her, why she started taking photographs, and her beginnings developing a narrative and poetic photography styles.
Learn what’s narrative photography and what’s a photographic series, and delve deep into the importance of an artist's notebook. You’ll then start the creative process, creating a brainstorm to help you define your images through sketches and annotations.
Dara walks you through the photographic equipment that she usually uses in her sessions, and how you can take high-quality photographs without needing a huge setup. In addition, she explains why location, props, styling, and models are key to the narrative of your photoshoot.
You will learn to make two photographic sessions: the first behind the camera and the second in front as an element of the image. Learn how to assemble the set and how the images are built before the shooting. Discover some simple tricks to make this process more fun and also more complex.
Once the sessions are finished, you will start the post-production phase. Select the best images, learn how to adjust them with Camera RAW, and edit them in Adobe Photoshop.
To finish, Dara gives some tips on publishing your narrative photographic series and reaching more people on social networks, among other ideas to share your project.
What is this course's project?
You will develop a narrative series of 4-5 photographs that tell a narrative idea or concept, through their composition and their relationship with each other.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is aimed at beginning photographers or creators of any level who want to explore narrative or conceptual photography, and also want to build their own artistic universe through photographs that, as a whole, can tell stories.
Requirements and materials
You will need basic photography skills, as well as a camera of any kind. In addition, it’s recommended to have a computer with editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.
Reviews
- 3 months ago
Ottimo corso. Artista brava e chiara nello spiegare! Grazie!!
- 4 months ago
İçtenlikle anlatılan bir kurstu. Sanatçı kendi sanat yolculuğunu tek tek anlatıyor ve tüyolar veriyor.
- 8 months ago
Curso muy completo. La profesora explica muy bien todos los conceptos, me está encantando.
- 1 year ago
Me encanto lo recomiendo
- 1 year ago
las ideas para desarrollar fotografía narrativa brindan un mejor sentido de la imaginación
In her work, she explores everything that seduces her and shapes her artistic universe: childhood and the transition to adolescence, instincts, the link between the human and the wild, and everything that lives in the shade. Dara’s photographic work has been exhibited at art fairs in Spain, Great Britain, France, and Iran.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- I introduce myself
- What inspires me
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Before the picture: the idea
- Narrating through photography: the photographic series
- Artist's Notebook
- Visual culture
- The idea: brainstorming and sketches
- The photographic equipment
- U3
We start photographing
- Preparing the session: locations, props and styling
- The photo shoot: behind the camera
- The photo shoot: in front of the camera
- U4
Postproduction: narrating with Photoshop
- Selection of images
- Basic settings in Camera Raw
- Edit with Photoshop 1
- Edit with Photoshop 2
- Narrative editing
- The after
- FP
Final project
- Introduction to narrative photography
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Narrative photography focuses on telling visual stories through a connected series of images, unlike styles that emphasize aesthetics or technique. In this course, you'll learn how to build personal, coherent visual narratives.
Yes, the course is designed for those with basic photography knowledge who want to deepen their understanding of visual storytelling and develop their artistic voice, especially if you're self-taught or at an intermediate level.
You'll learn how to create cohesive photo series, develop your artistic voice, plan shoots, use creative resources, edit images in Photoshop, and share your work on social media, applying visual storytelling and symbolism techniques.
You only need basic photography and camera handling skills. It's recommended to have access to a digital camera, Photoshop, and a notebook for creative notes, but expertise is not required.
You'll need a digital camera (DSLR or mirrorless), a tripod, Photoshop for editing, an artist's notebook, and sketching materials. Having access to social media to share your work is also helpful.
You'll learn how to use symbolic elements and natural or childhood settings to craft powerful visual stories, drawing inspiration from artists like Sally Mann and Virginia Mori.
Yes, the course teaches professional editing methods in Photoshop, including color adjustments, texturing, photomontage, and techniques to achieve aesthetic and narrative coherence in your photo series.