Let's be real. When someone flips through a yearbook,. They're not just looking at the photos…they're reading the captions! In fact, captions are often the most-read part of any spread. Why? Because they give context, tell a story, and when done right reveal somthing you wouldn't know just by looking at the picture.

A great caption doesn't just name names. It adds value. It makes the reader look back at the photo with fresh eyes and think, "Oh wow, I didn't know that!"

TYPES OF CAPTIONS

Here's a quick breakdown of the different styles you can use for your caption:

• IDENT: Just the name, grade, and how they relate to the topic.
  Example: Jordan Lee, Grade 11, prepares to launch his robot during the regional robotics competition. As team captain, he led the design and coding efforts that helped the team place second overall.
• ONE SENTENCE: Present tense, includes as many of the 5 Ws and H as possible.
  Example: Grade 12 student Maya Singh lights the ceremonial torch during the opening of Spirit Week, kicking off five days of friendly competition and school pride.
• EXPANDED: Like a mini story. First sentence=present tense. Second=past tense detail. Third=quote. Includes a headline.
  Example: Drama club members rehearse their final scene during the dress rehearsal for Matilda the Musical.
  The cast spent three months preparing for the sold-out performance, which included custom-built sets and original choreography.
  “We’ve become like a family,” said lead actor Liam Chen. “It’s been the highlight of my senior year.”
• QUOTE: A direct quote that captures a moment or answers a question.
  Example: “Skating out to the roar of the crowd gave me chills,” said goalie Ava McKenzie after the varsity girls’ hockey team clinched the provincial title.
• GROUP: Use a clear headline, like the group's name, and label rows properly: "Front Row", "Second Row", etc.
  Example: Student Council 2025-26
  Front Row: Emma Peters, Noah Klassen, Ava McKenzie
  Second Row: Liam Chen, Zoe Martin, Ethan Reimer
  Back Row: Ms. Taylor (Advisor), Jayden Nickel, Holly Irvine
  The council organized school-wide events including Spirit Week, the Winter Formal, and the annual food drive.
  
  

CAPTION DOs

Here's how to make your captions shine:

• Start strong: use interesting, colourful words to hook the reader.
• Be specific: skip the vague stuff. Tell us exactly what's going on.
• Add value: don't just describe the photo, expand on it! What's the story behind the moment?
• Name names: Identify everyone in the photo (unless it's a big crowd). If there are five or fewer people, name them all.
• Use full names and titles: especially for teachers and staff. Keep titles short and place them before the name. For example, "Principal Cameron Fay".
• In sports captions, the outcome of the game is given.
• Use present tense for the first sentence, and past tense for the rest.
• Choose lively verbs: avoid "is", "are", "was", and "were" when you can.
• Write in full sentences: no fragments or bullet points.
• Make it stand out: use bold, italics, or a different font size for your lead in so it doesn't blend with the body copy.
  
  

CAPTION DON'Ts

Avoid these common traps:

• Don't start with "A", "An", or "The".
• Don't repeat what's already in the story.
• Don't guess. Find out what was really happening.
• Don't use abbreviations, unless they're widely known.
• Don't insert your own opinion or use "we", "our", or "you".
• Don't write "gag" captions. They're rarely funny and can hurt feelings.
• Don't say "pictured above" or "left to right". It's obvious and clutters the caption.
• Don't say "this year", unless necessary for clarification.
• Don't use the following: "many", "several", "a lot", "success/successful", "dedicated", "some", "diligently".