JournalismFree
Write news photo captions in AP style
Attach the photo or describe it, add the photographer's notes, and get captions that name who, what, where and when without guessing.
River writes captions for news photos from the photographer's notes, the story, and the photo itself if you attach it. You get a caption in AP style: a first sentence in the present tense that says who is shown, what they are doing, where and when, followed by a sentence of context, and a credit line if you name the photographer.
A caption is a factual claim about a picture, and it is one of the easiest places to make an error. River never identifies people from their faces or guesses names, places or dates. It names only who your notes name and marks any gap for you to fill.
It is for reporters and photographers filing their own pictures, student newspaper staff, web producers and newsletter writers.
How news captions are written
News captions follow a reliable pattern. The first sentence, in the present tense, identifies the people and the action and says where and when the photo was taken. The present tense gives the image immediacy. Later sentences add context in the past tense, such as the score of the game or the reason for the protest.
People are identified left to right when there is more than one, and every name must come from the photographer's notes or another reliable source, never from a guess or another outlet's caption. Captions describe what the photo shows. If the action is not visible in the picture, it belongs in the second sentence as context, not the first.
Captions are also where ethics show up in small ways. Avoid describing emotions you cannot know, such as calling someone angry, unless the notes support it. Identify minors with care and follow your publication's policy. And never caption an old or file photo as if it were taken at today's event.
How it works
Add the photo and notes
Attach the photo or describe it, with names, place and date.
River checks the facts
It uses only what your notes and story support.
Get the captions
A full caption, a short version and a credit line.
Fill the gaps
Confirm any flagged names or dates, and ask River to update.
What you get
- A caption with a present-tense first sentence naming who, what, where and when
- A context sentence drawn from the story or your notes
- People identified left to right, using only the names in your notes
- Gaps marked for checking instead of guessed, such as a missing name or date
- A photographer credit line, plus a shorter version for social posts
Common questions
Can River identify the people in my photo?
No. River will not identify anyone from their face. It names only the people your notes name, in left-to-right order. If the photo shows someone your notes do not identify, the caption marks the gap so you can confirm the name with the photographer or the person.
Why is the first sentence in the present tense?
It is standard news caption practice. The present tense describes the moment the photo captures, such as Maya Ortiz lifts the trophy, and gives it immediacy. Background in later sentences, such as the final score, is written in the past tense.
What if I do not know the date or location?
River leaves a marked placeholder rather than guessing. A wrong date or place in a caption is a factual error just like one in a story, and file photos captioned as new are a common source of corrections.
Should captions describe how people feel?
Only when the notes support it. A caption can say someone is crying if that is visible and confirmed, but calling them angry or relieved is an interpretation. Describe what the photo shows and let the context sentence explain why it matters.
Write news photo captions in AP style
Describe what you need, add any files you have, and your workspace opens with the work already underway.