According to videographer Nathan Thompson, there are five essential elements to every good story. The former National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Photographer of the Year thinks of them as puzzle pieces that the storyteller has to fit together. 1. The story open. Thompson says you need to grab the audiences’s attention, introduce them to characters and establish the setting or the mood. For this reason, Thompson says  he likes to rely on natural sound as a story opener.  ”It engrosses people in the environment,” said Thompson. “Think of natural sound as the film score for your story.” 2. Story intrigue.  Thompson says storytellers need to shoot the unexpected, capture details and look for themes.  He says he seldom uses his best video at the very start of a story.  ”Don’t give everything away right off the bat, each story needs to be a journey,” Thompson said. 3. Story development.  According to Thompson, you can’t settle for any old b-roll if you’re going to shoot a great story.  He says you have to take the time to get your story characters interacting with others and their environment — don’t just settle for head shots.  ”Log everything,” said Thompson. “The more familiar […]