Storytelling Photography Tips

Shooting in Layers: Insights by humanitarian photographer Anna Lusty

If you join one of our humanitarian photography workshops, you’ll have the privilege of learning from Anna Lusty, a photographer who’s specialized in telling the stories of field-based nonprofits through her images. Based in South Africa, Anna travels across the African continent to document the work of social impact initiatives, so that the organizations have the right visual tools to reach potential donors. There’s a skill to doing this in a way that provides the most benefit to the nonprofits, and Anna has developed a layered approach to it.

“I like to shoot in layers to tell a story with depth and connection,” Anna explains. “When I approach a project, I strive to create a series of images that go beyond a single subject or moment—I want to capture the full story. Shooting in layers allows me to add depth and context, drawing the viewer into the scene and helping them feel connected to the people and environment. This approach is especially valuable when fulfilling a brief that requires a nuanced narrative, ensuring that every image not only informs but also evokes emotion and engagement.”

As an example of this approach, Anna shares a series of images from one of her recent shoots – one where she was commissioned to capture the essence of the informal Clanwilliam, on the outskirts of Cape Town. The goal of the images was to capture the feel of the place, its people, character, and daily life – and to emphasize the current challenge the community is facing with rubbish. Here are some results of that shoot, and Anna’s explanations of how she used her ‘shooting in layers’ technique.

1. Establish the Foundation: The wide shot that shows context and environment

Purpose: Set the scene by capturing the broader environment, showing the conditions and surroundings.
Approach: Use a wide-angle lens to incorporate landscape, structures, and people in their space. Look for leading lines, framing elements, and natural layers like doorways, streets, or fences. Capture the light, atmosphere, and textures to give a sense of place.
Examples: A wide shot of Khayelitsha’s informal settlement, with the sky, rooftops, and streets filled with daily life.

2. Move Closer: The mid-range shot that shows community and interaction

Purpose: Introduce people within their environment, capturing daily activities and interactions.
Approach: Focus on gestures, body language, and expressions to tell a deeper story.
Use elements like doorways, vehicles, or shop counters to create depth.
Observe moments of connection—kids playing, people sharing a meal, or someone at work.
Example: A resident standing outside their home, engaging in conversation, with the environment still visible behind them.

3. The Human Connection: The close-up shot that shows emotion and identity

Purpose: Create intimacy and connection with the subject.
Approach: Get permission and build rapport before shooting close. Use natural light and shallow depth of field to focus on expressions. Look for details—hands, eyes, wrinkles, or tools people use—to tell a story.
Example: A close up of face and expression.

4. The Layered Composition: Telling the full story

Purpose: Combine multiple layers within a single frame for depth and storytelling.
Approach: Look for foreground, mid-ground, and background elements that interact. Position people within layers—someone in the foreground looking on while action unfolds behind them.
Use reflections, doorways, or shadows to add complexity.
Example: A child peering through a fence (foreground), people working in the street (mid-ground), and the settlement stretching into the distance (background).

5. Ethical Storytelling – The narrative and dignity

Purpose: Show resilience, solutions, and hope rather than just struggle.
Approach: Capture subjects in moments of strength, action, or community. Balance hardship with perseverance—show people working, smiling, or dreaming. Always ask: “Does this image respect their dignity and tell a fuller story?”

“Shooting in layers allows me to create a series of images that are not only visually compelling, but also rich in context and meaning,” Anna adds. “By weaving together wide shots, mid-range interactions, intimate close-ups, and layered compositions, I can build a narrative that truly reflects the complexity of a place and its people. This approach ensures that the story remains honest yet nuanced, highlighting both the struggles and the strength of the community.”

Interested in NGO photography? Find out more about our Humanitarian Photography Workshop.