Photo Storytelling
This exercise encourages creativity, improvisation, and self-expression while serving as an excellent icebreaker for any group.
How to run it
- Explain that participants will select three images and use them to build a story.
- Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers-just an opportunity to explore creativity.
- Spread a large collection of images on a table (for in-person sessions) or on a virtual board (for online sessions).
- Ask each participant to choose three images that stand out to them.
- Each participant arranges their images in their chosen sequence and creates a short story based on them.
- They can write down the story or tell it aloud.
- Participants present their stories to the group.
- Discuss how different people created unique narratives using the same images.
Run this exercise live
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Materials:
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Prompts to use +
Explain that participants will select three images and use them to build a story.
Ask each participant to choose three images that stand out to them.
They can write down the story or tell it aloud.
Participants present their stories to the group.
Discuss how different people created unique narratives using the same images.
Run this with your AI assistant +
Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.
Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Photo Storytelling. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Explain that participants will select three images and use them to build a story.; Ask each participant to choose three images that stand out to them.; They can write down the story or tell it aloud.; Participants present their stories to the group.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.
Origin unverified
- Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Participatory Methods; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Participatory Methods.)
- What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
- No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
- Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.