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What This Skill Means
Variety refers to how different your images are within a single gallery.
A strong gallery includes:
Different angles
Different focal lengths
Different setups
Different emotional perspectives
All required styles:
Fresh48
Posed
Lifestyle
Does this gallery feel dynamic — or repetitive?
Common Mistakes That Lower Scores
Changing only crop, not angle.
Shooting everything from standing height.
Multiple images that look nearly identical.
Forgetting detail shots.
Over-relying on one setup.
Non-Negotiables
All required styles must be included in the graded galleries.
Redundant images weaken variety score.
Shooting the same pose 5 times does not equal variety.
How to Improve
During the Session
Before moving on, ask:
Have I shot wide, mid, and close? “Around the world”?
Have I changed my height?
Have I included a detail shot?
Have I shifted emotional tone?
Does this setup need one more angle before I leave it?
Quick Mental Checklist
Galleries should include: (Rough guide)
Wide shots
Close detail (hands, feet, lashes, profile, etc)
Classic posed portrait
Parent holding baby
Parent interacting (kiss, snuggle, hand on baby)
Overhead or alternative angle
If multiple boxes are missing, variety will drop.
What “Excellent” Feels Like
The gallery feels intentional.
The story unfolds naturally.
No image feels like filler.
Variety vs Composition
Composition = How one image is framed.
Variety = How different images feel from each other. You can have strong composition and still score low on variety if the gallery feels repetitive.
What This Looks Like at Different Scores
What This Looks Like at Different Scores
Score 1–2 | Needs Coaching
Repetitive or Missing Required Styles
What This Looks Like:
All images taken from same angle
Same setup repeated
Minimal change in crop (just tighter/looser)
Missing one required style (Fresh48, Posed, or Lifestyle)
No parent involvement
No storytelling variation
Why This Scores Here:
The gallery feels one-dimensional.
This aligns with: “All images look the same.”
“Lack of 1 or more required styles.”
Graded galleries missing a required style cannot score above a 2. (The 3 most recent galleries are graded)
Limited variety throughout the gallery. Images are nearly identical in pose, angle, and framing with minimal adjustments between shots, resulting in repetitive storytelling and a lack of visual diversity.
This gallery shows very limited variety. Most images are small adjustments of the same pose and setup. To improve, change angles, orientation (vertical vs horizontal), incorporate detail shots, and introduce a second setup or environment to create stronger visual diversity.
Score 3 | Basic Variety
What This Looks Like:
Includes Fresh48, Posed, and Lifestyle
Some crop variation (wide, mid, close)
Limited angle changes
Lifestyle feels similar across images
Variety exists but feels routine
Why This Scores Here:
The required components are present.
However, the gallery lacks creative diversity or storytelling depth.
This matches: “Good mix with some lifestyle shots.”
Professional — but predictable.
Good effort with multiple angles and expressions, but many images are minor variations of the same pose. To increase variety, focus on changing setups, perspectives, and environments — not just slight head turns or tighter crops.
This gallery shows some intentional changes — vertical and horizontal framing, awake and asleep expressions, detail shot (feet), and slight angle shifts. However, the majority of images remain within the same setup, backdrop, wrap, and prop combination. While there are subtle adjustments, many frames feel like minor pose refinements rather than distinctly different compositions.
Score 4 | Strong
What This Looks Like:
Clear shifts in perspective (overhead, side, eye-level)
Different focal distances
Meaningful crop changes
Parent interaction
Detail shots enhance storytelling
Why This Scores Here:
The gallery feels dynamic and thoughtfully built.
This aligns with: “Wide variety; storytelling; parent interaction.”
The viewer does not feel repetition.
This gallery shows a strong mix of angles, close-ups, full-body shots, and family interaction. The session includes a good balance of Fresh48, posed, and lifestyle images, creating visual interest and a well-rounded storytelling gallery.
This gallery shows a strong range of angles, setups, and subject participation, including posed, Fresh48, and lifestyle moments. There is good visual variety throughout the session while still maintaining a consistent style and storytelling flow.
Score 5 | Exceptional Storytelling Range
What This Looks Like:
Strong visual flow from image to image
Fresh48 moments feel authentic and emotional
Posed images feel polished and intentional
Lifestyle feels connected and genuine
Angles, crops, and emotion vary without feeling chaotic
No image feels redundant
Why This Scores Here:
The gallery feels complete.
It tells a full story from multiple emotional and visual perspectives.
Variety feels intentional — not accidental.
Excellent variety across this panel. The photographer captured a strong range of perspectives including overhead, parent interaction, medium portraits, and intimate detail shots. The sequence moves naturally from storytelling images to close-up details, creating a complete visual narrative of baby’s first moments. Each frame feels intentional and distinct while still remaining cohesive.
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