Essential Illustration Skills for 2026 for Photo, Video & Audio Production

Essential Illustration Skills for 2026 for Photo, Video & Audio Production

Understanding human and animal anatomy is crucial for creating believable characters whether static or in motion. This doesn't mean becoming a medical illustrator, but rather grasping basic bone structures, muscle groups, and how they influence form and movement. For character design in video games, animations, or even for posing models in photography, accurate proportions and a sense of weight are essential. An incorrectly proportioned arm can instantly break immersion in a video, just as an unnatural stance can make a photographic portrait feel stiff. Practice drawing from life, using reference photos, and studying anatomical diagrams. Focus on understanding the underlying structure rather than just copying surfaces. This also extends to facial expressions and body language, which are critical for conveying emotion and narrative in both visual and audio contexts (e.g., how a particular pose might influence a voice actor's delivery). ### Perspective and Composition

Perspective is the illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface. Mastering one-point, two-point, and even three-point perspective allows illustrators to create believable environments, camera angles, and a sense of scale. For videographers, understanding perspective directly translates to choosing effective lens focal lengths and camera placements. For photographers, it guides composition and foreground/background relationships. Sketching out scenes with accurate perspective before a shoot can save hours on set. Composition, on the other hand, is the arrangement of elements within a frame. This includes concepts such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, negative space, and balance. A strong composition guides the viewer's eye, creates visual interest, and reinforces the narrative. Illustrators often pre-visualize these compositional elements through thumbnails and rough sketches, a practice that directly benefits filmmakers and photographers in framing their shots and arranging subjects. Even for audio professionals creating visualizers, an understanding of compositional balance can make abstract forms more engaging. ### Light, Shadow, and Form

The interplay of light and shadow defines form and mood. Understanding how light sources interact with objects-creating highlights, mid-tones, core shadows, reflected light, and cast shadows-is fundamental. This knowledge allows illustrators to create objects that feel three-dimensional and scenes that evoke specific atmospheres. For photographers and cinematographers, this understanding is vital for lighting setups, making informed decisions about key lights, fill lights, and backlights. Creating accurate lighting studies in illustration can directly translate to more dramatic and visually appealing photographic and cinematic productions. A character sketch with carefully rendered shadows not only makes the character look more real but also suggests the time of day, the weather, and even the emotional tone of a scene. This skill is particularly valuable for remote professionals who might be tasked with creating assets that need to match diverse lighting conditions or styles. ### Color Theory and Harmony

Color evokes emotion, defines mood, and attracts attention. A strong grasp of color theory-including primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, complementary and analogous schemes, warmth and coolness, and saturation and value-is indispensable. Illustrators use color to guide the viewer's eye, create visual hierarchies, and establish brand identity. For photo and video, color grading is a crucial post-production step, and understanding color theory at the illustration stage ensures a cohesive visual language from concept to final output. Choosing a color palette for concept art sets the tone for the entire production. For example, a film might use cool blues and grays to convey melancholy, or warm oranges and yellows for a sense of comfort. Illustrative skills in color selection ensure that these choices are intentional and impactful. Even for audio podcast cover art, appropriate color choices can communicate the genre or mood of the content at a glance. ### Storytelling through Visuals

Perhaps the most critical foundational skill is the ability to tell stories visually. This involves understanding narrative arcs, character development, emotional beats, and how to communicate these through images. Illustrators are inherently visual storytellers. They can condense complex ideas into easily digestible visuals. For photo and video production, this means creating images or sequences that clearly convey a message, evoke emotion, or advance a plot. This skill is critical when developing mood boards and style guides for clients. For example, a travel photographer working with a client in Sydney might prepare illustrative sketches of potential photo opportunities, combining architectural elements with human interaction to tell a story about the city. For audio dramas, creating visual 'story bibles' can help voice actors and sound designers better understand the world they are building audibly. This foundational skill often relies on observation-paying close attention to how people interact, how environments are composed, and how emotions are expressed visually. By consistently practicing these foundational drawing skills, professionals in photo, video, and audio can significantly enhance their creative output, communicate more effectively with collaborators and clients, and open up new avenues for remote work opportunities. These basic principles are timeless and transferable across all digital tools and emerging technologies. ## Digital Art Tools and Techniques While foundational drawing skills are the bedrock, the modern creative demands proficiency in a suite of digital art tools and techniques. For digital nomads, these tools are often the primary means of production, connecting them with projects and clients globally, whether they're based in rural Japan or a bustling metropolis. Mastering these software applications and digital workflows is crucial for efficiency, collaboration, and delivering professional-grade illustrations for photo, video, and audio productions. ### Core Software Proficiency (Adobe Photoshop/Procreate/Clip Studio Paint)

The holy trinity of digital illustration often includes Adobe Photoshop, Procreate (for iPad users), and Clip Studio Paint (especially favored for comic and animation work).

• Adobe Photoshop remains an industry standard, offering unparalleled capabilities for raster graphic manipulation, digital painting, photo compositing, and texture creation. Its layer system, extensive brush engine, and integration with other Adobe products (like Illustrator for vector assets, Premiere Pro for video, and After Effects for motion graphics) make it incredibly versatile. For photo production, it's essential for creating digital matte paintings, conceptual overlays, and advanced retouching that blurs the line with illustration. For video, it’s used for concept art, texture creation for 3D models, and generating static elements for motion graphics. Its power and flexibility are why it's a staple in virtually every creative studio and an essential tool for any remote graphic designer.
• Procreate is a mobile powerhouse, completely transforming what's possible on an iPad. Its intuitive interface, brush engine, and animation features make it ideal for quick sketches, detailed illustrations, and even short animations on the go. Its portability is a massive advantage for digital nomads who might be working from a cafe in Paris or a beach in Thailand. For storyboarding, concept art, and rapid visual development, Procreate is unmatched. Many professionals use it for initial ideation before moving to more powerful desktop software.
• Clip Studio Paint (formerly Manga Studio) is renowned for its superior line art capabilities, perspective rulers, 3D model import for posing, and built-in animation tools. It's a favorite among comic artists, animators, and character designers. For video production, its ability to handle timelines and assist with frame-by-frame animation is a significant benefit. For pre-production work requiring detailed character sheets or intricate environmental designs, Clip Studio Paint offers precision and speed. Choosing between them (or using a combination) depends on specific workflow needs and personal preference, but familiarity with at least one or two is non-negotiable. ### Vector Graphics (Adobe Illustrator/Affinity Designer/Figma)

While raster graphics (like those created in Photoshop) are pixel-based and best for detailed painting and photorealistic effects, vector graphics are mathematically defined. This means they are infinitely scalable without losing resolution, making them perfect for logos, icons, infographics, brand elements, and clean motion graphics.

• Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard for vector art. Mastering it allows for the creation of crisp, scalable assets crucial for titles, lower thirds, and animated elements in video production. It's also vital for designing professional podcast artwork or album covers that need to look sharp at any size.
• Affinity Designer offers a powerful, one-time purchase alternative to Illustrator, providing similar capabilities at a lower cost.
• Figma, while primarily a UI/UX design tool, is also gaining traction for its collaborative vector capabilities, which can be useful for team-based concept design or generating simple graphics that need to be shared quickly.

Understanding the difference between raster and vector and knowing when to use each is a critical skill for any modern illustrator contributing to production. ### 3D Software Integration (Blender/Cinema 4D Lite)

The intersection of 2D illustration and 3D modeling is an increasingly important area. Basic proficiency in 3D software can drastically speed up illustrative workflows and open doors to new creative possibilities.

• Blender is a free, open-source 3D suite that offers modeling, sculpting, animation, rendering, and even video editing. Illustrators can use Blender to build simple scenes for perspective reference, create custom character poses, or even render out complex lighting scenarios to inform their 2D paintings. This is incredibly powerful for concept artists working on environments or product designers needing accurate mockups. The ability to import basic 3D models into your illustration software (like Clip Studio Paint's 3D models) further enhances this.
• Cinema 4D Lite, included with Adobe After Effects, provides a good entry point for integrating 3D elements into motion graphics. Understanding basic 3D principles helps illustrators visualize scenes in a three-dimensional space, leading to more and realistic results for photo and video. For example, sketching over a quickly rendered 3D scene can inform camera angles for a shoot or provide a solid foundation for a digital painting. This skill is particularly sought after by companies hiring for remote motion graphics roles. ### Graphics Tablets and Hardware

Effective digital art creation relies heavily on the right hardware. A graphics tablet (like those from Wacom, Huion, or XPPen) or a pen display (like Wacom Cintiq or iPad Pro with Apple Pencil) is essential. These devices allow for natural drawing with pressure sensitivity, mimicking traditional art tools. The quality of your linework, brush strokes, and control depend significantly on a good tablet. For digital nomads, the portability and power of devices like the iPad Pro have made high-quality digital illustration accessible from anywhere, from a bustling Singapore co-working space to a quiet cabin in the woods. Choosing the right hardware often involves balancing budget, portability, and desired features. ### Digital Production Workflows

Beyond individual tools, understanding digital production workflows is key. This includes file management, layering conventions, version control, and preparing assets for different media. For instance, an illustration for a podcast cover might need to be exported in various resolutions for different platforms, while a storyboard frame needs clear annotations for a film crew. Learning to organize files effectively, use smart objects/vectors for non-destructive editing, and understand common file formats (PSD, AI, PNG, TIFF, EXR) ensures a smooth hand-off between different stages of a production and different team members. Collaboration tools and cloud storage are also critical for remote teams, facilitating the sharing and iteration of illustrative assets regardless of location. Understanding how to package project files for archiving or client delivery is also a skill that often gets overlooked but is crucial for professionalism. Mastering these digital tools and integrating them with foundational drawing skills transforms an illustrator into a versatile and indispensable asset for any photo, video, or audio production team in 2026. ## Storyboarding and Visual Pre-Visualization For effective storytelling in photo, video, and even audio productions, storyboarding and visual pre-visualization are indispensable. These are the illustrative blueprints that transform abstract ideas into concrete visual plans, ensuring everyone on a creative team is on the same page before significant resources are committed. For remote teams, often spread across different continents, these visual tools become the universal language that bridges communication gaps and facilitates collaboration. Whether working on a commercial in Dubai or a documentary in Vancouver, the ability to translate concepts into clear visual sequences is a superpower. ### Understanding Storyboard Principles

A storyboard is a sequence of drawings or images, typically with directions and dialogue, representing the shots planned for a film, video, animation, or commercial. Its primary purpose is to visually plan the flow of a narrative, illustrating key moments, character actions, and camera movements.

• Key elements of a storyboard frame: Each panel typically includes a drawing of the shot, a description of the action, dialogue, sound notes, and camera directions (e.g., pan left, dolly in, wide shot).
• Purpose: Storyboards help visualize pacing, identify visual gaps, establish shot composition, plan transitions, and communicate the overall tone and style. They are crucial for budgeting and scheduling, as they allow producers to estimate needs for locations, props, and personnel.
• Evolution: While traditionally hand-drawn, digital storyboarding (using software like Storyboarder, Clip Studio Paint, or even Photoshop/Procreate) allows for faster iterations, easier sharing, and integration with animatics. Many remote teams now share storyboards via cloud platforms, making feedback loops incredibly efficient. ### Techniques for Effective Storyboarding

1. Thumbnailing: Start with small, rough sketches to quickly block out scenes and explore different compositions and cinematic angles. This is where you experiment with visual ideas without getting bogged down in detail.

2. Clarity over Detail: The goal is communication, not fine art. Drawings should be clear enough to convey the intended action and emotion without being overly elaborate. Focus on character poses, expressions, and key props.

3. Camera Movement and Framing: Clearly indicate camera movements (zooms, pans, tilts, tracking shots) and framing (close-ups, medium shots, wide shots). Use arrows and textual notes to explain complex camera work.

4. Action and Emotion: Show, don't just tell. Illustrate the protagonist's emotional state through their body language and facial expressions. Convey action dynamics through motion lines and sequential panels.

5. Environment and Props: Briefly render essential environmental elements and key props that affect the narrative or character interaction.

6. Dialogue and Sound Cues: Include relevant dialogue snippets and specific sound cues (e.g., "door creaks," "ominous music underscore") to give context to the visuals. ### Pre-Visualization (Pre-Vis)

Beyond traditional storyboards, pre-visualization (pre-vis) takes visual planning to the next level, often incorporating 3D elements and basic animation.

• Live-Action Pre-Vis: For complex live-action sequences (e.g., stunts, elaborate VFX shots), pre-vis might involve creating a simplified 3D animation of the scene to plan camera paths, lighting, and actor blocking precisely. This is invaluable for filmmakers dealing with visual effects or intricate action sequences, helping them troubleshoot problems virtually before they become costly on set. Illustrators with basic 3D skills (e.g., in Blender) can contribute significantly here, sketching over 3D renders or even animating rough character models.
• Animatics: These are essentially animated storyboards, where storyboard panels are edited together with temporary dialogue, sound effects, and music to give a clearer sense of timing and pacing. Animatics are critical for animation projects and often used for commercials to test an ad's effectiveness before full production. Illustrators frequently create the assets for animatics.
• Motion Graphics Pre-Vis: For motion graphics projects, pre-vis might involve sketching out keyframes of animation, designing visual sequences, or creating basic wireframes of how text and elements will move and interact. This helps define the flow and rhythm of the animation. ### Application Across Media
• For Video Production: Storyboards are absolutely essential for films, TV shows, commercials, music videos, and explainer videos. They serve as the definitive guide for directors, cinematographers, and editors. They also help pitch ideas to clients or investors. Learn more about freelance video editing.
• For Photo Production: While not traditionally used for every photo shoot, storyboards are incredibly useful for complex conceptual shoots, fashion editorials with narrative elements, or product photography requiring specific arrangements. They help photographers plan lighting, model poses, and environmental interaction. For remote product photographers working with clients in Berlin, illustrating the desired "look and feel" through a storyboard is more effective than lengthy textual descriptions.
• For Audio Production: While not directly visual, storyboards can help visualize scenes and character interactions for audio dramas or podcasts, especially for sound designers and voice actors. Creating a visual "beat sheet" can guide the aural pacing and emotional impact. For podcast cover art and promotional visuals, illustrating concepts through rough sketches helps define the brand's visual identity. Even for abstract music, visualizing potential album art or music video concepts through illustrative panels can inform the overall creative direction. Mastering storyboarding and pre-visualization empowers illustrators to become central figures in any production team. These skills minimize misunderstandings, reduce costly re-shoots or re-edits, and ensure a cohesive visual narrative across all creative endeavors, making them critically important for any remote professional aiming for high-quality output. ## Concept Art and Character Design for Media Concept art and character design serve as the genesis of visual ideas, breathing life into imaginary worlds and their inhabitants. These illustrative skills are paramount in photo, video, and audio production, providing the foundational visual language that guides an entire project. For digital nomads seeking roles in animation studios, game development, film production, or even sophisticated marketing campaigns, expertise in this area is a significant differentiator. Whether envisioning creatures for a sci-fi epic or crafting mascots for a brand, the ability to translate abstract ideas into compelling visuals is highly prized. ### The Role of Concept Art

Concept art is the initial visual development of an idea for a movie, video game, animation, comic book, or any other media project. Its purpose is to visualize worlds, characters, props, vehicles, environments, and mood before they are fully realized in 3D models, live-action sets, or final illustrations.

• World Building: Concept artists often create entire environments, from sprawling cityscapes to alien landscapes. This involves sketching architectural styles, vegetation, atmospheric effects, and overall ambiance. These concepts inform set design, digital matte painting, and even location scouting for live-action shoots.
• Prop and Vehicle Design: Every distinctive prop, weapon, or vehicle seen in a film or game usually originates as a concept sketch. This ensures consistency in style and functionality.
• Mood and Lighting Studies: Concept art isn't just about objects; it's also about conveying the intended look, feel, and emotional tone of a scene. Mood paintings or lighting studies help establish color palettes and lighting schemes long before production begins.
• Problem-Solving: Concept artists continually solve visual problems, finding the best way to represent an idea that aligns with the director's vision, technical constraints, and narrative requirements. ### Principles of Effective Concept Art

1. Clarity of Vision: The concept art must clearly communicate the idea. Even rough sketches should convey the essence of the design.

2. Storytelling Elements: Good concept art tells a story within itself. It suggests the history of a place, the personality of an object, or the function of a device.

3. Iteration and Exploration: Concept art is an iterative process. Artists explore many variations before landing on the final design. This involves rapid sketching, digital painting, and constant feedback.

4. Reference Gathering: Smart concept artists constantly collect and analyze references-from historical architecture to biological forms, fashion, and technology-to inform their designs.

5. Adaptability: Concept artists must be able to work in diverse styles, from highly realistic to stylized, depending on the project's needs. ### Character Design Fundamentals

Character design is a specialized area of concept art focused on creating compelling, believable, and unique characters that resonate with an audience.

• Silhouette: A strong character often has a recognizable silhouette that communicates their personality, powers, or role even without internal details. This is paramount for animated characters or even live-action heroes.
• Proportion and Anatomy: As mentioned in foundational skills, understanding anatomy is crucial for believable characters. This extends to exaggerating or stylizing proportions to convey specific traits (e.g., a hulking warrior, a delicate fairy).
• Facial Expressions and Body Language: Characters communicate through their expressions and poses. Designers must articulate a wide range of emotions to make characters relatable and.
• Costume and Props: Clothing, armor, and personal items dramatically contribute to a character's backstory and personality. Details like patches, wear and tear, or unique accessories enrich the character narrative.
• Color Palette: A character's color scheme can indicate their alignment, mood, or status (e.g., heroic blues, villainous reds, earthy neutrals).
• Posing for Personality: Illustrators should practice drawing characters in various poses that reflect their personality and potential actions. This directly aids actors and animators in bringing characters to life. ### Application in Production
• For Video Production: Essential for animated films and series, video games, and any project involving fantastical creatures or unique characters. Concept art guides 3D modelers, texture artists, animators, and VFX artists. For live-action, character designs inform costume designers, makeup artists, and even influence casting choices. For example, remote animators often start with detailed character sheets that include expressions and turnaround views. Explore remote animation jobs.
• For Photo Production: While not always direct, concept art can inspire model poses, costume choices, and set elements for editorial or fantasy-themed photography. A photographer might work with a concept artist to visualize a specific look for a character before a shoot. This is especially true for cosplay photography or highly stylized advertising campaigns.
• For Audio Production: For podcasts and audio dramas, character design helps define the "look" of characters for promotional materials, fan art, and social media engagement. Visualizing characters can also help voice actors develop their performance, understanding the physical traits and mannerisms that might influence speech patterns or vocal tones. An audio project about mythical creatures, for instance, would benefit greatly from concept art that grounds the listener's imagination. Developing strong concept art and character design skills allows illustrators to be at the very forefront of creative development in major media productions. It's about vision, imagination, and the ability to turn abstract ideas into inspiring visual realities that captivate audiences worldwide from any remote location. ## Motion Graphics and Animation Principles The animated world is expanding rapidly, making motion graphics and animation principles essential skills for illustrators working in photo, video, and audio production in 2026. Static images are increasingly being brought to life, and even audio-only content benefits from visualizers or engaging promotional animations. For digital nomads specializing in visual effects, brand communication, or digital content creation, mastering these skills opens doors to diverse and exciting remote projects, from explainer videos for a startup in London to title sequences for a film studio in Los Angeles. ### Understanding Motion Graphics

Motion graphics are animated graphic design. They are distinct from traditional animation in that they often focus on abstract shapes, text, logos, and UI elements to convey information or evoke emotion, rather than on character-driven narratives.

• Ubiquitous Application: Used in commercials, title sequences, explainer videos, data visualization, user interfaces, and social media content.
• Key Software: Adobe After Effects is the industry standard for creating motion graphics, highly integrated with Photoshop and Illustrator. Other tools like Apple Motion or DaVinci Resolve's Fusion page also offer capabilities.
• Principles: Motion graphics rely heavily on solid graphic design principles (typography, color, layout) combined with animation principles to create fluid and engaging movement. ### Core Animation Principles for Illustrators

Even if you're not becoming a full-time animator, understanding the following 12 classic animation principles (originally defined by Disney animators) will drastically improve your illustrative work and ability to create compelling motion graphics:

1. Squash and Stretch: Deforms objects to convey weight, flexibility, and elasticity. An object hitting the ground might squash, then stretch as it rebounds. This adds realism and personality.

2. Anticipation: A preparatory action that precedes the main action, signaling to the audience what's about to happen (e.g., a character winds up before throwing a punch).

3. Staging: Presenting an idea so that it is unmistakably clear. This applies to poses, actions, and environments, ensuring the audience's attention is directed to the most important elements.

4. Straight Ahead & Pose to Pose: Two methods of animating. Straight ahead means drawing frame by frame. Pose to pose means drawing keyframes first, then filling in between. Illustrators often work in "pose to pose" for conceptual sketches.

5. Follow Through & Overlapping Action: "Follow through" refers to parts of a character or object continuing to move after the main action has stopped (e.g., hair or clothing). "Overlapping action" means different parts of a body or object move at different rates, creating a more fluid and less rigid movement.

6. Slow In and Slow Out (Ease In/Ease Out): Objects don't usually start or stop instantly; they accelerate and decelerate. Applying this principle makes movement more natural. This is a fundamental concept in animation curves in software.

7. Arcs: Most natural movement follows an arc, rather than a straight line. Applying arcs to limbs, objects, and camera movements creates more organic and less mechanical animation.

8. Secondary Action: Smaller actions that support the main action, adding more dimension to the animation (e.g., a character tapping their foot impatiently while waiting).

9. Timing: The number of frames between poses, which defines the speed and emotional weight of an action (e.g., a fast movement for surprise, a slow movement for sadness).

10. Exaggeration: Pushing actions to extremes for greater emotional impact or comedic effect, without sacrificing believability.

11. Solid Drawing: The ability to draw objects with volume, weight, and proper anatomy/proportions from any angle. This reinforces foundational drawing skills.

12. Appeal: The charisma of an animated character or object. Something pleasant to look at, whether cute,, intimidating, or funny. ### Illustrative Applications in Motion Graphics

• Asset Creation: Illustrators are responsible for designing and creating all the static assets (characters, backgrounds, icons, infographics) that will then be animated. This requires careful layering, clean vector art (using Illustrator), and understanding how elements will deform or move.
• Storytelling through Movement: Applying animation principles to typography, transitions, and character movements to convey specific messages and emotional tones.
• Visualizing Abstract Concepts: Turning complex data or abstract ideas into clear, engaging animated visuals, often using illustrative metaphors.
• Styleframes: Creating detailed still illustrations that showcase the look and feel of key moments in an animation sequence. These serve as visual benchmarks for the motion designers. ### Practical Tips for Illustrators in Motion Graphics
• Learn Adobe After Effects: Even basic proficiency will help you understand motion graphics workflows and asset preparation.
• Master Vector Art: For scalable, crisp animations, Illustrator is crucial.
• Think in Layers: Design your illustrations with animation in mind, separating elements onto different layers for easier manipulation.
• Study Existing Motion Graphics: Analyze how successful motion designers use movement, rhythm, and timing to convey their message.
• Practice with Simple Loops: Start by animating simple objects or characters bouncing, swinging, or transforming to grasp core principles.
• Consider Character Rigging: For character animation, understanding basic rigging principles (how joints and controls are set up) can inform your character designs. Learn more about remote design jobs. ### Impact on Photo, Video, and Audio
• Video: From title sequences and lower thirds to explainer videos and animated advertisements, motion graphics, driven by illustration, are a pillar of modern video content. They enhance information delivery and visual appeal.
• Photo: Illustrative motion graphics can turn static photos into "cinemagraphs" or composite images with animated elements, adding new life to photographic work. Think animated textures over a product shot or a subtle, illustrative glimmer on a fashion accessory.
• Audio: Music visualizers, animated podcast intros/outros, and kinetic typography for lyrical videos are direct applications. Illustrative animations can provide a powerful visual complement to purely aural experiences, transforming how listeners engage with sound. Many successful podcasts on platforms like Spotify use distinctive animated branding. By embracing motion graphics and animation principles, illustrators not only expand their skill set but also become indispensable contributors to the rich, media of 2026, creating engaging experiences across all platforms and solidifying their place in the future of remote work. ## Integrating Illustration with Photography and Cinematography The fusion of illustration with photography and cinematography offers unparalleled creative possibilities, blurring the lines between captured reality and imaginative artistry. For digital nomads working in visual media, this integration isn't just an advanced technique; it's a new frontier for visual storytelling, allowing them to create bespoke content that stands out in a saturated market. Whether enhancing a shot or building a fantastical world around live-action footage, these blended skills are increasingly in demand. ### Concept Development and Pre-Visualization

As discussed previously, illustration's role in concept development and pre-visualization for photo and video is foundational.

• Shot Planning: Illustrators can sketch detailed shot lists or **story