01
Choose the focus and list the supporting elements
Write “paper-study photograph” in the focus field. List the title and caption separately, and identify any information still missing from the caption. For this exercise, keep the photograph as a placeholder explicitly labelled as such. Avoid letting a polished box imply that the final image has already been selected. The worksheet should record which element is meant to lead and which elements explain it. If the title later becomes the dominant element, revise that field so the written intention continues to match the proposed arrangement.
02
Mark the line that connects the related edges
Draw a vertical reference line and align the left edges of the photograph and its caption to it. Place the title above the image, using the same line as an initial choice. Record the gap between the image and caption as a deliberate separation, without prescribing a universal measurement. The important question is whether the caption remains visibly associated with that image. Keep any alignment marks on the planning copy only. They explain the proposal to a reviewer but need not appear on the final handout.
03
Review the grouping before adding more decoration
Check the arrangement at its intended reading size and inspect whether the full title and caption fit. Then record what the inspection actually shows: for example, a caption wraps to an extra line or the title reaches beyond the image edge. Those are layout observations, not evidence of how an audience will respond. Adjust the proposal and retain a dated copy of the earlier version if comparing alternatives. The worksheet finishes with the focus, reference line, grouped elements and open questions, leaving a clear basis for the next design decision.