It’s easy to think that being blind, I would have instantly been sold on the idea of audio description. But I wasn’t.
I wasn’t because as consumers (moreover as humans), we are constantly assessing the situation. Is this new thing I’m being offered going to work for me?
Think about it, when you start watching the latest trendy series that all your friends are going on about, you probably go into it thinking, ‘Okay, let’s see if this is really all it’s cracked up to be!’
You might watch a trailer to see if you like the vibe. If that passes the test, you might go ahead and give the first episode a chance. Then the second. While fully being aware that at any time, you can stop and revert back to that cosy old favourite comfort show you’ve seen several hundred times already.
The point is that we like to test the water. Just as we do in dating. If you like the look of someone, you might initiate a conversation, you might exchange a few texts (like watching their trailer), you might go on a first date. Then a second. All the time knowing that, at any moment, you can stop and go back to watching that comfort show, snuggled up safely on your sofa.
For me, becoming sold on audio description was a lot like dating. I needed to believe it was going to make my life better, brighter, more vibrant – not hold me back, smother me and make me lose myself.
At its heart, audio description is about building trust, connection and shared experience. Just as a healthy romance thrives on balance, respect and good timing, so does effective audio description. So here are a few tips to make this love affair extra magical.
Timing is everything
In romance, blurting things out at the wrong moment can ruin the mood. The same goes for audio description. A well-placed description fits seamlessly between dialogue, music and sound effects. It flows with everything else, instead of sticking out like a sore thumb.
Think of it like finishing your partner’s sentence: too early and you cut across the moment, too late and the meaning gets lost entirely. Pay close attention to the rhythm of the soundtrack in order to avoid being the one who interjects in the right place, but at the wrong time!
Just say what matters – less is more
Now, I think we’ve all been in situations where saying too much has gotten us into trouble! In love, endless chatter can overwhelm or irritate, while silence can leave someone feeling adrift. Good partners (and good describers) know how to choose words carefully, cleverly and concisely.
Audio description isn’t about narrating every little thing, but about sharing the moments that carry emotional weight or advance the story.
At times, it’s about prioritising – knowing what matters most and saying that. For instance, if someone gives a snide look after saying something seemingly kind, I probably need to know about that more than about the extra scratching his nose in the background – unless the nose scratching is integral to the plot, of course!
It’s about asking yourself, ‘if I were in your shoes, what would I need to hear right now and what would be much better left unsaid?’
Pro-tip: This skill can be relationship-saving in love, especially when opinions about how outfits look are concerned! One good thing about being blind? I am spared being on the receiving end of this Venus flytrap of a conversation from my other half!
Respect the space
Have you ever been on a date with someone who just wouldn’t let you get a word in edgeways? A healthy relationship means you don’t dominate the conversation. You listen, you notice, you leave space. The same is true of audio description.
The describer supports the story, not competes with it. Like a partner who knows when to step back during a dance, audio description should enhance the rhythm of the media or performance without stepping on the toes of dialogue, music or silence.
Sometimes trust is about not nagging and bombarding with constant reminders or over-explanation. It’s about having faith in the other person to interpret and figure things out at their own pace.
Speak their language
In a partnership, connection deepens when you communicate in ways that resonate with the other person, whether that’s through humour, tenderness or inside jokes.
In audio description, that means using clear, natural language that fits the tone of the piece. A gritty thriller or true crime documentary calls for different descriptive choices than a whimsical children’s cartoon, for example.
Just as you wouldn’t use the same words in every romantic moment, audio description requires flexibility to match the mood.
Plus, you might think the very specific term you’ve just casually thrown into a sentence sounds suave, sexy and sophisticated, but if I’ve got no idea what it means, I’m going to have no idea how I’m supposed to respond – and that’s just embarrassing for everyone!
Build trust through consistency
Trust matters – in any kind of relationship. If you say you’ll be there, be there. If you make a promise, keep it. For audio description, this translates into accuracy and reliability. I need to feel confident that what I’m hearing is faithful to the visuals – neither exaggerated nor watered down.
Don’t ghost me when I need you most. Don’t leave me with a million unanswered questions and no closure!
Anyone who has ever autopiloted through their day in a haze of intrusive thoughts about ‘what in the heck just happened?’ knows how impossible it is to be present when there are parts of a story that make absolutely NO sense to you!
If you leave out crucial details, the chances are, I’ll be so hung up on those that I won’t be listening to a word anybody else is saying from then on.
Aim for shared intimacy
At its best, both romance and audio description are about sharing. They create closeness and belonging, making sure no one feels left out of the moment.
Quality audio description is like a partner who leans in and whispers, ‘here’s what you need to know’ so you can laugh at the same jokes, gasp at the same surprises and cry at the same heartbreaks together.
I cannot stress how much that means to someone like me, whose very limited sight has so often left me feeling as though I’m on the outside.
In a healthy relationship, as with great quality audio description, it’s not about being perfect, it’s not about always getting it right, it’s about staying stable, consistent and communicative through all the ups and downs, plot twists and turns.
It’s learning to sit companionably alongside, without being suffocating or taking over.
Whether in love or in audio description, you’re doing life together. The most important thing is that when they really need you, you’re there – even if you will have to accept that both what you say and the way you say it will inevitably drive them crazy at times!
Audio description done well isn’t mechanical, but relational. It’s the art of balancing presence with restraint and building trust through effective communication. In that sense, creating great audio description is a lot like nurturing a loving partnership: when it works, everyone feels fully valued, fully included and fully part of the story.