How to tell a story through a 15-photo sequence? (film school task)

Hi everyone,

I’m preparing for an entrance exam for film school (editing), and one part of it is a photographic montage task. I need to create a sequence of 15 photos that tell a clear story with no text explanations, following editing rules such as continuity, pacing, shot progression, etc.

I already have a rough story idea, but I’m struggling with execution. Specifically, how to make the story feel visually connected and easy to follow, pacing (when to “cut,” when to stay longer on a moment) and how often to switch shot types (wide/medium/close-up).

Also, the rules mention that if a shot changes significantly (movement, reframing), it should be shown as two images (start/end), which kind of confuses me in terms of planning the sequence. I feel like I need to have less action then but I'm worried it will make my story hard to understand.

If anyone has experience with photo storytelling or visual sequencing, I’d really appreciate any advice and examples.

Thanks!