Children are constantly having their photos taken, so it's natural that they develop a curiosity about photography.
Get them started by teaching them the basics, and watch their enthusiasm grow. This guide will help you understand
how to best hone the skills of a budding photographer. Your efforts will be rewarded with a photo album full of
pictures taken through your child's eyes.
Choose a kid-friendly camera
The camera that's perfect for you may not be the best one for a young photographer, so consider getting your child
his or her own inexpensive camera. Remember, it's all about having fun, so you don't have to buy the top-of-the-line
model. Look for a camera that:
Is small, so your child can hold it easily
Has fully automatic settings
Can turn itself off automatically
Is simple to use and has easy options for transferring pictures
Is durable-just in case
If you're not ready to purchase a digital camera for your child, get a waterproof disposable camera instead. If they
treat it well and carry it wherever they go, then you can consider a digital model. Also, if you'll be supervising
your child, consider sharing your own digital camera.
Kids will follow your lead when it comes to photography, so be mindful of how you handle your own equipment. If
you're overly careful, your children may be so anxious about breaking the camera that they don't enjoy themselves.
At the same time, you want to prevent carelessness.
Pass along a few basic rules about camera care. Show kids how to hold it firmly and how to use the wrist strap for
extra security. Also, let them know which parts of the camera to avoid touching, such as the lens and the LCD
display.
Digital photography is a vast topic, but with a few essential concepts, kids can get started. Each child is
different, but many are ready to start using a camera around age four or five. Here's what to show them:
Holding the camera properly (careful to keep fingers out of the way).
Turning the camera on and off. Tell them that it's important to turn the camera off when it's not in use so
that the battery won't run out.
Composing pictures in the LCD. Viewfinders are more difficult to use, so stick with the display.
Focusing. Help your kids understand what "fuzzy" pictures look like and how to make their photos "sharp."
Using the zoom. Explain the importance of getting up close.
Pressing the shutter/taking pictures. Teach your kids to listen for the "click" your camera makes when
photos are taken. Remind them that they'll have to keep the shutter pressed for a second or two before the
picture is taken.
If your kids are a little older (at least eight years old) or more experienced, you can also explain how to:
Review and delete photos. Familiarize them with the menus so they can see what they've done and discard
unwanted images.
Change or charge the battery (depending on which type you use).
Transfer images to the computer.
Decide what to keep and what to delete.
Apply basic lighting concepts, such as standing with your back to the sun or when to use the flash.
Every child learns at a different rate, so there are no hard-and-fast rules for how to pace their lessons. However, it's easy
for anyone to get overwhelmed with a new topic if there's too much information to absorb at once. Try teaching them one or two
photo skills at a time, and adjust accordingly.
Once you've discussed a particular concept, let them experiment before you move on. For example, demonstrate how to turn the
camera on and off and how to use the LCD to "see" a picture. Then hand over the camera and let them get comfortable with each
task before you introduce the next.
Digital photography is a wonderful way to see the world through your child's eyes. Take note of the things they
choose to photograph and encourage them to explore these subjects further.
You can also inspire your kids by giving them fun and easy photo "assignments." These ideas will spark their
imaginations and fill their memory cards with pictures you'll both enjoy.
Provide a list of specific things to find and photograph, scavenger hunt style (a
cat, a fire hydrant, a school bus, etc).
Get descriptive. Use adjectives to describe the types of pictures to take. For
example, "soft" could be a puppy or a dandelion. They may interpret "tall" as a building or a friend on the
basketball team.
Go crazy with color. Provide a list of colors that need to appear in the photos,
or create a challenging assignment by having your child take ten pictures that represent a single color.
Pick a subject your child is interested in, such as insects—then take a hike
and let your child take pictures of the critters they see.
Have your son or daughter tell a story with photographs. There are several
approaches to this project. They can take pictures and write a short story to go along with them, or they
can photograph an event as it happens, such as a family picnic or a soccer game.
Have them shoot the same subject from a variety of different angles.
Printing the photos your child takes is important for a few reasons. First, it helps them to understand the entire
photography process, from click to print. Next, it shows them that what they created is important enough to put onto
paper and save. And finally, you can use the prints to review their progress and provide them with useful feedback.
When your child is just starting out, consider snapping a few photos yourself so that they're not disappointed with
their prints.
Kids love to print their own photos! And with printers like the
HP Photosmart A526 compact photo printer,
printing is as easy as popping a camera's memory card into a slot on the front. Learn more about
printing photos without a PC.
Once the photos are printed, review them together. Explain what's great about their photos (Your baby sister is the
perfect photo subject!) and give them pointers for improvement (Try getting closer next time).
Put your child's best photos into a creative project such as a photo album or scrapbook that you make together.
The HP Activity Center
has free printable projects for all ages. And check out
Snapfish,
HP's online photo-sharing website, for great projects and gifts such as photo books, mugs, bags, posters and more.
Once your kids are familiar with the basic concepts of photography, they'll want to take pictures all the time. Get pointers for
helping them take photos at the zoo
and on vacation.
Take a free online class
in digital photography! Explore the many features of your digital camera, find tips for cropping and editing your
images, and discover new ideas for sharing your photos in creative ways.
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