It’s become a lot more accessible over the years and is the kind of hobby that kids of all ages just love. Photographs can be taken anywhere, anytime with a smartphone or a proper camera. The images appear instantaneously and you can even get involved with creative editing, producing pictures you’ll treasure for a long time to come.
Not only does photography build technical ability but it allows your kids to be creative at their own speed. What’s not to like?
There are plenty of cameras which are specifically aimed at children of all ages. That means you can start them young and build up a good skill level as they head into their teens. Going a step further, choosing a suitable photography course for children lets them learn from the experts, helps develop those important artistic abilities, all the while involving them in a hobby where they can explore their full creativity.
The Benefits of Photography for Children
- It gives kids a safe, fun hobby they can engage with straight away.
- There’s no prepping or having to wait, once the camera is in their hands they can start pointing it and shooting away to their heart’s content.
- It’s a great pastime that can be carried out solo or as part of a social group.
- It’s an easy and less messy way for kids to explore their inner creativity and the world around them.
- It’s a cheaper pastime than it used to be – cameras are high quality and fairly inexpensive nowadays.
- Photography for kids shows how technology works and can help develop important computing skills early on in life that will benefit them in the future.
Picking the Right Camera
Thankfully, there is plenty of choice online nowadays and you can buy cameras for kids who are as young as six or seven years old for as little as £40. Cameras such as the Nikon Coolpix S33 are easy to handle, waterproof, shockproof, produce quality photos and have just a few simple features for your kid to get the hang of.
As your child gets older you’ll be able to introduce more complex devices, starting with simple compacts, that will challenge them to get more out of photography. Bridge cameras are ideal for those with extra experience who want something that performs to a higher standard and then you can move onto the all singing, all dancing DSLR when they’ve earned their stripes (and your confidence).
Photography for Kids: The Wider Engagement
Photography courses for kids help to get them involved in a hobby that really has everything going for it. Not only is there the creative side where kids learn how to take sharper, better composed images, but there’s that valuable engagement with the outside world; trips to the countryside, museums and the seaside; parties with friends that always seem to produce memorable images. There are family gatherings to be recorded and sporting events that produce dynamic images.
On top of that, nowadays we have plenty of software that kids can learn to use and develop editing skills. They can crop images, improve sharpness and adjust colours. It’s a great way to introduce children to the sort of software that will play a big part in their lives as they grow up. It means when they get into school and need to learn other skills they could be a little further along than some of the other kids.
Why Choose a Photography Course for Children?
It may seem a good idea just to let your kid point and shoot and get on with it, but sending them on a photography course for children can help hone those skills and keep them interested in their hobby for a good time to come. Our photography courses for children around Guildford in Surrey are designed to give 7-15 year olds all the hints and tips they need to take great pictures.
Not only do we teach the basics of composition but also the technical stuff like depth of field and shutter speeds and how these effect the picture being taken. We get kids to look at their images more critically and forge a stronger connection with their cameras so, when they are next out, they can take photographs with a higher degree of skill and thought.
Encouraging a kid to take their photography to the next level has many benefits and could perhaps lead them on to a professional career in the future. Even if that’s not quite where they are heading, the skills they learn will certainly stay with them for the rest of their lives.
In the end, it’s a fun and brilliant way to learn. We pick some pretty interesting places including trips to the country where children can take close up pictures of flowers and insects or capture brilliant landscapes. Giving kids the opportunity to be creative and use their imaginations independently is one major plus point of a photography course for children.
How to Find a Photography Course for Kids in Your Area
Check online first and see what your area has to offer. There are plenty of photography experts who offer their services and hold courses, however, there aren’t that many offering tuition for children. You want one that is going to take the right precautions while still providing a stimulating learning environment. You might also want to get your kid involved in choosing as well as finding out what they want to learn so you can narrow down the choice.
- Take a close look at the photography course web site. Does it look professional? Are the pictures of good quality? Make sure they have full contact details on the site.
- Check for testimonials and have a search elsewhere online for reviews.
- Don’t be afraid of picking up the phone and having a chat with the person or team who run a particular course.
There’s no doubt that a good photography course for kids can make a big difference to their skill level and help them take better images. It can also build confidence and keep their creative juices flowing well into their adult lives. And you never know, they may grow up to be a fashion or wildlife photographer, creating fabulous images the whole world can enjoy.
