Introducing Your Child to the Wonders of Photography
So you’re going on a big vacation. Why not introduce your child to photography a few weeks before, and use it as a way to get them excited about the trip - while at the same time, giving them a way to store the memories of that trip forever.
You will undoubtedly be treated to some early shots of grandma as a headless wonder, but these will also be accompanied by some unexpected jewels. As the young photographer learns more about his or her new hobby and why grandma’s head was not in the picture, skills will begin to develop and you will start to see a legend of the world through the eyes of your child. Don’t be surprised to see more pictures of the family pet than of anyone else.
Help your child set up scenes to photograph, whether it’s a sandcastle on the beach or their favorite stuffed animal sitting held next to a statue in a park or museum. Once home again, you can play around with your child’s toys: let him or her experiment with how toy trucks and cars can be set up and photographed in such a way that they look like their full sized counterparts.
After you return from your trip, buy an album or scrapbook for your child and have fun putting the pictures into it. Make sure to put the date on the back. If you’re so inclined, you might also write some notes next to each picture or keep a journal of your own (depending on the age of your child) so you don’t forget the special memories that go with each picture.
If your child gets very interested in photography, remember the library has books about the subject, including some for children. You can also find these books at your local bookstore. If your child has an interest like this, by all means, feed it.
Is there a younger sibling in the family? Read up on taking pictures of babies and small children, then share the tips that you have learned with your young photographer. Such things as putting a piece of scotch tape on a little one’s finger for example can lead to some fantastic facial expressions, as he or she tries to figure out what has happened and how to get rid of that thing. Armed with a camera, encouragement and a little bit of knowledge, your young photographer may be the one to get THAT picture, making it doubly a family treasure.
Getting a child interested in photography is giving them a gift that may well last them a lifetime.
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Michael’s philosophy of traveling is simple: take lots of pictures and put your feet up as much as possible. Read more of his articles at http://www.fun-travel-blog.com/.
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