posted Tuesday, 13 January 2009, 22:22 (+0800), by Martin
Having written recently about
Getting Your Kids Started In Photography,
here's a list of reasons why you should get your kids into photography.
- Encourage Creativity
Photography encourages a child's creativity by making them think about colours, composition, framing, light, depth-of-field, etc. The creativity is not just limited to the photography either, but also extends to how the child uses the photos they take. For example, photos can be used by the children for scrapbooking, making bookmarks, making cards, etc.
- Keep Them Entertained
Photography has the potential to keep children occupied for many hours. This includes the action of taking the photos, as well as post-processing, learning more about photography by reading, etc.
- Get Them Outdoors
Today's children often spend too much time indoors, behind the tv / computer / game console. Outdoor photography provides another reason for them to enjoy the outdoors, both close-to-home in your back yard, and the greater outdoors, in parks, forest, etc.
- Share Your Passion
As you're reading this photography blog, I assume you have at least a passing interest in photography yourself. Getting your kids into photography allows you to share your passion with them, as well as sharing your photography gear with them.
- Photography is a Great Social Activity
Photography can be a great social event, particularly if there are multiple photographers in the family. I regularly take my two older children (aged 8 and 10) on photography outings.
I also have taken my children on a number of photowalks with other friends and colleagues.
- Capture Memories
Photography allows children to capture their own memories from their own viewpoint of significant events, such as birthdays, family outings, holidays, etc. These photos can mean a lot more to the children than just the photos taken by a parent, as the children will often see different things to photograph, and will see them in a different way.
- Potential Source of Income
In the longer term, photography can potentially provide some income to the child, either via micro-stock agencies, print-on-demand prints (such as redbubble.com), or by taking photos of events and people and selling prints. As the children's photography prowess improves, there may be opportunities for doing family/group photos of friends and family, and possibly also weddings of friends and family.
- Photography Doesn't Have To Be Expensive
You don't need to spend a lot of money to start your children in photography. A cheap new or second-hand point-n-shoot camera is all that's needed to get started. With digital cameras, the on-going costs are minimal, as there's no film-developing costs.
- Photography Requires Less Manual Dexterity than Other Visual Arts
Compared to other visual arts such, as painting and sculpture, photography depends least on manual dexterity, making it ideal for kids of all ages.
- Photography Has No Age Boundaries
There are no age limits for starting photography. Children of any age can enjoy it.
Ashley (my 10 year old son)
Mandurah foreshore, Western Australia
Mandurah foreshore, Western Australia
Nicholas (my 5 year old son), Mandurah foreshore, Western Australia
You forgot to mention that by getting children involved in photography you now have another excuse to buy yourself new gear :)