TIPS FOR TEACHING A KIDS PHOTO CAMP
Teaching photography to children can be incredibly rewarding. If you hand a camera to a child, you’ll soon realize that they see the world around them much differently than adults. They tend to take notice of the smallest, most insignificant things that many of us overlook. Since children see the world differently, it’s important to plan a photography camp around what appeals the most to children. Here are 8 tips for teaching a successful kids photo camp.
1) Location is key. Pick an ideal location, such as renting part of a community or recreation center near a park. A beautiful park in nature is the perfect place for children to release their energy, and allows them to photograph a wide variety of subjects such as plants, animals, insects, landscapes, and other children. The community or recreation center will serve as your classroom for the day.
2) Don’t talk for too long. Children want to be out doing things instead of feeling like they’re stuck in a classroom. Try to explain the day’s project within 20 minutes, and allow the next hour+ to let them roam around and photograph.
3) Keep the camp days short. You want to retain their attention span. Two to three hours is a great length of time to give an introductory assignment, allow them to go out and photograph, and then review the images together.
4) Charge a reasonable price. Half-day camps lasting around 3-4 hours typically charge $150-200. To make the camp more accessible to families that may not be able to afford that price, you could charge $75-100 for a 1.5-2 hour camp, and offer two of these camps back to back – perhaps the first one from 10am-12pm and the second one from 2pm-4pm.
(photo below courtesy Ashley Blencoe and Co. Photographic)
5) Create a display of the student's work. At the end of the camp, put together a slideshow or small display of the students’ best work throughout the week. To keep costs low, this could be as simple as putting together a slideshow for the parents to watch the last day of camp. Alternatively, you could check with local printers to see if they could make quick, low-cost prints of the work, which you could then display on the wall of the community or recreation center room you have rented out.
6) Keep things simple. One of the most important things to remember is to keep things simple. As soon as you get too complicated or technical, children are going to start getting bored. Focus on simple photography techniques such as filling the frame or shooting at a “birds-eye” or “worms-eye” You can also teach about lighting, since the weather will likely change from day to day (shooting in cloudy vs sunny conditions).
7) Always be positive. While the children are at the camp to learn, they’re also there to have fun. Try not to give too much criticism, and instead point out what good qualities all of their photographs have.
8) Keep assignments interesting. Let children go out and photograph whatever they want, but have them put together a story around their favorite photograph. Perhaps they’ll come up with a story about a boy who built a tree house in an old maple tree, or a worm who was trying to find his home.
TEACH PHOTOGRAPHY TO KIDS WITH OUR CURRICULUM BUNDLE
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This Photography Curriculum Bundle for Kids is a fun yet informative way to teach beginning photography to children. This curriculum has been created specifically for kids ages 8-12. Use this bundle to start a photography club or after school program at your local elementary school, or teach your own kids! You can even use this program in kids camps over summer, winter or spring break! Purchase yours today at the special pricing!
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Use this curriculum bundle to teach an after school kids club, a kids photo camp, a homeschool co-op class or even your own kids! Here's what's included:
- 16 Pages of layered .psd lesson files (including cover)
- Basic instructions to edit in Photoshop and a list of fonts used
- Lesson Plans & Attendance Tracker
- Set of three activity sheets
- Photographer badge template
- Instructor notes outlining ideas for games and activities
- Game Templates
- Certificate of Completion Template
SAMPLE LESSONS & ACTIVITY SHEETS
Printable lessons cover the topics of History of Photography, Photographer's Toolkit, Exposure White Balance, Basic Settings, Composition, Basic Lighting, Basic Posing, and Careers in Photography.
You can split the lessons into 10 sections to span an approx. 45 minute 10 week course... or you could double up and create a 5 day session to span a summer camp, spring break or fall break camp.
Lessons come in layered .psd format for you to edit text & images as you wish. Also included are 3 activity sheets, an attendance chart, instructor notes, basic instructions for Photoshop and a list of fonts used.
The curriculum covers exactly what I need for my Basic Digital Photography workshop and has now prompted me to branch out into new worlds with teaching photography to children. I have found that not only do I love taking pictures and creating beautiful images, but that I love teaching others how to do the same!
Cindy J. - Reflections Photography
Lesson Pages & Teacher Notes
- Set of 16 layered .psd lesson pages (including cover)
- Teaching Notes
- Lesson Plans
- Instructions for Games
Coordinating PowerPoint Presentation
- Matching PowerPoint Presentation to enhance visual displays
- Includes 55 slides
- Customizable (just add logo)
Card Game Template (Three Kings)
- Designed to match seamlessly within the curriculum
- A fun way for kids to learn ISO, shutter speed, aperture
- Includes 30 layered .psd files
- Basic game instructions and instructions for printing
Photographer Badge Template
- Kids will love having their own "photographer" badge. Plus, it helps you remember their names! :). Instructions included with purchase on how to print these on your home printer or have them professionally printed.
Memory Card Game
- Set of 20 card templates (10 matching pairs) featuring photographer tools of the trade
- Basic Instructions to prepare files for printing
- Basic instructions for the game
Bonus Files
- Set of three activity sheets
- Attendance sheet to keep track of attendance
- Certificate of Completion template when kids finish the class
Use code KC79 to get this entire bundle for just $79!
LIMITED TIME PRICING ON THIS $175.00 $79.00 (Use code KC79)
USE CODE KP79
THIS SPECIAL OFFER EXPIRES IN: (use code KC79)
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