If you're reading this guide, you are probably considering teaching kids photography. While a kids photography camp is a bit more involved than a basic photography for kids class, it’s a great way to really get involved with your community and to get to know other businesses in your area.
This guide will take a look at some things you need to consider when you teach a kids photography camp.
Choosing the right location for your Kids Photography camp is the first step. Here are a few locations you may want to consider:
Community Hall or Recreation Center: Every city or neighborhood has some type of community hall or recreation center that can be used to teach classes at a minimal cost. If you don’t know of a location like this near you, check into any community colleges in your area as they generally also offer classes during the summer months.
Co-Op Space/Studio: Many co-op work spaces and photography studios are the ideal location for small workshops and classes. Turn to platforms such as Facebook to identify co-op spaces in your area. Keep in mind that most studios will need you to have liability insurance before you can hire the space.
Local Schools: Local schools often have summer programs available for kids in the area. You may be able to find a school that will let you use one of their classrooms for a minimal fee.
Tip: If you can find a location that has easy access to a park or an open outdoor area that is safe for kids to go out and take photos, even better.
(above Photo by Mona Naem Photography)
Now that you’ve decided on the location, you’re going to have to determine how to price your photography classes so that you can start promoting your kids photography camp.
Since you are hosting a camp, you have the option of charging a higher price because a camp is usually of a higher perceived value than a "class". Plus, you will be with the kids for several hours each day. Many kids camps in general charge up to $300 per child.
Check kids summer camps in your area to find out what the average camp cost is. This will give you a good range of what parents in the area are paying for other camp programs. The price will depend a lot on your area, but on average photographers charge $150 to $300 per child.
(above Photo by Mona Naem Photography)
Decide on a curriculum before you start promoting your camp so that you know how many lessons you will be included in your course and how to structure your days.
Start by breaking up your photography lessons into topics. For example, if you want to teach children the basics of photography you could divide your lessons into the following topics: exposure, composition and camera settings.
It also helps to decide on the length of each section so that you can prepare the material accordingly. Keep in mind that most children will not be arriving with an expensive DSLR camera, with many only having a smartphone or point and shoot camera, so prepare your curriculum accordingly.
To help save you time, check out this done-for-you kids photography camp lesson kit.
Generally you will want to keep each camp session to no more than 3-4 hours per day. You could offer it 4 or 5 consecutive days with a morning session and afternoon session option, you could offer a weekend option or even on day per week over a couple of weeks.
Here are some options you can use to structure your camp. The first option below is to feature one lesson per week for 8 weeks.
Note: these lessons are taken from the Kids Photography Camp curriculum bundle. Click here for more information on the curriculum:
Wk 1/Lesson 1: History of Photography
Wk 2/Lesson 2: Photography Gear
Wk 3/Lesson 3: ISO
Wk 4/Lesson 4: Shutter Speed
Wk 5/Lesson 5: Aperture
Wk 6/Lesson 6: Camera Settings (White Balance & Basic Settings)
Wk 7/Lesson 7: Creative Composition
Wk 8/Lesson 8: Types of Photographers
If you want to double up on the lessons you could make it into a 4 week kids photography camp, or a 4 day camp which would meet 4 consecutive days. Or you could have a 2-day camp intensive and teach lessons 1-4 on day one and lessons 5-8 on day two. You could schedule it 2 Saturdays in a row or 2 consecutive weekend days. It's entirely up to you!
(photo courtesy Picture Perfect Studios)
The first place to start is social media. Post on your social media accounts that you are planning to host a camp and ask who would be interested. Next, reach out to your photography clients via email. And finally you can check with local businesses that cater to kids or local publications that advertise to parents. They may be able to advertise for you via their own e-mail list or on their social media outlets. You may also find a bulletin board at local businesses where you could post an informational poster advertising your camp.
With Magazine Mama kids photography camp curriculum you can make your first experience teaching an easy one.
The curriculum will save you so much time. Plus, you can use the re-use it over and over to teach during your slower seasons, or whenever you need to earn some extra income.
Teach a Kids Photography Camp with this Lesson Kit ONLY $125 $59 with code CAMP59
Teach a Kids Photography Camp with this Lesson Kit ONLY $125 $59 with code CAMP59
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
In this photography camp for kids curriculum, you have everything you need to get started teaching photography to kids.
***Please Note: This is copyrighted material for and can not to be re-sold in any form.***
Retail Price:
Your Price:
with code CAMP59
You Save:
In this photography camp for kids curriculum, you have everything you need to get started teaching photography to kids.
***Please Note: This is copyrighted material for and can not to be re-sold in any form.***
Printable lessons cover the topics of History of Photography, Photographer's Gear, Exposure, White Balance, Camera Presets, Creative Composition, Types of Photographers.
You can split the lessons into a 5 day camp (or 5 week camp one day a week) sections to span an approx. 1-2 hours (depending on time you allow for taking pictures each day).
Lessons come in layered .psd format for you to edit text & images as you wish. Also included are 5 activity sheets, 2 photo scavenger hunt sheets, a photographer badge, set of 50 card game files, a tentative camp schedule, camp registration form, instructions for Photoshop and a list of fonts used.
Get this entire bundle for just $175.00 $59.00 with code CAMP59
Use this curriculum bundle to teach kids photography camp during the summer or any time of the year. Here's what's included:
20 Pages of layered .psd lesson files (plus cover)
Basic instructions to edit in Photoshop and a list of fonts used
Set of five activity sheets
Set of two photo scavenger hunt sheet templates
Camp registration form template
Photographer badge template
Instructor notes outlining ideas for games and worksheets
Set of 50 game card files
Get this entire bundle for just $175.00 $59.00 with code CAMP59
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
In this photography camp for kids curriculum, you have everything you need to get started teaching photography to kids.
***Please Note: This is copyrighted material and can not be re-sold in any form.***
Retail Price:
Your Price:
with code CAMP59
You Save:
In this photography camp for kids curriculum, you have everything you need to get started teaching photography to kids.
***Please Note: This is copyrighted material and can not be re-sold in any form.***
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
Get this entire bundle for just $175.00 $59.00 with code CAMP59
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
In this photography camp for kids curriculum, you have everything you need to get started teaching photography to kids.
Cover curriculum page 8.5x11 (layered .psd) so you can add your logo
20 lesson pages created specifically for kids ages 8-12.
Topics include: History of Photography, Gear, Exposure (ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture), White Balance, Camera Presets, Creative Composition, Types of Photographers.
All text and photos for you to use.
Lessons come in layered .psd files giving you the option to customize text or photos as you wish.
Basic instructions to edit layered lesson plans in Photoshop with list of fonts used.
Kids Photography Camp Registration Form template
Tentative Camp Outline
Five worksheets (2 crossword puzzles, 2 word searches, 2 word scrambles)
Instructor notes outlining ideas for card games.
Photographer badge template.
Game cards
Marketing Poster Template (11x17 and 8.5x11)
***Please Note: This is copyrighted material and can not be re-sold in any form.***
Retail Price:
Your Price:
with code CAMP59
You Save:
In this photography camp for kids curriculum, you have everything you need to get started teaching photography to kids.
Cover curriculum page 8.5x11 (layered .psd) so you can add your logo
20 lesson pages created specifically for kids ages 8-12.
Topics include: History of Photography, Gear, Exposure (ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture), White Balance, Camera Presets, Creative Composition, Types of Photographers.
All text and photos for you to use.
Lessons come in layered .psd files giving you the option to customize text or photos as you wish.
Basic instructions to edit layered lesson plans in Photoshop with list of fonts used.
Kids Photography Camp Registration Form template
Tentative Camp Outline
Five worksheets (2 crossword puzzles, 2 word searches, 2 word scrambles)
Instructor notes outlining ideas for card games.
Photographer badge template.
Game cards
Marketing Poster Template (11x17 and 8.5x11)
***Please Note: This is copyrighted material and can not be re-sold in any form.***
Get this entire bundle for just $175.00 $59.00 with code CAMP59
Get this entire bundle for just $175.00 $59.00 with code CAMP59
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
“I've purchased 3 courses from Magazine Mama. Camp Photography, Basic Digital and Online and they are great products. I've already implemented the first 2 and setting up the online class. Really easy to use and incredibly helpful tool to supplement income during slower seasons.”
— Jenny
“I just completed week 3 of my Kids Photography Course with a group of 10-15 year old homeschool students. Class meets biweekly in my home. This package has made my job SOOO much easier. The included material is great but then I also love that I can tweak and adjust as needed. The kiddos are learning so much and have a great time doing it! Thank you!” — Melissa
“This made things so much easier to start with and get things going!” — Kimberly
In this photography camp for kids curriculum, you have everything you need to get started teaching photography to kids.
***Please Note: This is copyrighted material and can not be re-sold in any form.***
Retail Price:
Your Price:
with code CAMP59
You Save:
In this photography camp for kids curriculum, you have everything you need to get started teaching photography to kids.
***Please Note: This is copyrighted material and can not be re-sold in any form.***
FAQs
Where can I teach the camp?
Some ideas for locations include your home studio, a co-op studio, civic center, recreation center, YMCA, other schools, or even at a park. You can also use it to teach an online class within a 50 mile radius of your home or studio.
How long should the camp be?
You can make it whatever time frame you would like. For example you could host a 5 day camp for 2 hours a day, a 2 day camp for 5 hours a day or an 8 week camp for 1 hour each week.
Are the students required to have a DSLR?
You can choose to make this a requirement if you'd like, but you want to make sure you aren't discouraging someone who can't afford a DSLR. Plus, many times parents won't want to invest in a DSLR until they know their child is more serious. The kids can learn with a point-and-shoot camera just as well and even their own phones. You can bring your own DSLR and gear in for show and tell.
How many kids should be in the camp?
I recommend if you're just starting out to start small. I would keep them around 8-10 kids. If you want more than this make sure you have an additional adult to help out.
How much do people charge for a kids photography camp?
Anywhere from $100 to $250. It all depends on your market and the length of the camp. Remember, you can make your money back from the Kids Photography Camp lessons with your very first student!
Get this entire bundle for just $175.00 $59.00 with code CAMP59
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!