Image courtesy of Latina Moms.
Would your friends describe you as that person that is always taking pictures? No matter what you are doing, you want to take photos of flowers, trees, small animals, and cityscapes — the list is endless.
I don’t know about you, but I need to take pictures of everything. To me, it is a moment in time forever frozen. At the time, it may seem like such an “insignificant” moment or object doesn’t matter, but at one point, you will look back at these memories lovingly. As Tara Chisholm once said, “Photography is the beauty of life captured.”
You probably already figured out that I have hundreds and thousands of photos of my children (and my fluffy dog). With the end of this school year, I have felt the urge to pass on this hobby to my children or at least teach them the beauty of photography.
What better time to do this than during their summer vacation?
Here are some photography tips that will help you teach your kids the beauty of living in the moment and photographing moments that matter the most.
Teach Them How To Hold the Camera
This may seem obvious, but in reality, we sometimes forget to teach our kids the basics. Remember that our kids are accustomed to the size and shape of smartphones and iPads.
Teach them how to hold the camera steady. Have them lean against a surface to maintain their position and hold still.
When teaching your kids about photography, start small
Don’t take your kids to a national monument to take photos of exhibits with historical significance. This can be overwhelming for them and, to be honest, confusing.
Why would you take them somewhere that does not pique their interest?
Instead, start small.
Start inside your home and your backyard. Don’t give them your heavy, clunky DSLR camera. A plain old point-and-shoot camera can work (remember disposable cameras?).
Show them the basics of photography, such as picking your subject and having a steady background with everyday items.
Allow Them To Explore
Now, I know you may want them to take the perfect photo. But, this is not always realistic. This is not real life.
Allow them the freedom to experiment with different angles and close-ups and take pictures of the most random of objects. Their finger came out in the photo? That’s great!
You’d be amazed at how much you will cherish these memories of your children learning how to take “old-fashioned” photographs, and really, seeing the world through the eyes of a child is magical.
This summer, let your children take control of the shutter button and be amazed by all the things they capture.