Teaching a Youngster About Photography

daveward

Senior Member
Picture this scene: a youngster says to Grandpa (or Grandma): "Can I take a picture?"

What opportunities like this have happened to you and did you get a chance to teach about photography in addition to letting them snap a few shots? If so, what approach did you take:
1. Let's go buy a 35mm and some film and I'll teach you about photography!
2. Here's my expensive DSLR and more expensive lens...let's go have fun!
3. Other?

I am waiting patiently for my grandkids to ask one of these days. I think it will be FUN. Have you already had the experience?
 
Picture this scene: a youngster says to Grandpa (or Grandma): "Can I take a picture?"

What opportunities like this have happened to you and did you get a chance to teach about photography in addition to letting them snap a few shots? If so, what approach did you take:
1. Let's go buy a 35mm and some film and I'll teach you about photography!
2. Here's my expensive DSLR and more expensive lens...let's go have fun!
3. Other?

I am waiting patiently for my grandkids to ask one of these days. I think it will be FUN. Have you already had the experience?

i would not start with film. To time and money sensitive. Kids need the immediate feedback that digital gives them. I would use the KISS method to start with. "Keep it simple, stupid" Get a relatively inexpensive bridge camera that will at least do Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and full Manual. This will let them start of easy and get some good results today and then grow into the hobby as they want.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I ordered Fuji Instax mini 9 cameras and film for 2 6 and 7 year old granddaughters... They already know how to take pictures with their tablets and cell phones...
 

Roy1961

Senior Member
Contributor
i take my 8 year old out with my old D7000 and 70-300 lens, he has taken better images than me on a few occasions.
 

Gobae

Senior Member
I let my granddaughter (age 11) use my old D40X or D90 when we go on walks/hikes and to shoot roller derby. Now that she's got the basic operation down, I'm teaching her to slow down and think about what she's shooting. Then I'll start doing a bit more with aperture, shutter speed etc and let her explore those settings.
 

PapaST

Senior Member
I ordered Fuji Instax mini 9 cameras and film for 2 6 and 7 year old granddaughters... They already know how to take pictures with their tablets and cell phones...

I got my 7 year old daughter one of these and I think it's working well for her. She can snap pics with her phone, under-water camera and other digital devices so she has some experience. With the Fuji and the fact that it has limited film, she thinks through her shots and looks at conditions/lighting, etc.

Ultimately I think it will depend on how old they are and where they are in the learning process.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Some of the older Nikon DSLR's such as the D90 aren't too expensive yet would work well. You could start off teaching how to use one of the auto programs and focus more on composition rather than aperture and shutter. And it would allow him or her to grow with their photographic knowledge where the info about aperture, shutter, and ISO can be introduced.

If you go that route, I'd suggest staying away from the D3x00 and D5x00 series. Those won't accept the older AF and AF-D lenses without limitations (AF won't work). However, the older D90 accepts them without any problem. And other bodies prior to the D90 accept them, too, although I'm not sure which ones. There are some decent pre-owned AF and AF-D available.

Good luck with whatever you choose!
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
Gave my daughter an inexpensive point and shoot. She stuck with it. Upgraded her to an inexpensive so I could buy it dirt freaking cheap old dslr off of ebay with lenses included.

And never ever would I go down the path of film. The cost would prevent shooting for the pure fun of doing it.

My daughter got her first camera at 5. It was an old point and shoot that did not matter. It was fun to see all her pictures to see what caught the eye of a 5 year old. Probably the most laughs I ever got from photography.
 
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