By Elizabeth Feeley — Mar 20, 2023

9 Reasons To Teach Children Photography

From the time the first ultrasound is taken, children are treated as objects for adult photography. So, it’s not surprising, that when they reach an age where they can express themselves, they will want to take pictures, too. And why shouldn’t they?

Instead of just giving them a cutesy camera and telling them to “knock themselves out”, consider the nine points below for concrete reasons to teach children photographic principles and practices.

1. Creativity Development

Books for babies and toddlers tend to be brightly colored picture books with few words. Imagine how excited the child would be if they had a book full of photos, they had taken themselves. They can learn how to choose what they want to photograph and what they shouldn’t photograph (such as their sibling on the toilet, an adult in the shower…). They can choose to study their surroundings from their height and see how things look differently if they climb up on a chair or lie flat on their bellies. As they examine different angles, their visual spatial senses will grow and soon they will be exploring angles that never occurred to us.

As they learn to appreciate the effects that lighting has, they may drop ideas such as “it’s a bad day” and instead look at what they can do with ‘a different day.’ These will affect their compositions. Is their teddy bear attending the tea party or going out for a walk? Teach them to ask, “What if…” questions. Such as, “What if I placed the dog in the corner of the picture instead of in the middle? So many variants!

Encouraging creativity opens doors…and windows.

2. Opportunities To See The World Differently

Restricting one’s view to what can be seen on a screen or through a view finder, requires focusing on specific areas and excluding others. Are they looking at that frog in the mud at the edge of the pond, but not seeing the blue heron that has just landed at the other end? Or seeing Dad do an oil change and miss the mailman coming to the door?

As their curiosity grows, with increasing creativity, their perspectives of their world will also grow…

Oh, the possibilities…

3. Moods: Theirs, The Situation’s And The Camera’s

Not all pictures need to be of pretty objects or smiling faces on a sunny day. Teaching children photography presents an excellent opportunity to teach them about emotions. They already know they have them. Now, they can see how they change a picture and how others can see the different moods within them. It also helps the child develop empathy for others. As they grow, one can teach them how to use their pictures to help others.

Many modern cameras have settings that help change the emotions expressed and can be slowly taught to a child. These can be added to their understanding of lighting and how to alter exposures as part of their compositions.

4. Experiments With Lasting Effects

When adults encourage children to try different effects and compositions with photography, they are teaching them to think more independently and to have more confidence in their own analysis. Not all experiments work. A good life lesson to learn. Would this particular shot look better in sepia? Stark black and white? Muted colors? Allowing children to experiment with capturing their view of the things around them and presenting it to others helps them develop confidence as well as an interesting portfolio.

5. Boundaries

The old adage, “good fences make good neighbors,” applies just as much to photography as to real estate. Children need to learn when not to take a picture. Such as when someone has just received bad news, or they just don’t want their picture taken. By learning what is and is not appropriate, by respecting others, their awareness grows. Their perspectives change.

Even very young children have a sense for the need for boundaries: mine, yours, theirs. These become important as they grow in taking pictures and delight in the stories they tell.

6. Accountability

Harsh critiques and evaluations such as ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘yuck’ can do a lot of damage. On the other hand the child needs to be held accountable for the photos that they do take. These can be discussed in softer tones. “Did you ask Mr. X if you could take a picture of his cat?” “Does Grandpa know that you took a picture of him sleeping on the porch?” ”Were you trying to take a selfie?”

This is also where we teach children how to take good care of the camera they use, regardless of how simple or complex it is.

7. Citizenship

At the heart of being a good citizen, is the desire to care for the community and country that one lives in. As children grow in their photographic skills, they can contribute in many ways. They can take pictures of animals in shelters that need homes, of people in long term care facilities who need visitors, of situations such as broken trails that need fixing…since they perceive things differently than adults do, their voices may be heard more readily.

8. Keeping Records of Daily Perspectives

Each day that a child takes a picture should be recorded. This can be done in a simple scrapbook or electronically depending on the age of the child. It will teach them about journalling. It will also tell them that you are interested in what they did that day. Another confidence booster. It tells them that their memories are important.

9. Storytelling

People seem to be hard-wired for stories. From ancient cave art to modern media, we crave stories and especially the visuals they create. Children are no different. They especially like stories about them.

Photography, like sign language, gives them tools to express themselves when they lack the words.

With these nine points, you have ready comebacks for those who question why you are teaching your child photography at such a young age. Simply smile and tell them you want the child to be the best they can be, then tell them what you are building into this child.

Frequently Asked Questions about teaching children photography

1. At what age, should a child start to learn about photography?

When they show an interest in picture taking i.e. they keep grabbing for your cel/mobile phone or camera.

2. Why not just let my child take pictures on my cell phone?

Even very young children have found ways to order things on an adult’s phone or to lock them. This can be expensive and frustrating for the adult in question. Better to teach the child(ren) that a phone is for adult use unless there is an emergency and the adult needs help such as calling 9-1-1.

Their desire to take pictures can be better addressed with an inexpensive, sturdy camera that is age appropriate.

3. What are the three most important things to teach children about photography?

Subject, composition and light. Without some sense of these three, the picture will not tell the story that the child wants to convey. They have to decide what they want to take a picture of whether it is their toys, food, something outside…then they need to decide the setting and finally, if the light is not right the picture will be either too dark (underexposed) or too bright (over exposed). And the child will be disappointed.

4. What is the best type of camera for a child?

This depends on a number of factors: the age of the child, the strength of the child, and its dexterity, to name just a few. Some contend that children’s cameras should be avoided and think that children should be taught on the same cameras as adults use. There are pros and cons on both sides. Considering the range of cameras that are currently available for children and the solid functions of many of them, I would not reject them right away.

I have allowed a three year-old to use my DSLR. Everything considered, she did well and we had a good time. But, she had difficulty handling the camera that was definitely too large for her. A smaller camera would have suited her much better. We just used what we had available.

I would not give a drone to a three year-old because of the risk of injury to the child. But I could teach a ten year-old to use one responsibly.

Take the time to evaluate your child’s abilities and what you would like to teach them at this time.