How to Inspire Kids’ Creativity with Photography

If you have little ones at home who love to play with the camera feature on your phone or scrolling through photos you’ve taken, then getting them started on their own photography journey may be a good idea. It’s a fun hobby that kids of all ages can get started with, encouraging the development of their creativity as well as fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities. If you’re looking for ways to get your kids started with photography, here are a few ideas. 

Encourage their curiosity 

When you’re taking part in new experiences, you have more opportunities to learn and get inspired. So encourage your kids to get involved with new things, whether it’s trying new foods, taking part in activities at school, or spending time playing games. From trips to new locations to visiting zoos and farms where kids can interact with animals, or hikes and cycling activities, there are so many ways you can encourage them to stay curious and inspired, rather than reticent and reserved. 

Teach them the basics

The more you know about a subject, the more passionate you can become about it, and that’s the same for all ages. If you’re trying to get your kids into photography, teaching them the basics of composition or how lighting works to change an image, for example, can be a great way to spark their interest and help them to dive into the intricacies of photography. As their knowledge grows, their photographs will improve and so will their confidence. No matter what age your child is, there are age-appropriate skills they can learn to advance their photographs and build their skill set. 

Take them to museums and galleries

There’s a long-standing debate about whether photography is an art or a science, but one thing’s for sure, there are aspects to both and photography sits in the sweet spot in the middle. If you’re only teaching your kids about how to operate a camera, you’re missing a big opportunity to bring out their artistic side. Use your weekends to visit art galleries and photography museums where they can see other people’s work from years gone by, and see different styles in practice. 

Create photography challenges

Kids’ interests and focus can be short-lived, so to keep them interested and encouraged, why not set them a photography challenge? It will give them a nudge to pick up their camera again and help them to stay focused, while also helping them to practice their skills. Plus, it makes the process of practising a fun game rather than a chore. Maybe you could ask your child to take five photographs of items that are of a particular colour or shape, or maybe you can ask them to take portraits of every member of the family. They can also try different types of photography, such as macro photography or landscapes. 

Get them to recreate a famous photographer’s works

Photographers that have come before are the perfect form of inspiration and it can be a good way of trying new techniques and styles that they might not have been aware of before. You’re not encouraging your child to copy someone else’s work, but rather help them to identify the techniques needed to replicate those different styles in their own photographs. Observing a variety of ways of creating images can be a wonderful way for kids to develop their own unique style. 

Praise their photographs and encourage them

The quickest way to dull a child’s creativity is to criticise, so make sure you’re encouraging them to explore their passions and learn more. Join them on this photographic journey and show your appreciation for the images they create, because it’s guaranteed to build their confidence and their interest in this hobby. When things go wrong, you can gently offer tips and advice on how they might improve so they can put it into practice the next time. You could even display their best pieces in the home as a reminder for them of what they can achieve when they put their mind to it. 

Test different perspectives

Perspectives make photos stand out, so they’re good for kids to learn about. It’s all great practice for your kids to take pictures of beautiful flowers or your pets, but encourage them to take those photos from new perspectives, such as from above or from the sides. It’s a useful way to see how light reflects differently from these angles, and will encourage them to think about objects in a new way when they take photos in the future. 

Enter competitions

There are competitions for all ages and having the validation of another adult praising their work and giving feedback can be a great motivator. There are often themes, such as food photography or travel, so find a competition that caters to their interests so they’ll be inspired to create their best work. The potential to win a prize will really bolster their confidence and certainly serves as an inspiration to keep trying in the build-up to the deadline. 

Photography teaches so many skills, from decision-making and problem solving to critical thinking, and it’s a wonderful hobby that can be applied to so many different interests, from wildlife and portraiture to landscapes or sports.