You don't need to become a certified teacher to help a child cultivate passion for photography, because there is so much you already know that could transform a young person's life for the better!
Out of sheer coincidence, myself and my friend met a young girl, aged 13 at the time, at our street photography exhibition opening day at a local cafe. The young girl and her mother got talking to us and we quickly built rapport, which resulted in her signing up for two-hour lessons with us to help her learn how to use a DSLR, and how to put her skills into practice thereafter. She has gone from knowing nothing to just completing her second book of a personal project, which included shooting, editing, and designing. Although under our guidance, she has done the majority herself after we gave her the tools to use the camera, the software, and the inspiration to keep going.
1. You'll Go Back to Basics
At times, we tend to overcomplicate things as we progress in our photographic journeys. However, teaching a child how to use a camera and how to understand the shooting process will quickly get your brain to slow down and go back to the basics. For example, explaining ISO, shutter speed, and aperture to a young person in a way that is easily understandable and immediately put into practice will help you revisit the very start of your own photography, especially if you are self-taught and never had a structured introduction to photography.
When our student had more formal lessons to learn about camera controls and the shooting process, we used to do quizzes at the end of each block of lessons to help reiterate what she had learned and to see if our explanations were simple and understandable at the same time for someone who is essentially a blank page. I found this also helped me compartmentalize my own understanding and views on photography.
2. You Have the Power to Ignite a Flame
Following my last point, children tend to be blank canvasses when it comes to learning about photography. They haven't watched a plethora of tutorials, they haven't been to workshops or conferences. And you have to remember this because you have the power and tools to put a young person on a self-learning curve that'll ignite a passion for what they do.
Teaching them the basics but also always reminding that there is no right or wrong and at the end of the day, photography is about the photographer, not about the camera or the model, will give the child the freedom to experiment without feeling judged and it'll allow them to make suggestions without feeling ridiculed. You can give them a great starting point to go and explore photography their own way by giving them projects that give them room for expressing their personalities and style.
Watching them blossom from someone who's fairly anxious about holding and using a camera to coming to you and asking for advice as they start doing their own photographic projects is so rewarding. Don't turn photography into a tedious technical exercise and instead look at it through the eyes of a child. How would you make it fun and exciting? How would you inspire them to start looking around, researching, and reading about art and photography? I can guarantee teaching someone like that will bring back excitement into your own photography.
Image by Tausif Hossain, used under Creative Commons.
3. Leave a Legacy
On one hand, it would be nice to be an award-winning photographer that leaves behind work that is enjoyed by many (or equally, criticized), but the point is it would be nice to leave an imprint on the photography industry. Thing is, images come and go, and while some become iconic, there are not actually that many considering how many photographers are out there.
So, why not look at your photographic legacy not as a bunch of praised images but perhaps something so much more meaningful, such as mentoring someone who's passionate or seeing that skill and talent in someone and giving them confidence to bring it out even more. Working with children, you'll see those who enjoy it at that moment and time in their lives, though other mediums or hobbies may take over, but you may also see that one person who takes what you've given them to a whole new level. Now, wouldn't that make you feel like you've left something real and important in this industry?
Sure, working with children isn't for everyone and there's nobody to say you have got to lead a group of kids, but there may be that young niece or nephew, perhaps even your own child or that of a friend's who would benefit so much from someone with your skill, experience, and ability to get them excited about photography and art.
Have you already tried teaching a child? Do you find it harder than teaching adults?
Lead image used with the permission of Mike Stuart.
