Weekends. March break. Whenever it’s cold outside.
I’m bored.
You hear it. I hear it (I’ve got six kids). And because you don’t want to go another round with Netflix or the PS3, you wonder – what else can I do that’s fun and interesting for all of us.
Pick up your camera.
Kids are brilliant natural photographers. They’re curious. They have a different perspective. They shoot first and ask questions later. Share a camera in a clever way and you’ll find that even the four-year-olds are having a blast.
All you need is a little ingenuity. Here are three projects that I’ve actually tried out, all with pretty decent success:
The ten-minute project
Think about what your child’s favourite thing is – trains, LEGO, animals – and make it the subject for a quickie photo shoot. Here’s the twist – make them the photographer. Just get them to point the camera and click. Want to show ‘em how to take better pictures? Try these two tips from the last few weeks.
The one-hour project
Every little one likes to play dress up in some way, shape or form. Drag out last year’s Hallowe’en costumes and create a cool looking scene. Ninja dojo. Princess castle. Crime scene. Have some fun decorating the area, then let your kids direct you as they take the photos. Notice how someone shorter than you sees the scene differently.
Want an extra hour of fun? Head to the computer and make a slide show out of your work.
The all day project
Give your kids a shooting challenge, and then head out to the zoo/museum/Science Centre for a photo safari. Encourage them to try different angles and (depending on the age) settings as they move through the day (no flash, wonky white balance and more). You’re encouraging creativity and experimentation here and the results can be spectacular.
Take this one up a notch by printing out your best pics at the end of the day. I’m a big fan of Costco’s lab when it comes to snapshots – either in store or online.
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