Fleckrc Loc: Lufkin, TX

I am looking for any advice for creating a photo club for kids, curriculum, etc. I'm a retired educator and have enjoyed photography for many years. I belong to two photography organizations. I have introduced all of my grandchildren to photography. I recently hosted a photography activity at the local library and 20 kids attended! I would like start a club for junior photographers and am seeking your ideas. Thank you!

cascom Loc: Redmond

It is so difficult to plan a course because of the skill levels of today. I was working with automation (word processing) as a teacher's aide in the 2nd grade. MSFT kids were so smart. Their computer skills were out of this world. Others were just totally lost. I assume you will be using digital. I once took a class in Germany that included taking turns with the camera on a walking tour. The company developed the film and provided us with photos. and You could choose subjects like show motion, portrait, animal, etc., and then sit around the computer and have the photographer tell how and why he took the photo the way he did. Have them bring photos they like and talk about how they were taken. It would be great if you had a darkroom. That magic is sadly gone.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

My experience with introducing kids to photography says to focus on the story and the image. You don't say what your subject specialty areas are, but I'd suggest starting there. Start with some of your stories and some of your pictures.

Lufkin is all about oil and pine trees and paper. Visit the oil museum. Talk about why it is worth visiting. Talk about what is fun to look at. Ask, "Why is it interesting?" In other words, help everyone learn to see, and let them talk about it. The next step is doing more of the same, but focusing on being intentional about what they choose to capture.

Football season is coming up pretty quickly. Some of them may have responsibilities on the team or in the band or somewhere else. Maybe the others would like to sit together and see what might be interesting to photograph.

This can all be with cell phones. But some of them will start showing up with cameras, maybe even from the very first. Then you can start talking to them about using those cameras. This will all encourage others to bring cameras. But everyone will be able to participate and learn. They will have fun with the activities, fun with learning, and fun with each other.

You know that school is full of heavy stuff. There is no need for more of it here. This should be engaging, interesting, and fun. I'm not sure exactly how far Lufkin is from me. But it is not prohibitively far. I am willing to help you with this very worthy idea. Feel free to PM me.

Fleckrc Loc: Lufkin, TX

Thank you for your excellent suggestions! Please keep them coming. My goal is to not only let kids experience the fun of photography but to allow them to explore their own creativity. I also want to provide the cameras if they don't have one AND to make this all free of cost to them. I will use digital cameras.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

With the childrens short attention span, I suggest breaking your subjects to very small chunks and very basic approach with plenty of hands-on time to play with.
Make each one have their turn to achieve the days lesson before letting them experiment on their own.

Example:
Lesson IX Composition
The vertical & horizontal photos.
1. When to use portrait and when to use the landscape orientation.
- Have a 1 person then 2 ,3, 4 ,5 the whole class stand together and have their pictures taken. let them take turns posing & taking pictures. let them create happy & wacky scenes.

2. What is breathing space and where to put it. (pose, face direction & action)
- have 1 then 2 persons talk to each other and act out scenes like walking, playing tag. Shoot some samples then
let each have 2 minutes to make their picture as they please, aiming for images with proper breathing space.

3. Using diagonal orientation to be different & add drama
-take pictures of still life. flowers, architecture etc. Give sample and let them experiment.

Later, when working with the triangle of exposure, have a student play with a wand & ribbon or a spinning pinwheel and show how each settings affect the shot.

I made a game about exposure, it may help deepen the understanding of how the triangle work. It also have modifiers for advance play:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-671243-1.html

ELNikkor

They may already have taken many photos with their phones. Invite them to show 'n tell two of their favorites, you can easily recognize their natural skill level & encourage them from the start. Let them handle and shoot one of your "beater" DSLRs so they know the difference between composing through a viewfinder (which they may have never done), and just looking at a screen, (which is the only thing most will know!). You might end up with two levels, one where the students want the DSLR route, others who only want to stay with the cell phones. Parents will be involved, so figure on some kind of a news e-mail set-up to keep them informed, and you informed of their points of view on the class and degree they are able to support their child's progress.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

How old are the kids in your group? My mind jumped to the assumption that they might be elementary kids. If so, I'd defer most of the technical stuff way down the line. Otherwise (or when get to that point), I'd have them research and discover the technical stuff on their own, just calibrating with them to make sure they don't come up with misconceptions or errors.

I've seen the traditional teaching of the technical aspects of photography as an initiation rite completely kill the interest of too many budding photographers. Best a little at a time to solve specific problems with capturing specific shots.

Fleckrc Loc: Lufkin, TX

Wonderful ideas! Thank you so much!

Fleckrc Loc: Lufkin, TX

Since the group hasn't formed yet, age of membership is still under consideration. It will probably be open to elementary and middle school ages.
I agree with you that hands on learning is always the way to keep their interest.
Thank you for responding to my post!

Fleckrc Loc: Lufkin, TX

Great suggestions. I hope to put a dslr in everyone's hands and let them take them home for more practice.

brentrh Loc: Deltona, FL

I mentor Lynoia Preserve Camera Club.
I work with young members individually they can progress quickly to advanced levels

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

Never let them tell you I just like a certain picture. Make them define why with leading questions. Is it the subject? The colors?. The composition or viewpoint? And always find something good about their photos no matter how bad.

Ralphoto Loc: Washington state; now in Pittsburgh

I was an artist-in-residence in Seattle Public Schools. I gave kids from kindergarten to high school the opportunity to make photos with some Ricoh 35mm cameras. After a short talk about how to make the thing work, we went on field trips and walks around the schools. The kids shot what they wanted, and I would give them the prints they'd made the next session. They pretty much went through the history of photography, shooting their classmates (even sometimes picturing a body on the floor, as if dead), shooting out the window, etc.. Some of them later became school photographers, and many took up the art. School budgets killed the program after one year, so I got to go no further.

I don't deny the need for intensive camera learning, but you have to start somewhere. And enjoying the process and the results is a good place to begin.

Fleckrc Loc: Lufkin, TX

Thank you! So sorry the budget killed your program. Sounds like it was a great experience for the kids. I like your ideas!

Fleckrc Loc: Lufkin, TX

Great advice! Thanks!