Calling all photgraphers. Help please?

Question

I am a homeschooling mom, of am 11 year old. He decided that the #1 study he wants to really do is photgraphy, he's really good at it. So I told him I will find out al lI need to, in order to get him all set up.

What I woudl like ot know is what steps do I need to take, like what to get him, he has a really nice digital camera, but wa curious would it be better to get a different kind of camera too, to take different kinds of pics. And also what kind of books can I get him to learn all he can about what hes doing.

Any help & advice would be so helpful. Im asking now, so I can use all summer to find what I need for him.

He started taking pics around the age of 4 & was really good at it then. Im really amazed at how well they turn out too.

I want to help him further himself as a photgrapher, I dont want to hold him down on it. I want him to what he wants to learn.

I dont want to be a mom that tells him he "cant" to do this just be cause he's homeschooled.

Thanks

Answer 1

I realy dont have any advice for you but im a 15 yr old and would also like some tips cus i luv photography im good at it i just need to know how to get started with business and stuff if any body gives u sum info can you please email it to me THANKS!

Answer 2

Hi Tammy,  You must be very proud of such a talented young man.    I think what your son needs is a manual film camera to really learn the skills of photography.   To be able to shoot in every situation,  one needs to understand exposure, aperture,  the fstops, depth of field, lighting...  not that all of this means anything to you,  but it will be important to him and the development of his photography skills.   Being a homeschool teacher as you are,  you know the importance of starting with the basics and how skipping an important step can leave a void where it should not be.   It is like that in photography as well.   By learning the basics of taking pictures with a sound SLR manual camera,  his skills will develop and improve immensely.    The camera I might suggest to you is the Canon AE-1 SLR camera.   There is a Canon AE-1Program..  but I have reasons for not suggesting that one.  They don't make this camera anymore,  so you would have to look around for used models (perhaps on craigslist.org,  eBay, at camera shops that sell used,  in the news paper) and a few lenses for him to get started with.  A 50mm,  28mm, and an 80-200mm should provide him with many photo oportunities.    He will also need a camera flash for indoor shots.  Along with that set,  I think a very good book is "Photography" by Barbara Upton and John Upton.  I have one in a stack that I was going to sell at our local used book store.  If you are interested in it... send me an email.   This is one big thick book,  but it covers all one needs to know except, of course,  the practical getting out there and shooting.     Helping, encouraging and supporting this interest he has in photography is wonderful and I do commend you for it.   It is a terrific discipline and art form all in one.  He will need your help, of course,  meaning you might just be getting an education in photography as well...  but with your help he has the opportunity of making photography his love and life.   Good Luck... Hope I was able to help.

PS.   Just this Monday,  my daugher had a short photo shooting experience with a friend of mine son...  10 year old that has a real thing for photography as well.   He has only used a little point and shoot digital so she introduced him to the SLR digital camera.   He was in "fun heaven" as he went around the house shooting his dog,  his mom,  flowers, tree bark and anything that they decided looked interesting.    It was his own decision to opt to shoot in Manual Mode  instead of Program... which helped him learn something about aperture on the first day.   She has promised him a day long photo experience this summer and his mom says he just can't stop talking about it.   So if it works out,  my daughter might be talked into giving him lessons this summer.   It was just so strange to read your question  after our experience with him yesterday.    Perhaps there might be someone who,  too, might be willing to take your son under their wing.  :))

Answer 3

You should be able to find books about the subject at the library or look some Ideas on the internet.

Answer 4

My son and his wife homeschool but with a twist.  Three families have combined their efforts and bring their individual expertise into the mix.

Sorry to tell you, but you will need someone that has at least taken a few classes in photography and can teach clear, concise lessons in exposure, development, lens choices, lighting, camera control (f/stop, shutter speed, handholding in low light situations and many other techniques).  While composition and design seems to be his forte, the technical aspect of photography is the other half of the photography equation.  In the digital arena, you will have to add a more that basic understanding of computer use as well as how to use photo programs..

Just take your time ... photography is a lot like math .. one thing builds upon another .. but if you miss the first part, the rest can be very frustrating to both the student and the instructor

Answer 5

Sounds like you got a talented kid, and it's great you are encouraging him.

Here's a great book I would highly recommend:

Shooting Digital: Pro Tips for Taking Great Pictures with Your Digital Camera

http://www.amazon.com/Shooting-Digital-T...

Here's a website of that book if you want to preview or just use it instead of his book.

http://www.shooting-digital.com/

You tube has a lot of techniques that explain photography:

APERTURE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqcfDSACi...

SHUTTER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdotfhMGf...

ISO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki6Zs8qst...

You want to buy a camera that has a manual control for - aperture, shutter speed, fully manual.  Most camera usually have ISO you can control.

Those are the basic that you need to learn (for a start).

Composition is also important. You want your picture to control where people are looking - not just all over. This one is a bit tricky to teach online, but there are books and You tube on it.

Don't know your budget, but if you want to start him with a good camera, you can get him a Canon XTi or it's equivalent - about $650 for the basic with 18-80 mm lens including tax (what I paid for - for my neice).  Or you can get him a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 for about $500, but it has more features but can't have interchangeable lens (you don't need to because of the big zoom feature it has) unlike a DSLR like the Canon XTi.  Here's a site for it:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Pa...

What ever you get, it's important to get one with manual control like I said. Hopes this help. Kudos to you!

Answer 6

Well the good news is that Photography isn't even taught in traditional schools, so homeschool vs. traditional school doesn't even matter in this subject.  How close are you to a community college or university?  Often times there is some kind of introduction to photography course that teaches the basics of exposure and composition.  Usually these courses are going to be geared more towards adults and not children.  Perhaps you should look at taking such a course if you want to teach it to him.  Maybe you can get in touch with the instructor to see if they would mind if your son sits in on the class that you've registered and paid for.  Most instructors will understand and allow it as long as the class room isn't at its maximum capacity (fire code wise) and your kid won't be a disturbance to the rest of the class.

Sometimes you can find those courses that are geared towards children.  Here's a course description for a course that is actually geared towards younger kids through the university local to where I live.

"Train your eye and enhance your technique so every photo you snap will be a keeper. Classes cover the fundamentals of photography basics and how to take better photos through framing. Learn photography techniques to take better portraits, still lifes, or landscape and nature photos. This class requires students to bring their own camera (and manual) every day and to shoot one roll of film, have it processed, and bring the photo prints to class the next day. A digital camera is also acceptable. Say cheese! In addition to basic photography fundamentals, students in grades 7-12 will study principles and applications of shutter speed, aperture, and ASA . We’ll learn how to use focal lengths and lighting to get desired results when shooting portraits, still lifes, or landscape and nature photos.  "

(Grades 7-12, rising)

Fee: $125

Mon. - Fri., 6/23/2008 - 6/27/2008, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, 5 classes

This should just give you an idea of what you could expect.  As far as gear goes, get him something basic and let him grow into and out of it.  The Nikon D60 Kit or the Canon XSi or Canon XS kits would be the way to go.  As he develops his skills, he'll learn what other gear he needs.

Unfortunately, if he sticks with it, he'll probably outgrow his camera around the same time as his 16th birthday.  :)

Answer 7

Point of information.  My daughter took some excellent photography classes at her public high school.  They helped hone her skills and widen her horizons in ways her dad couldn't.

As much as I admire your support for you son's choice of a #1 study, I can tell you, having taught 9-11 year olds for over 30 years, that dreams change and realities do too.  Don't let his interest in one area get in the way of the possibilites that may await him.

I agree with fotoace.  You cannot be the master off all trades here.  Find a photographer who is homeschooling as well, and perhaps you can network.

By the way, the first victim of many homeschoolers is the social realm.  Unless he is going to be taking nothing but still lifes and scenics, he needs to be involved with other children and THEIR worlds.  You can't photograph or write well, unless you connect with your subject(s).

Just my humble opinion.