Teaching your child a few photography basics opens up the world to them in countless ways. Just think of how peering through a camera lens focuses your perspective on the world around you.

Whatever your age, the patience required to view the world from behind a camera is an invaluable lesson. And teaching your child photography is a priceless gift.

Whatever your child's age, helping them reach a photography beginner's level is easier than you think, particularly if you have a curious child. It begins with access to a camera and gentle guidance. Be sure to provide age-appropriate information on operating a camera. Like with most things related to children, if you talk above their heads, you'll lose their interest pretty quickly!

Here is what you need to know and do to teach your child photography:

Spark Their Interest

Suppose your child has shown interest in your camera or picture-taking, congratulations! You've got a great head start. For those parents interested in engaging a child who's not shown any photography or camera interest, you might have a more challenging path. But fear not! Teaching them photography is still possible.

Keep in mind that you're competing with countless other technology and gadgets. You will have to spark their curiosity about a camera and what it can do for them. We stress "for them" because children's worlds naturally revolve around them!

Start by showing them what a camera can do (for them) and how it can capture some very cool pictures (for them or of them). The generation raised on technology will want to see what a camera can do in seconds. Luckily, we have digital cameras!

Keep It Simple

Rather than preparing a pedagogical lecture on photography, its origins, and so forth, launch right into the tangible, whatever their age. Most kids will ask you what they want and, ultimately, need to know. If they do not, you can bring up topics.

Keep it simple and age-appropriate:

• Basics of good composition

• Basics of operating the camera

• What makes a photo interesting?

Camera Operation

Most kids will want to be hands-on right away. Who wouldn't? Using a decent beginner's camera, show them the basics of operating it. 

• Show them how to turn the camera on and hold the camera.

• Discusses different lenses, although they're not likely to switch lenses quite yet.

• Discuss the basic features of how to shoot a picture with the camera. (For now, you'll want to stick to shooting on Auto.)

• Demonstrate proper techniques like holding a camera, removing the lens cap without touching the glass, etc.

Taking a Few First Pictures

Once your child has a basic understanding of the camera's features, it's time to move on to taking pictures. Have them take a few pictures, then review and discuss the shots with them.

Remember that they are starting from scratch. Children's and teens' mistakes likely will be very amateurish at this stage. We made those same mistakes as well when we first started!

Gently point out where they can improve. Eventually, you can move on to feedback on mechanics and other things like composition. Overall, you want to be more encouraging than critical, especially if it's a young child.

Rules of Photography 

We suggest that you let children take a few pictures for fun before you get into the basic rules of photography. Doing it this way allows them to get comfortable with the camera before pivoting to the rules. They will be less intimidated than if you start with a barrage of rules before they can start shooting.

Which rules and how many you introduce will depend significantly on the child's age and disposition. We suggested the following three rules as fundamental to beginning photography. 

Make sure that a child understands a rule well before moving on to a new one. (Repetition is helpful for memorization.) We also recommend shooting a few pictures after discussing a rule to help them put into practice what they just learned.

Three Basic Rules for Children

1. Composition: Composition is a two-part rule. The first rule relates to the subject of a picture. They need to learn to identify the photo's subject. The easiest way is by asking what they want to photograph. For example, if they're going to photograph a favorite toy, explain to them that the toy is the subject. The second part of the rule is composing the picture by deciding on a distance to the subject. Distance dictates how large the photo's subject will appear in the photograph. Rather than using zoom (that should come later in their lessons), they should physically move closer or more distant from the subject.

2. Sharpness/Focus: Two things contribute to sharpness/focus: a stabilized camera and the focus button itself. Teach your child how to hold the camera so it's stable, even as they press the shutter release. Next, you'll want to explain the auto-focus feature. Eventually, they can learn to focus manually. For now, though, they can use the auto-focus feature to keep things simple.

3. Lighting: Then next rule is the concept of lighting. Children should learn to identify good lighting sources and how to work with them. Talk about how light affects the photograph's subject. Importantly, they should understand that light radiating from behind the subject will leave the subject's front in the dark. A light source should be aimed at a subject from in front of it.

Shoot & Review

Up to now, children have learned camera basics like holding and operating the camera. You've begun teaching them three fundamental rules: identifying a subject, focus, and proper lighting. They've also taken a few pictures for fun and after learning each rule. Now, it's time to start more serious shooting, employing what they've learned so far!

In photography, like in most things, practice makes perfect. Let your child start shooting and have some say over what they shoot. However, while it should be fun for them, it's also an excellent opportunity for them to take photography seriously. After asking them what they think about each picture, provide detailed feedback. Look at things like where the fundamental rules are followed? Is the subject in focus? Is the image sharp? Is it adequately lighted?

Suppose you see your child getting frustrated, especially younger children, back off a bit. Make sure they understand the fundamentals and why they matter to the outcomes. Remind them that, like with most things, practice will make them better. We all started at the beginning and (hopefully) have improved since then. They will, too, with continued practice and time.

As you see improvement in your child's photography, you can introduce new, more advanced rules. Continue to stress the fundamental rules of photography. They're critical as they advance. You can't get better if you skip those essential first rules.

Conclusion

Photography might be a great bonding opportunity for you and your child. Whether it's a hobby or a career for you, it's something that might seriously interest your child. They might fall in love with photography just as you did!