How to introduce a 12yo to photography?
My 12yo niece will come visit this summer and I'm thinking of taking her on a photowalk (or more, if she ends up enjoying it).
Should we go with just my camera or should she have her own? (and in case, should I get her a "proper" one or a simpler/compact one?)
Can you share your experience in introducing young boys/girls to photography?
I would be inclined to start a youngun with an older generation prosumer point and shoot, preferably one that takes normal AA batteries so that oodles and oodles of batteries can be provided (NiMh rechargables or those zooty new lithium ones that pretend to be normal AA's) so that you're not battling constant new-old-stock problems with eBay batteries that already arrive degraded. Something like a PowerShot SX120/130IS, maybe.
The battle you're going to face with the current crop of whippersnappers will be the, "why do I need a clunky old granddad camera when my smartphone/tablet already does everything." Demonstrating the significant zoom capability of even a dinky midrange camera from a decade or more ago to frame distant and interesting subjects (i.e., animals) is usually sufficient. Long exposures are usually pretty captivating, too, like the ability to take pictures of the stars. These are not coincidentally the two things that smartphones are rubbish at, and therefore are the most interesting.
Mountains, birds, cats and dogs, weather phenomena, fireflies, and the night sky were certainly what got me interested in photography when I was a kid, anyhow.
Avoid the urge to incessantly demand that she constantly take and share pictures of people, especially family, as if this is some kind of obligation. Turning the hobby (or any hobby) into a chore will turn any kid off from it really quickly. Likewise, I think a much more important lesson than apertures and focal lengths and exposure times and math is the Ancient Knowledge: The path to good photography is in fact engaging in an awful lot of bad photography to get there. One should never be afraid to experiment, nor get discouraged if some -- or even most -- of their shots are not perfect. Especially shooting digital, when your film is infinite and free. Resist the urge to critique too much unless she asks for help on how to do better at taking a particular picture. Failure is okay, and you should probably also allow her to set the boundary (particularly at this age) that she can have private photos that others should not feel entitled to demand to see.
If she takes to it, then you can consider getting a cheap used DSLR body.
A prosumer point-and-shoot camera is a one time purchase and has the advantage of being totally self contained and incredibly versatile, but a DLSR/mirrorless can be an endless money pit of finding and throwing additional glass at it. It's probably best not to go down that rabbit hole until it seems justified.
Perhaps get a cheap / older DSLR or point and shoot. They're pretty cheap for older ones and you can still get decent quality photos by setting everything to auto. Maybe also take some time afterwards to go through and edit a photo or two with her
Places you can look for cameras are: ebay, craisgslist, (shop)goodwill, facebook marketplace, estate/garage sales, etc
I’ve taught a few of my friends photography and if I were to teach a 12 y/o I think I’d do the same albeit slower, softer and simpler. I have an old Nikon D3400 I lend out with all the setting set to the optimal P-mode point and shoot settings and a basic 80mm wide lens and a 70-300mm zoom.
I start by explaining the buttons and dials and encouraging experimentation and asking questions. They won’t remember what they all do, but I think explaining it makes it clear that I enjoy it and makes them more comfortable to ask.
When we go on a walk, I make sure to frequently ask about their photos and if they like how they came out on the screen. If so, that’s cool and I ask them why did they do what they did. If not, I ask them what they don’t like about it and if something unexpected happened. After they tell me what they wanted/expected I explain the settings, lighting, composition etc necessary to get it and tell them to try again with these tips.
I also try to shoot the same thing they are in my style with my camera and show it to them and ask for their opinion. Sometimes I get something right that they wanted and they’ll ask about it.
My friends practically all have ADHD or difficulty learning and in my experience they all respond best to solving the problem on their own. I’ve never taught it to a child, but I think my method would work well with some added patience.
Get her a polaroid snap touch, or it's recent reskin, the Kodak step touch. It is a printable camera that can print sticker photos of 2x3, but you can choose which photos to print instead of wasting photo paper. Seeing her photos on a physical medium would help her feel like she's creating something tangible, and you can buy her an Instax photo album to hold her best 2x3 photos. Additionally, she can take photos of her friends and give them copies, so it could make her cool among her friends and give her more reason to take photos. It's what I'm doing with my 9yo, and it seems to be starting to go well.
Definitely her own one. And definitely a proper one. Allows her to take it home, if she likes it, and keep on shooting. And also allows her to grow with the camera.
If you’re willing to look around a bit, you can find good deals on working cameras, that of course won’t be the bee‘s knees but perfectly suitable for a beginner.
For example, on my way to my vocational school, there’s a photo shop with a sold-as-is bin, where I got a working Sony a58 20MP DSLM with kit lens and battery for only 15€. Added a cheap charger from ebay and it’s a very decent camera for less than 25€ that‘s perfectly beginner friendly but isn’t limited to that.
Of course, you won’t necessarily find a similar deal, but there are definitely very good deals out there, especially in the 8-20 MP range (although I wouldn’t go below 12 if you want it to at least compare to phones, resolution wise). An older cheap Canon, Sony, Nikon, etc. DSLR or similar.
I am just someone who is interested in photography, but haven't really embarked on that journey, so please take what I say with a grain of salt.
She having her own camera to use would give her the freedom to take photos of the subjects she finds interest in. She could very well spot something, take out the camera, and take a quick shot. Because of this, I think having a very simple one (just a point-and-shoot) would suffice. One of the things that intimidated me about the hobby is the amount of technical stuff that I encountered, including, but not limited to:
I appreciate the people who shared me this knowledge, but truth be told, it's only the framing techniques that I was able to practice. That's on me, of course.
I suppose it'd be great to introduce her to these concepts one-by-one, and giving her the freedom to pursue their interests (in what to take pictures of). Maybe she'd be more interested in macro photography, or landscapes, or portraits. I suppose there are techniques that work better in one area than another.
I suggest getting her a more proper camera after she's expressed interest in going further would be a good idea.
Again, not any photographer, not even a hobbyist. Just someone who is interested in the hobby, and had several people share their knowledge.
PS:
Just as an afterthought. Since I suggested that she use the simplest "point-and-click" camera, wouldn't a cellphone camera suffice? IDK.
I‘d strongly argue against a point n shoot or phone camera.
A 'proper' camera can be just as easy to use (just put it in program/auto mode) and isn’t much more expensive either, if you go for something older and used, which is all a 12 year old beginner needs anyways.
The versatility also allows and encourages experimentation, and having an actual camera in your hand gets you in a very different mind set than just snapping away on your phone.
Not to speak of the quality difference even an older DSLR has, compared to the tiny sensor of most cheaper point n shoots and even most modern phones.
Thanks for this.
I remember being handed a DLSR (this was in the late 2000's, early 2010's) and I was too afraid to even do anything. I suppose if reassurance is given that no, things won't be messed up, and it's fine to make mistakes anyways, then it'd be great.
I suppose being intimidated by the tech and being overwhelmed by the information given to me is what prevented me from getting further.
I’d recommend she have her own, and one that has automatic settings but allows for adjustment. That way in case she wants to get into the settings she can, but can focus on learning to take good photos. Definitely take comparative shots but help her to figure out what she likes. My daughter-in-law has a natural eye and takes amazing photos but has no interest or knowledge about settings. With a ‘real’ camera on auto she can learn as much as she likes without having to deal with the tech unless she gets interested.
I don't have direct experience with 12yo (yet), but my suggestion would be to try and make it as interesting to them as possible.
I'd start identifying what they like most, and translate it into a specific style. Portrait photography could be a great way to understand and improve selfies for instance, while street photography could be a nice extension to those walks around town with friends, adding something interesting to do while roaming. If she likes hikes and nature, well there you have nature or landscape photography.
I'd give them their own camera if possible, something that they can start with easy, and introduce the technicalities of getting out of auto once/if they are hooked.
I'd also let them take shots, and then discuss why they took those particular shots/frames, with no judgment and no telling about mistakes. You can try and take the same shots, and compare them, and ask them which one they prefer.