Introducing Your Children to Photography, Even if You Aren't a

I was given my first camera when I was in the fourth grade, purely out of convenience. I was heading off to camp in a couple of days, and my mom bought me a Polaroid Spectra System camera on a whim at checkout from our local Kroger. We lived in a small town in the 80s, and as a single mom, it was all the energy she could put into checking things off my packing list. Little did she know that that single purchase would change my life. I took as many pictures as I could that summer, preserving the film for just the right images and thinking systematically about what my next image would be. I’ve never stopped taking pictures, almost 40 years later.

When college rolled around, in the days of darkrooms and we all still used film cameras, I took as many classes as I could, went on to start my MFA in photography, first in Boston, then transferring to Seattle (I’m a thesis short of finishing due to getting asked to go on tour with a band which lead to nine years on the road). Now, 25 years later, with many gallery shows around the world under my belt, freelance pieces for dozens and dozens of magazines, three books of my own, and countless commercial work, I don’t see finishing up my degree.

As a freelance writer and photographer who also homeschools my one child, I have the unique joy of bringing my son with me to almost all my jobs. He sees me lining up shots, planning for the perfect light, improvising when that ideal light doesn’t happen, constantly scouting for the perfect shot, building a body of work, editing pictures while we watch a movie together, and so on. So, with all of that, you can imagine how elated I was when he asked for his own camera. We took a four-month road trip in 2023 while I was working on my third book and had an old camera with us, just in case he asked to use it. He took maybe two shots with it. I gave him a disposable camera for our drive up the 1 in California when he was three and a half, merely to get familiar with a camera. It’s been a very slow process, and I wanted to make sure I wasn’t pushing it on him because it’s my thing but rather an art I have wanted him to genuinely be excited about exploring. My patience paid off, and after weeks of asking, he finally showed me he was ready to be responsible for a camera independently. I’d let him use the camera in the past, but now I can trust him to have it as his responsibility.

Letting my son try my camera when he was around four.

My son on a supervised photo walk when he was around five.

We Always Pack a Disposable Camera When We Travel

My son taking pictures in New Orleans on his 9th birthday

A few rules I have that I know will stay with him for a lifetime of photography:

The neck strap must always be around your neck when shooting (at this age).
Do not touch the lens glass.
You must ask questions before touching all the buttons and learn what they mean and do.
Put the camera under a protective cover or sleeve when not using it.
Think about what you are shooting by framing it in the viewfinder (In my film days, this was to save money on film and editing in the darkroom, but it is still the case in the digital era).
Know the parts of the camera.

It might seem silly to have so many rules, but I promise you, they are all entirely practical to learn early on and become second nature as you age.

I can’t say he will stick with it, but we are heading back on a two-month road trip this spring as I shoot the images for my fourth book. He’s already told me how excited he is to have his camera, take pictures, and see the country differently this time.

I’ve rounded up a few cameras that are great for children in case you, too, are looking to introduce your child to photography.

Canon PowerShot (I love the G5X Mark II, but you might have to look through secondhand sites to find one. In good condition, it’s a great digital point-and-shoot camera)
Kodak i60 35mm (Disposable cameras are fun in theory, but for affordability and what’s best for the environment, get a simple reusable 35mm, and you will save money in the long run.)
Nikon N6006 (my first film camera I got when I was 18 and still use today! I love it! It would be great for an older child interested in exploring film. You can also use various Nikon lenses on this camera body).
A Canon Rebel is a great starter camera for an older child. You can upgrade with a better lens, but you can also find a used camera body at an affordable price. This is the camera I gave my son recently.

Looking through images after first photowalk

I also have a list of photographers I love and who we study often (or plan to study) in our homeschooling lessons. This is just a jumping-off point. There are endless amazing photographers to study.

Get outside and take a photo walk with your children. Head to the library to look at photo books. Support galleries that show photographers’ work. Even if you aren’t a photographer yourself, we can all work on appreciating photography and seeing the art in it. – Erin

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