8 PHOTOGRAPHY IDEAS FOR KIDS - DEVELOPing your OWN STYLE

We'd like to share eight photography ideas for kids that will help you develop your own photography style. 

If you're ready to go beyond the basic photography assignments, this post is for you.

So, let's dive in and show you how to develop your own photography style - just like a musician, author, painter, or writer.

The best way to learn about photography is by showing pictures. Why bother with words when you have a photo? With this in mind, have a look at this article that highlights some very talented and stylized photographers and how they took photography ideas for kids to the next level. 

Using some of the photos from the link above, let's move through a few to see how each photographer's style is recognized.

Elena Shumilova

Photographer and mother Elena Shumilova's style can be seen in the two photos below. Common elements in her photos: softness, use of morning/evening sunlight, a feeling of fantasy, and an attraction to nature.

You can see more of her work on her 500 px page.

 

Michelle

Photographer, Michelle, has created a long list of photos she has created with her children. When considering photography ideas for kids, this is a simple (on the surface) idea to execute that has plenty of style and meaning behind each photo. Michelle's "Adventures in Chalk" uses chalk drawings to create a scene or setting and her children act as the subject to give the photos (and the drawings) meaning.

Follow Michelle and see more of her chalk-inspired photos on her blog, Burgh Baby

 

Bill Gekas

Photographer, and dad, Bill Gekas has created a series of photos over the course of years recreating famous paintings, movie scenes, and photos - which may explain why has portrait photos seem so familiar. Commom elements in Bill's photos are a consistent model, dramatic use of wardrobes, a sense of story, and an emphasis on composition.

See more of Bill's work on his website. 

 

8 Photography Ideas for kids  - develop your own style

First, styles change. How you take your pictures will change over time. What you take pictures of will change over time. Where you take pictures will change over time.

If you want to try different things with your photography these eight points can be referred back to as foundations that you can spring from. Mix and match and combine the eight points however you wish. 

At the end there is an assignment you can complete if you're up for it that will help you put all of this into practice.

1. Copy other photographers

While this may sound or seem counter-intuitive, a great way to develop your own style is to copy someone else's (in the beginning). This does not mean that you're a cheater. By trying to emuluate photos or paintings that you love you are defining exactly what it is you love about the photos or paintings or movies.

2. Use Colors

Use colors to create consistency and a sense of style. This doesn't mean that every photo has to be a rainbow of colors (although there is nothing wrong with that). Using colors can be as simple as using one color as a dominant color in your photos.

3. Use Light

Use light in a consistent manner to create a feeling or set a mood in your photos. Whether it's using a lot of light to portray a happy feeling or just a little bit of light to show a more serious scene, by using the same type of light your are creating a sense of style in your photos.

4. Use props

Use certain props in your photos to create familiarity in your pictures. Place the same characters in different situations. Clothes and cars can be props too. Your props (the extra things you bring) should represent people or ideas that you care about. 

5. use your environment

Use the environment you are in as well as you can. Anyone can take a picture of a beautiful sunset because the sunset itself is beautiful. Try taking a beautiful (or interesting) picture no matter what room or bus or pasture you may find yourself. Your environment is the natural setting you are in. Right now you are in some sort of an environment. Look around for opportunites no matter where you are.

6. become an observer

Become an observer. Even when you aren't taking pictures. Look around and imagine that you were taking pictures. Are you in a stadium watching a game? Where would you put one camera if you had the chance to put it anywhere? Look around at what's going on near you. Pay attention to where people (or things) are going. Look for patterns that may help you better predict when something is going to happen. 

7. say something

Say something with your pictures. Style is all about expression. Are you just pointing at things and pressing the shutter? Do you care what your photos look like? Do you care what other people think about your photos? If you are saying something (or even trying to say something) with your photography people will notice after they've seen enough of your photos. 

8. repitition and consistency

Style comes down to repitition and consistency. No style is set in stone and no style is forever. When refining and defining your photography style you will change elements, colors, light, perspective, message, and textures just as you change just a little bit every day. 

In order for your style to be recognized by others they need to see more than one photo, or dress, or song, or painting. 

STYLE-MAKING Photography Ideas for Kids

Create your own set of photography styles over the course of one month using these photography styles. 

Chose one photo-style to focus on for one week. Practice by taking a lot of photos. Many photos you won't like.  Study your photos and describe what you like and don't like about your photos. Once you have determined what you like about your photos, create a series of 5 photos for each style below. 

In the end, you will create a series of 5 photos that show a distinct style for each heading below. Spend a week practicing and figuring out how you will complete each week's work.

• Photojournalism - this style covers the "news", planned and unplanned events. Photojournalist are there to capture the moment. Ideas can be simple or complex. For example, you could do a series of 5 photos of dinner being prepared and eaten. Or you could do a series of photos of the family at the pool. 
  
  
• Fashion - this photography style is all about style. Unlike photojournalism, fashion photographers create a scene and are free to take all kinds of liberties with light and props to create a mood or feeling (usually used to sell clothes). Think of fashion photography in terms of theater, not reality.
  
  
• Still Life - just like a still life paintings, still life photography is more about the artist demonstrating her ability to control light and composition. Still Life photography gives photographers the chance to show off their skills. Get out your props and have some fun. 
  
  
• Portrait- at some point you are going to take a portrait of someone. It may be a quick "point and shoot" portrait or you may take time to find the right background and colors and light to make an amazing and unique portrait. If you can make people look good, they will like you for it.

Not quite ready to develop a style?

If you aren't quite at the place of style-development you can still get off on the right track with some basic photography ideas for kids.

Check out this video from Ted's Camera Store that walks you through five fun and easy photography ideas for kids that you can begin to use today.

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