Say Cheese: Beat Summer Boredom with a Photography Challenge

Summer Boredom Buster: Photography Challenge for Kids

Summer is here, and with it comes long days filled with sunshine, laughter, and sometimes…boredom. But don’t worry, we have the perfect solution to keep those creative juices flowing all summer long! Introducing the Summer Photography Challenge, an exciting and fun activity for kids of all ages. This challenge can be as old school or tech friendly and low cost as your household decides. (I’m thinking about buying some film and challenging my daughter to be more meticulous and careful in their photography journey. I have the cameras and we are lucky and have a local place to both buy the film and get it developed.)

Grab a camera and old camera for offline photography or a smartphone, even a tablet with a camera will work, and get ready to explore the world around you through the lens of creativity. Let’s dive into the challenge!

How to Get Started

Gather Your Gear: Any camera will do, whether it’s a smartphone, a tablet, or a digital camera. If you don’t have one, you can even use disposable cameras for a fun, old-school vibe.
Learn the Basics: Take a few minutes to understand the basic functions of your camera. Learn how to focus, adjust lighting, and use different modes. There are plenty of kid-friendly tutorials online if you need some help! Some quick tips to share with your kids:
- Move around and look at different angles
  - Avoid the bottoms of shoes
  - Try to avoid ‘up the nose’ shots
  - Downward angles (looking down on something) is usually better than upward angles (think up the nose as an example), but play with it
- Don’t cut people off at the knee or elbow
- Avoid the back of the hand if possible, the side is more flatting
- Be aware that whatever is closer to the camera will appear bigger
- Look for patterns
- Be aware of shadows, especially on faces
- Be aware of background objects
  - no one likes a trashcan in the background
  - branches or other items that look like they are sticking out of someone’s head.
Create a Photo Journal: Find a notebook or create a digital folder where you can keep all your photos. This will be your photography journal where you can write notes about each picture, including why you took it and what you like about it.
Print a Photo Book (optional): There are lots of places that will help you turn these memories into a physical book. I like the shutterfly app, it gives you a free 6×6-20 page book for the cost of shipping, one per month. (I’m not affiliated and don’t make anything from this, it is just the company I use.)

Daily or Weekly Photography Themes

Depending on the time and activities, focus on a different theme each day or each week. This is a great way to get a child excited about family gatherings if they are they only child, or family vacations to a place they aren’t thrilled about. Here are some ideas to get you started:

For younger kids or just and easy way to start head over to my Free Resources Page and download the Scavenger sheets. This page does require signing up to my Newsletter you can do that below.

Week 1: Nature’s Wonders

Mission: Capture the beauty of the great outdoors. Look for flowers, trees, insects, or even clouds. Try to find unique angles and perspectives.
Developing a Photographers Eye: Look for lines, angles or shapes beyond what is obvious, like a line of trees or rows of flowers and then move around and get different shots trying different things.
Technical: Look for Micro or Macro settings on your camera.
Pro Tip: Get up close to your subject to capture details, this is a great way to play with the settings on your camera. Experiment with taking photos at different times of the day to see how the light changes.

Week 2: Animal Antics

Mission: Photograph your pets or animals you encounter outside. This could be your dog, a bird in the park, or even a squirrel in your backyard.
Technical: This is another great spot to learn what features your camera offers, look for a sports mode to take rapid fire shots.
Pro Tip: Patience is key! Animals can be unpredictable, so be ready to snap a photo at the perfect moment.

Week 3: People

Mission: Take pictures of your family and friends. Capture their emotions and actions, whether they’re laughing, playing, or just relaxing.
Technical: This may be another time to use that sports or rapid fire mode. Take some test shots and see if you need the flash or not.
Pro Tip: Try to capture candid moments rather than posed shots for more natural and interesting photos.

Week 4: Creative Compositions

Mission: Focus on composition and framing. Look for interesting patterns, reflections, shadows, and lines in your environment.
Pro Tip: Use the rule of thirds – imagine your photo is divided into nine equal parts by two horizontal and two vertical lines. Place your subject along these lines or at their intersections for a more balanced photo.

Week 5: Color Explosion

Mission: Hunt for bright, vibrant colors. Look for colorful clothes, fruits, toys, or street art.
Pro Tip: Contrast can make your colors pop. Try to find scenes where bright colors stand out against neutral backgrounds.

Scavenger Hunt Options

To kick off your photography challenge, we’ve created a simple Scavenger Hunt list. Print out or write down the list and see how many items you can find and photograph! You can find a printable list for each of the five weeks listed above the Free Resources Page.

Basic Scavenger Hunt List: (Pairs especially well with week 4)

A flower in bloom
An interesting shadow
A colorful bird
A smiling friend or family member
Something round
A bug on a plant
A cloud that looks like an animal
A tree with an unusual shape
A reflection in water
Your favorite snack
A beautiful sunset
Something that makes you happy

Sharing and Celebrating

Create a Gallery: At the end of each week, print out your favorite photos or display them digitally. Create a gallery in your home or share them with friends and family online.
Host a Photo Show: Invite family members to a photo show where you present your best shots. Talk about each photo, why you took it, and what you like about it.
Join Online Communities: There are many kid-friendly photography communities online where you can share your work, get feedback, and see what other young photographers are creating.

Final Tips for Parents

Encourage Exploration: Allow your kids to explore different subjects and styles. Photography is a great way for them to express their creativity and see the world from a new perspective.
Be Supportive: Show interest in their projects, offer constructive feedback, and celebrate their progress. Remember the rule of 2 or more positives for every potential negative. This will boost their confidence and keep them motivated.
Make It Fun: Photography should be a fun and enjoyable activity. Join in the challenge and take photos together as a family!

With this Summer Photography Challenge, boredom won’t stand a chance! So, get out there, start snapping, and most importantly, have fun!

Find more Summer Boredom Busters here: My Top 10 Summer Boredom Busters Series – Sillygeese Publishing

Feel free to share your favorite photos and experiences from the challenge in the comments below. Let’s inspire each other with our creativity this summer! 📸✨

Say Cheese: Beat Summer Boredom with a Photography Challenge