[Leica] Kids & Cameras

[Harrison McClary <harrison@mcclary.net>]

Several months ago there was a thread on how to get kids interested in 
photography.

My daughter will be 3 in June and being the daughter of a photographer 
she is very used to having her photo made.  I occasionally give her my 
camera to make photos.  She has a hard time with it as it is kinda heavy 
for her.  

Last week she said she wanted her own camera.  This past week while at a 
K-Mart I saw a Vivitar plastic point n shoot for $15.00.  I got this 
thing for her and gave it to her tonight.  She was very excited and has 
been taking pictures all over the place. She has learned how to turn it 
on, advance the film and how to look through it. She also has learned 
from her dad and carries the thing everywhere she goes.  Gonna make a 
news photographer out of her yet....GADS I hope not, she'll be broke, 
irritable, cuss like a sailor, and drink way too much. ;)

I guess the best way to get the kids into photography is to make it fun, 
not freak out if they handle your cameras.  I have cameras sitting all 
over  the place and Ashleigh has never pulled one off a cabinet, played 
with one unless I have told her she can...very odd as she ignores me on 
other things. :)  I have let her take photos with my cameras since she 
was barley big enough to hold the Contax G2 (about 20 months) - have 
never given her the Leica as I did not think she would get the film 
advance part...may rethink that now.  I have always printed up her photos 
and shown them to her...There is even one of me she made on her table in 
her room.  She is very proud of this.  Now that she has her own camera I 
am sure I am going to be printing a lot of photos of baby dolls.....

I am looking forward to us having a good time sharing this hobby I am 
lucky enough to make my living doing.

Best regards,
Harrison McClary
email: harrison@mcclary.net
http://www.mcclary.net
preview my book: http://www.volmania.com