Kids Photography Curriculum — A Creative Skill Your Child Will Keep For Life

I've been teaching photography for 14 years. Here's what I've turned it into.

It's been a while since I've been in your inbox — so I'll keep this honest and to the point.

Over the past couple of years I've been quietly building something I'm genuinely proud of. You might know me from a jigsaw puzzle or calendar, or perhaps you came to one of my photography workshops. Either way — thank you. Your early support made it possible for me to keep going.

What I've been building is called PHARTED. Photo • Art • Education.

It's a photography education brand built around one belief: people don't fail at photography because they lack talent. They fail because nobody gave them a proper structure to learn from.

I've spent 14 years teaching photography to hundreds of students — all ages, all abilities, complete beginners to serious hobbyists. The same problems come up every time. Confusion. Overwhelm. Inconsistent results. So I've started turning everything I teach into structured digital products that actually work.

The first one is live now.

Kids photography Workshops

Introducing the PHARTED Kids Photography Curriculum

The Kids Photography Curriculum is a beginner-friendly downloadable course for creative children aged 8–14.

It teaches children how to use any camera — phone, tablet, or a proper camera — through simple lessons, fun challenges, and printable worksheets. Parent guidance is built in throughout, so you don't need to know anything about photography yourself.

What's inside the curriculum

• 18-page PDF — structured and clear

• Step-by-step photography lessons

• Creative tasks and mini projects

• Printable worksheets

• Parent guidance for every session

• Works with phones, tablets and all cameras

Who is it for?

This curriculum is perfect for children aged 8–14 who love art, nature, technology — or just enjoy taking photos on your phone. It's designed for complete beginners and gives them a solid creative foundation they'll carry forward.

It's also a natural first step toward our in-person PHARTED workshops and programmes, where young photographers can develop their skills even further.

How to get it

£19.99 — instant digital download. No subscriptions. No equipment pressure. Just a simple, structured start in photography.

👉 Click here to get the Kids Photography Curriculum

More coming soon for adult learners

If you're an adult who's always wanted to learn photography properly — from understanding your camera through to creative shooting and Lightroom editing — I'm building something for you too. Keep an eye out, or make sure you're subscribed below to hear about it first.

It's a photography education brand built around one simple idea: people don't fail at photography because they lack talent. They fail because nobody ever gave them a proper structure to learn from.

I've been teaching photography for 14 years. Hundreds of students, all ages, complete beginners to serious hobbyists. And the same problems come up every single time — confusion, overwhelm, inconsistent results.

So I've started turning everything I teach into digital products. Structured. Clear. Practical. Stuff that actually works.

The first one is already live.

🎒 KIDS PHOTOGRAPHY CURRICULUM — £19.99

A beginner-friendly photography course for creative kids aged 8–14.

It teaches children how to use any camera — phone, tablet, or a proper camera — through simple lessons, creative challenges, and printable worksheets. Parent guidance is built in so you don't need to know anything about photography yourself.

18 pages. Instant download. No subscriptions.

If you've got children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews who love being creative — this is for them.

👉 www.paulhands.co.uk/shop/pharted-kids-photography-curriculum

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There's more coming for adults too — I'll be sharing that soon.

But for now, if the kids curriculum sounds like something your family could use, or you know someone who'd love it, I'd really appreciate you sharing it.

Every sale genuinely helps me keep building.

Thank you for still being here.

Paul

How to Finally Understand Manual Mode (Without the Overwhelm)

If you’ve ever switched your camera to M, taken a photo, and instantly switched back to Auto… you’re not alone.

Manual mode feels intimidating because most people try to learn everything at once. That’s the mistake.

Here’s the simplest way to understand manual mode — properly — without feeling overwhelmed.

Step 1: Forget the Exposure Triangle (for now)

Most beginners start with the triangle, and it’s the worst place to begin. You don’t need a triangle. You need clarity.

Manual mode is just three decisions:

1. How bright or dark you want the image

2. How blurry or sharp you want the background

3. How frozen or blurry you want movement

That’s it. Everything else hangs off those three decisions.

Step 2: Aperture = Background Blur

If you want a blurry background → choose a small f-number (f/1.8–f/4).
If you want everything sharp → choose a bigger number (f/8–f/16).

That one choice controls the entire look of your photo.

Step 3: Shutter Speed = Movement Control

Want to freeze action? Use faster speeds (1/500+).
Want smooth water or motion blur? Slow it down (1/30 or slower).

Step 4: ISO = Light Rescue

If the photo is too dark after choosing aperture and shutter → increase ISO.
If it’s too bright → lower ISO.

ISO is your “brightness top-up”.

Step 5: Practical Settings to Start With

Here’s a quick cheat list:

Portraits – f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 100–400
Landscapes – f/8, 1/125, ISO 100
Indoor photos – f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 800–1600
Kids running – f/4, 1/1000, ISO as needed

The Fastest Way to Learn Manual Mode

Take 10–15 photos of the same subject changing just one setting at a time.
This forces your brain to see what each decision actually does.

It works every time.

Ready to learn properly?

If you want clear, confidence-building teaching without jargon, take a look at:

👉 PHARTED Photography Courses
👉 Adult Workshops
👉 1:1 Tuition

You don’t need luck to understand your camera — just the right teaching.

Click here to see what photography courses are available.

🎬 NEW VIDEO: Private Photography Workshops for Beginners and intermediate photographers (Now Booking Across the UK).

So, you’ve always fancied learning photography properly — but the idea of sitting in a stuffy classroom with twenty others makes you want to switch your camera off and go back to snapping sunsets on your phone.

Here’s your way out of that.

I’ve just launched a short film (scroll down to watch) that gives you a real taste of what it’s like to join one of my Private Photography Workshops. These are relaxed, fun, one-to-one (or two-to-one if you fancy bringing your best mate), and absolutely tailored to you — no jargon, no egos, no pressure.

Whether you’re retired, over 55, or simply want to finally get to grips with that camera you bought in lockdown, this is your chance to learn photography in a way that actually makes sense.

Why it works:

• Personalised coaching – not a one-size-fits-all class

• Go at your pace – no rush, no pressure, no silly questions

• Bring a friend – learn together and make a proper day of it

• Any location – I’m Midlands-based, but I’ll travel anywhere in the UK to teach you

From getting off auto mode to mastering your manual settings, these private sessions are a confidence boost in a camera bag. And yes, we’ll have a laugh while we do it — photography should be fun.

So, if you’ve been googling “photography courses for beginners in the Midlands” or “one-to-one photography tuition UK,” stop the scroll. You’ve found it.

📽️ Watch the film above, then get in touch to book your date.
Let’s turn that camera of yours into your new favourite creative outlet!

Global Online Photography Community - Waiting List

Free Global Photography Community online with in person benefits.

Since we’re mates already, I’m offering you the chance to join my brand new global photography community for free!

For the past ten years I’ve been running private 1:1, 1:2 and group photography courses, classes and workshops.

I am now building a global photography community where you can join for free, if you add your name to this waiting list.

The community will be interactive with competitions, prizes, courses, lectures, Q&A sessions, conversations with…, constructive critiques, special guests, in person events, exhibition visits, take part in exhibitions, videos, talks and will be an open forum for suggestions from the community on what you would like.

Adding yourself to the waiting list means you will be given the opportunity to join this global community once it is ready.

I expect it to take me about 6 months to build it around my other commitments.

While I’m building it, here’s the list, add yourself and be granted free membership.

Baby Dino Tree

The Paul Hands Junior Academy of Photography

The Paul Hands Academy of Photography

is expanding!

I have now created The Junior version on the back of a successful three months of tutoring an 11 year old lad called Marky, who is home schooled by his mother and with the help of different tutors for the subjects he’s interested in and needs.

So on the back of that success, I’ve opened this up as a junior academy for any young person aged 11+.

In fact, I even made a video about it already, wanna see it?
Here you go…..

Short promotional video for the junior academy of photography.

Since going public about the junior academy, I’ve taken on several more new students and only have limited space for this.

If you home school your child or they just love photography and you feel it would be a good idea to give them either a one off workshop or enrol them on to an ongoing course, then please get in touch with me, where you’d be welcomed to meet me at my studio and learn more about this unique idea.