What to include in a three meeting class on photography for senior citizens?

I you were to present a three meeting course to senior citizens on how to improve their photography, knowing they would most likely all be rank beginners using just point and shoot cameras and with no desire to ever become pros...what would you teach them?

1. Frequent bathroom breaks ...

2. A clearly written handout (in large type)

3. And, oh yeah, the basic pointers about how to take decent pix of their grandchildren and pets (with lots of illustrations)

Well, yeah ... OK ... I'm kinda kidding here. But ... being a senior citizen myself (just turned 65!), and having taught many, many seminars on the basics of digital photo for seniors and others ... well, all I can say is: have fun with it!


I'm serious about the handout, though.

Teach them the BASICS, such as the difference between digital and film. Once you find out if they are using digital or film, then go into detail as to what digital photos are, how to upload them, share them, print them etc..... You don't have to do teach much with the point and shoot cameras nowadays. The cameras do all the work themselves. I would turn it more into a workshop session and ask them to bring in their cameras. Teach them how to find things (such as flash on/off) on their individual cameras. A lot of seniors don't have family that will take the time to teach them those things. Good Luck :)

Personally (not having any experience in teaching anybody anything) I would at least touch on learning what their cameras limitations are. Knowing that would go a long long way.

My mother is getting long in the tooth and she needed help picking out a camera that would handle her shaking hands. She's not going to lug around a tripod with her so something with a fairly decent ISO was in order. She had no idea what ISO was and even after I explained it to her she really didnt care as long as it would help with the shakes.

Having printed material would be a huge help IMO.

Tell them what you are going to tell them.

Tell them.

Tell them what you told them.
I'm not kidding about all that, it's tried and true.

Write down what you told them in a large sized font and give it to them.

Break it into sections and do not allow them to lead you away from the subject or butt in too much.

I've taught art to seniors, normal classes and some gifted kids and they are the same, you need to make to all veeery clear.

compostition. and lighting.
there really isn't a way to avoid the errant fiinger of a young grandchild going into the nose... or the older one doing the rabbit ears behind a sibling or uncle bill.

composition, using flash to give sparkle to the eyes, using medium window light for portraits

a

Proper use of the half-pressed shutter release to activate auto-focus.

After that's it's all gravy.