After many years in youth ministry, the last 10 or so being in the digital photo, social media, everyone has an iPhone age I have come to a realization. As a youth leader, you should stop taking photos of your youth group events. Here’s why…
You Don’t Have Time –
You have to give a message, lead a game, speak with parents, take up forms.. the last thing you need to be worrying about is taking photos.
You Get the Same Photos of the Same People –
When you take pictures it’s usually the same youth who jump in front of the camera. This is not intentional but it happens.
You Are Keeping Someone from Using Their Gift –
And here’s the point. You don’t need to take photos because in your youth group there is a student, or students who need that opportunity. Maybe they don’t play games, or sing in the band. Maybe they can take a camera and capture the moments of your group.
5 Ways to Do this…
- So put your phone away. Refuse to take photos of the evening.
- Make a hashtag for your event and invite your students to post their photos of the event.
- Have cameras available for students to use. We have a digital and a go pro that pretty much anyone can pick up and use.
- Check out which students are already taking great photos. Look at their instagram feeds. Ask them to take photos of your event as well
- Appreciate them . Display the photos. Use them in your newsletters, post them online, make video or photo montages of your events. Give them credit and say thanks.
What do you have to lose? You will have more free time to connect with students. You will get better photos of a larger variety of youth. And you will be encouraging someone to use their talents instead of keeping them from the opportunity.
Let me know how it goes?
Let me know what you think?