Mitch and I gave Emma this $40 toddler digital camera for her birthday. She’d long been obsessed with taking photos with our iPhones and pressing the shutter on “Mommy’s Camera,” and I knew she’d love it. She was so excited when she opened the box, and my heart swelled a little, thinking that perhaps she might already share my love of photography. ;)
Emma’s big day was at the very end of our trip to Ocean City, which is why you’re mostly seeing photos from her birthday party and the day after. And yeah: the camera clearly isn’t winning any awards for quality. The battery life isn’t great, either. But it’s enabling our toddler to be creative, and for that, I love it! So yes: the drawbacks are real, but the benefits are real, too. I mean, the thing is encased in rubber and it’s affordable. Oh, and it comes in pink, blue, camo and red. HUGE selling point for a three-year-old. 😂
When we got home from our vacation, I dumped the photos on my computer so I could show Emma what she’d created. As I sifted through them, though, I was blown away.
I’m the first to admit that I tend to post “pretty” stuff on this blog. It’s my little escape from reality, and I enjoy curating a slice of calm on the web while I lead a somewhat chaotic life. ;) Good for the soul! At the same time, though, I find great value in sharing the not-so-perfect moments, whether they’re moments of struggle or moments of joy. Or moments in between the extremes.
Sure, Emma’s photography is grainy and blurry as heck, and at least a third of them are completely black. Others are just plain silly because she ate like a zillion slices of cake. But there are also a good handful of photos that are beautiful and artistic–especially when converted to black and white. More importantly, however, they’re real, and they capture the true essence of the trip:
Family.
Somehow, my little three-year-old (who now calls herself a ‘tographer) captured the night better than I ever could have, and I loved seeing it through her three-foot stature.
Anyway, I hope these snaps bring a smile to your face this Monday morning.
N.B.: I should note that her absolute favorite subject so far is her foot. Just go with it. 😜
Other kids’ digital cameras appropriate for toddlers:
