self directed signature course

The Young Photographer's Adventure:

The Journey Begins

Expedition 1 & 2 

This is THE step-by-step photography adventure your child needs to unleash their creativity, master camera skills, and capture the world like never before!

Watch as they build unstoppable confidence, ignite their curiosity, and create connections through the magic of photography—this is where their journey begins!

In this first stage of their adventure, they’ll dive into the fundamentals of photography—discovering how exposure works, exploring essential composition techniques, and learning how to see the world with a photographer’s eye. Through hands-on exercises and fun creative challenges, your child will be encouraged to observe, explore, and express their unique perspective—laying the foundation for a lifelong love of photography.

Write your awesome label here.


     What your child will experience... 

Get ready for an exciting journey where creativity, curiosity, and confidence grow with every step! In this course, your child will embark on the first two thrilling expeditions of The Young Photographer’s Adventure. 

The complete adventure includes five expeditions in total, and this course gives your child the perfect start!

   Each expedition is packed with hands-on learning, creative challenges, and fun exploration. Along the way, they’ll develop real photography skills while experimenting, playing, and expressing their unique vision.


Here’s how their adventure will unfold within each expedition:
On their adventure, your child will encounter different types of “stops”—each designed to spark curiosity, build skills, reinforce learning and encourage creative play.   Take a look at the exciting stops waiting for them along the way .... 
Your child will dive into an engaging video packed with new techniques, inspiring examples, and creative ideas. With built-in pauses for hands-on practice, thoughtful reflection and quick reviews they’ll immediately put what they’ve learned into action—helping them build skills step by step.
These easy-to-follow notes capture the key lessons from each stop on their journey. Perfect for quick reference, review, and building their own photography handbook, they can print them out and keep them handy whenever they need a refresher!
This is where learning comes to life! Your child will take on exciting photography challenges designed to encourage creativity, self-expression, and experimentation—helping them discover their own unique style.
These are your challenges to explore and express—putting your new skills into action and creating something unique that shows off your style!
This is a space for your child to gather their thoughts, reflect on their learning, and share their creative discoveries. They’ll have the opportunity to discuss insights, showcase their favorite photos, and connect with fellow young photographers

A Special Note from the Creator, Janet Pliszka

This course has been years in the making, shaped by my experiences teaching hundreds of kids in summer camps, schools, and online. I’ve seen firsthand the excitement, curiosity, and creativity that photography sparks in young minds—and I knew I wanted to create something that truly guides them on a journey of discovery.

I recognize how important it is to build on skills step by step—not just throwing concepts at kids but giving them the foundation and confidence to grow as photographers. But this step-by-step course isn’t just about taking great pictures. It’s about the process—learning to think before pressing the shutter, slowing down, showing intention experimenting, making mistakes, and most importantly, confidently expressing themselves through their images.  And of course, having fun and going on an adventure along the way!!!

I am so proud of this course and beyond excited to see what your young photographer creates. I can’t wait for them to dive in, explore, and discover the magic of photography!

📸 Let the adventure begin!

Frequently asked questions

Who's this course for?

This course is designed for kids, tweens and teens who are curious about photography and eager to explore their creativity! Whether your child is brand new to photography or has already started snapping pictures, this adventure will guide them step by step - building skills, confidence, and a deeper love for capturing the world. 

By joining this course, your child gets a taste of The Young Photographer’s Adventure with full access to the first two expeditions.

In these two expeditions, they’ll soak up a ton of exciting new knowledge: learning about composition, exposure, aperture, ISO, storytelling, and self-expression. They’ll also get comfortable with commonly used settings and even discover how to set up a simple file system to keep their photos organized.

And this is just the beginning! Future expeditions in The Young Photographer’s Adventure will dive into shutter speed, manual mode, working with light, advanced composition, personal projects, and even how to share and display their creative work.

What camera do kids need to take The Young Photographer's Adventure?

Since kids will be learning about exposure and how to control light coming into their camera, they will need a camera that has manual functionality (M mode) or semi-manual modes like Aperture Priority (A/Av) or Shutter Priority (S/Tv). A DSLR, mirrorless camera, or an advanced point-and-shoot with manual settings will work best.

If you're unsure whether your child's camera is suitable, feel free to reach out!

How long does the course take?

The beauty of this adventure is that it’s self-paced! Kids can move through the lessons at their own speed, whether they want to take it slow and experiment or dive right into the next challenge. Each expedition is designed to build on the last, helping them progress naturally.  With hours of engaging lessons, exercises, and creative challenges, this course offers a lifetime of learning and inspiration—your child can revisit the material anytime to keep growing their skills and creativity.

 Can my child do this on their own, or do they need a parent’s help?

The course is designed for kids to navigate independently, but parents are always welcome to join in the fun! Some younger learners may appreciate a bit of guidance, of course, while older kids will love the freedom to explore at their own pace.

 Is this just about taking better pictures?

Photography is so much more than just snapping a good shot! This course encourages kids to think, slow down, experiment, and express themselves. They’ll learn not just how to take great photos, but how to observe the world differently, tell stories, and develop their creative voice.

What makes this course different from other photography classes?

This isn’t just a “how-to” course—it’s an interactive adventure! Through Explorer’s Briefings, Adventure Quests, Trail Checkpoints, and Campfire Chats, kids will be actively engaged in learning, experimenting, and reflecting. It’s designed to be fun, hands-on, and full of encouragement and creative challenges.  The step-by-step approach has been carefully planned so kids are continuously progressing, reinforcing what they’ve learned while adding new techniques along the way.

Will my child get to share their work?

Absolutely! There are built-in opportunities for kids to reflect on and share their photos in our safe community hub, helping them gain confidence and inspiration from their own progress and the creative work of others.

What if my child loses interest or falls behind?

No worries! This course is built for flexibility—they can pause and return whenever they’re ready. The goal is to make photography fun and foster a lifelong love of creativity, so there’s no pressure, just encouragement.   Plus, we’ll send gentle reminders if they haven’t been active for a while, giving them a little nudge to rejoin the adventure and keep exploring!