You really don't need fancy equipment or anything like that to get started in photography as a hobby. I started when I was ten years old, with a cheap 35mm camera that I received for my birthday. Now, ten years later, I use a pink Kodak EasyShare C713 that my wife and I bought at a boxing day sale last year for about $70 CAD or thereabouts. I have no image editing software, no fancy lenses, no bells and whistles. All I have is a steady hand, an inexpensive camera, a free photobucket account (For storing and sharing photos) and a love of all things beautiful.

I try to carry my camera everywhere I go. It's small, so it fits in my purse with little effort, and if I had to, I could slip it in my pocket or hang it from my wrist. You never know what you may find walking to see your loved one at the end of their shift at work, or on a drive by the water. Nature often provides the best inspiration for beautiful photography, and nighttime scenery is one of my favourite subjects. Children also make good subjects, but make sure you get the parents' permission first, and never post pictures of somebody else's child on the internet. If you live near a lot of farmland or forest, or otherwise in an area with lots of wildlife, animal photos are almost always breathtaking.

The point is, there is beauty all around you, if you look for it. Try looking at the world through a child's eyes, act as if it's the first time you have seen everything. make the world new again. Yesterday, unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me when I saw the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time: I was walking to see Amy at work when I happened to look up to the sky. Just as I did, the whole sky lit up, and a huge meteorite zipped across in a perfect arch, and then was gone as soon as it appeared. It was truly beautiful, and I haven't seen a shooting star since I was a kid, let alone one that big. From now on, that camera lives on my wrist. Seriously. I am not forgetting to take it out ever again.  Not that I probably would have got a picture of it, anyway, but at least I could have tried, right?

It's understandable if you are reluctant to give a camera to a child who is interested in photography. After all, cameras are more expensive than a doll or a book, and digital cameras are delicate pieces of equipment. However, it's not uncommon nowadays to find inexpensive digital cameras made for kids, often from older technology so that they won't break the bank. My first digital camera was an inexpensive keychain camera, purchased at walmart for $20 with no LCD display or anything like that. I accidentally left it in my car during winter, however, and it stopped working. When I replaced it, I purchased a children's model digital camera for $50 at walmart. It worked well, and it was sophisticated looking for a children's camera (They aren't all Barbie-doll themed) It did get wet about a year later when I went to Niagara Falls with my church youth group. It didn't like that much, and six months later stopped working, however it had been dropped numerous times before that and never hinted at problems. They make them pretty sturdy, if not entirely waterproof. Often times, children's model cameras will come with fun photo/video editing software, and much of this software has fun activities like calendar and greeting card makers, so that children (And adults!) can make fun projects out of their digital photos.

If a digital camera is completely out of the question, then it is not impossible to find $10 or $20 film-based cameras at a discount store, but then you also have the recurring cost of buying film. Perhaps a better alternative would be to encourage your child to save money towards a camera. Perhaps using the "If you can save half the money for the camera you want, I will pay for the other half" approach would be best here, as it can be hard for children to save a lot of money for a long time.

In order to keep costs down, whether using a digital camera or a 35mm camera, I recommend using rechargeable batteries, as well, regardless of who uses the camera. They are more expensive than standard batteries, but they are a one time cost. Further, rechargeable batteries should last at least a couple of years before they stop charging properly.

Have fun with it! You don't have to be a superstar photographer, especially when you just start out. Just get out there and have fun. Share photos with family and friends. A photobucket or imageshack account is very useful here. I personally prefer photobucket.

So what are you waiting for? Grab that camera and go!