Tell your story using photography!
What can you do?
In the photography project, you can:
- Learn about equipment basics, taking sharper pictures, lighting and flash techniques.
- Explore photo composition, approaches, sequencing and evaluating photographs.
- Use multiple cameras and even assemble a whole production team.
These are just some of the many ways you can participate in this project.
Project information
Get started with 4-H'ers in your area
- Contact your local 4-H office for more info.
Get started on your own
Online video lessons
Youth can use the hashtag #MN4HPhotoProject on Facebook and Instagram to share their photos using the new skills they have learned from these lessons.
Color
Composition
Photo manipulation
Angles and distance
Other resources
- National 4-H photography curriculum books (for sale)
- Utah 4-H photography curriculum (free download)
- Photography adventure (free download)
- 4-H Guide to Digital Photography (book)
Photo and video release forms
- Photo and video release form (English)
- Photo and video release form (Hmong)
- Photo and video release form (Somali)
- Photo and video release form (Spanish)
Smartphone photography 101
Try different genres
- Portraits: Photograph people alone or in small groups.
- Photojournalism: Display 3-5 photos together with captions. Together, they tell a story.
- Close-up: Print three images taken with a normal lens, macro lens or microscope.
- Light experiment: Take three photos of the same thing in different kinds of light.
Participate in photo activities
To take your photography skills further, you can participate in photography challenges and contests that are provided throughout the year.
Past entries and grand prize winners
Take a look at past entries and grand prize winners for inspiration.
2023
2022
- Hit Me with your Best Shot Photography Contest - Contest entries came from 12 Midwest states.
- Photo Scavenger Hunt
2021
- Capture What’s Great in Midwest States Photography Challenge
- Black and White Photography Challenge - Contest entries came from 11 Midwest states.
2020
- Family and Friends Photography Challenge
- Fall Photo Challenge
- Photo Scavenger Hunt
- Elements of Photography Contest
Other ways to get involved
- Enter your photos into a competition.
- Use your photography skills to help a local nonprofit organization tell their story, advertise their services or win a grant.
- Organize a field trip to a local business to see how they use photography to publicize what they do.
- Teach a workshop on photography or image editing at a day camp.
Photography project resources for volunteers
Find training, camera kits and more support for volunteers on our 4-H Volunteer Resource Center site.
Interested in getting involved as a photography project volunteer?
Contact your local 4-H office or learn more about volunteering in 4-H.
Fair information
What does it mean to show at the fair?
For 4-H'ers, local and state showcase events (like the Minnesota State Fair) are not just fun events. They provide youth opportunities to exhibit the knowledge and skills they've gained throughout the year– and to continue their learning.
Contact your local 4-H office for photography project showcase opportunities near you.
Exhibit ideas and judging criteria
Get exhibit ideas and find out what the judge is looking for in the evaluation sheet and rubric
How to prepare your photos for the fair
- How to prepare your photo exhibit for the fair (slideshow)
Other information
- Talent release form in English and Spanish You will need to have these signed by people who appear in your video if it will be displayed at the fair or any other public place.
Minnesota State Fair entries (slideshows)
Cool videos

What are you telling me?
What should be in my photo? What should not? Make photos that tell the story you want them to tell.

Composition
Composing a photo means arranging the things in it. 4-H'ers explain the rule of thirds, how to set a mood, background and subject, depth of field and more.

Perspective
4-H'ers explain perspective: how you see the subject, where to stand, distance, framing, angle, awareness of camera, orientation.

More photography tips
Watch a whole playlist of tips for your 4-H photography project.
Reviewed in 2018