Photo Workshop (7-10) : Portrait of My Neighborhood – a collective calendar

On October 1, 2025, the Montriond Library in Lausanne hosted a photography workshop for children as part of the “Rêver, penser, agir” program.

Workshop Overview

Under the guidance of Thomas Zoller, a professional photographer and reporter, children explored their neighborhood through photography. They captured images of nature, animals, and architecture, then edited their photos on computers and smartphones and used the MagTuner online platform to create a collective 2026 calendar showcasing their neighborhood through their eyes.

Exhibition and Printing

The resulting photographs and calendar are going to be displayed in the library, and participants have the opportunity to order printed copies.

This workshop combined artistic expression, digital skills, and community engagement, providing children with hands-on experience in photography and layout design.

… like a nose in the middle of the face

Our neighborhood shows its mug

Program Overview for Children Aged 7 to 10

Introduction to Photography : a short presentation of the basics of photography and portraiture.
Reflection on the Neighborhood and Space: discussion about how to represent places and people.
Draw Lots for the Month to Document: each child draws the month they will illustrate in the calendar.
Exploring the Neighborhood (approx. 1.5 hours): armed with a camera or smartphone and a notebook, children capture images and take notes.
Writing Captions: each child writes captions for their photos to explain what they show or tell.
Presentation and Collective Choice: each child (and the adults) presents two images. The group votes to select the photo that will be used in the calendar. One participant was allowed to select a second photo for the cover, chosen by all.
Final Layout: collective creation of the calendar, integrating the chosen photos and their captions using the MagTuner software.

Educational Objectives

The workshop aims to:

Develop observation and curiosity: learn to look closely at the environment and notice what makes each place or person unique.
Learn to represent a space and a portrait: think about how to show a person or place through an image and a caption.
Stimulate creativity and personal expression: tell a story through photos and words.
Encourage collaboration and collective decision-making: present images, listen to others, and participate in a vote to select the final photos.
Strengthen the connection with the neighborhood: discover and appreciate the everyday environment in a playful and artistic way.