To spend a proportion of the insurance money on DD

[stayathomegardener]

We were burgled just before Christmas and I recently (after much negotiating with the loss adjusters) received a cheque.

Almost all the items taken were mine....whole jewellery box.But all chosen by DH.
Obviously I want to replace my engagement/wedding ring and various other pieces like a watch I wore all the time but these two items were quite under insured so I will have to "sacrifice" other items to replace them.Other pieces are perhaps now more suited to my younger self and I can't replicate the events that each piece represented.

So I am sitting here thinking I really would like to spend some of the money on DD 14.She would like to be a photographer so could really benefit from some good quality kit and training courses.(Dyslexic, unlikely to leave school with many qualifications bar Arts based ones and talented at Photography)

What would you do?
DH supportive either way,though has mentioned in his opinion if people are given everything on a plate they don't always strive for things

arty and creative subjects are fine though no all kids SN or not are academic I do understand you want to help her along but let her develop and see what she feels like in a few years when she is due to leave school

There are some amazing Photographic day courses available over the holidays and software is a good idea too

I'd get her a decent camera and tripod and a summer course of lessons if there is any. Even if it doesn't become her career, she will have a great time and learn how to use her new camera well and be able to take the good pictures at future family events. If she will probably leave school without to many qualifications, it may be the huge confidence booster she needs to know she can excel in something.

Buy her a camera and spend some money on extra tuition for maths and English. My parents did that for me which help a huge amount.

I'm modartly dyslexic and have a physics degree. You don't need to write huge sa in physics.

A nice DSLR and some lenses, great. Why on earth would she need studio?

We were burgled and all my jewellery was taken. You can't replace it, and if I had it would just remind me of the burglary. So I brought a computer instead.

Spent the money how you see fit, and don't feel guilty

Maybe some photograph exhibiti

I think it is a lovely idea but I don't think buying photography kit for her is a good idea at all.

A good camera doesn't make you a good photographer. The kit you would need to buy to set her up profesionally would be very different depending on the type of photography, so for example you could go out and spend loads of studio lights and she will become a wildlife photographer.

She will not be disadvantaged/advantaged by the type of camera she owns when studying photography, I did a degree in photography and some of the photographers I most admire shoot on very basic cameras.

I am also dyslexic and it may sound mean but I would suggest spending money on maths/english lessons as she would need maths/english to study photography at university. Another point is that a fancy camera involves lots of maths so if she struggles with maths (I am not sure if that is one you think she will be unlikely to gain) a camera with lots of options could be very confusing.

I have worked as a photographer and I have also trained new photographers, some people just have a natural eye for a stunning shot, it sounds like your daughter has this ability. Many of the photographers I have worked with have been dyslexic, when I was studying for my degree in photography 50% of the class was dyslexic, it seems to be a great combination (photography/dyslexia) and I am personally very happy to be dyslexic I certainly wouldn't swapbeing dyslexic with being non dyslexic if it ment loosing some of my photographic ability. Anyway, sorry I babble on, I think that it is better for her to concentrate on her own developing style before she gets bogged down with the ins and outs of complicated equiptment.

Best of luck to her!!

Sorry, meant to say, maybe take her to some local photo exhibitions or combine with exciting holiday to somewhere like New York?

Thank you all,I really appreciate all the great ideas,different views and examples of DC starting in one direction and then going off at a tangent.

Btw, a studio set up doesn't have to cost loads, I got mine from eBay for just over £100 and it suits my need perfectly. I agree, decent camera and lenses would be good if you're sure she's really going I keep it going.

*it

Get her a nice second hand camera and deposit the money in the bank, don't be in a hurry to spend the money. Wait and see how things develop, if her desire for photography is still strong in a few months/years atleast you have got the cash to invest in equipment & courses.

Glad you've reconsidered somewhat, why on earth you were planning on setting her up with a studio is beyond me

Buy her a decent camera, and some lessons on how to use it if she's into photography and you want to share some of your money. Pay for some additional tuition for school, the groundwork you lay now will set her up for life better than any studio. Helping her improve her maths and English skills will help her if she does eventually end up running her own photography business, or in fact whatever work she ends up in.