I’ve been a photographer since I was a teenager (A LONG time ago), and I can teach your troop to be better photographers with a few simple steps, regardless if they use a cellphone or traditional camera!
Girlscout class FAQs at bottom of page.
- I have a flexible schedule that works with you.
- I can teach this IN PERSON (St. Louis MO area), or ONLINE for out of town troops!
- Class is one hour long. $8.00 per Girl Scout.
- I accept Credit Cards/Cash (In person classes only.) (No checks please)
REQUIRED: Every girl needs a device to shoot on in class.
EDITING: They have to edit their photos, so I’ve found a free editing app for Android / iOS that they need to download prior to class. Once you sign up I will send you links.
LASTLY: There WILL be homework as they will have to print out their photos and make a collage.
(Clicking map will open in new tab.)
MINIMUM NUMBER OF SCOUTS
GREEN: (within 15 miles of Webster Groves, MO) No travel fee – Minimum 3 girls
YELLOW: (15–25 miles) $10 travel fee, added to the class total – Minimum 5 girls
FARTHER AWAY: Take the class live online – Minimum 3 girls
Small troop or a Juliette? Team up with another troop and I’ll teach you all at once. See which towns are in each zone.
About Todd
My name is Todd Tevlin and not only am I an artist, I have also been a photographer since I was a teenager, back when this thing called "film" existed and you had to know every little setting to get a proper exposure. Kids these days, don't know how good they have it! *waves cane*
In 2015 I started teaching my KIDS COMIC WORKSHOP to 8-11+ year olds in the St. Louis, MO area. Since that time, I've added afterschool, homeschool classes as well as Girl Scout badges and live online courses. It's become my new career and I will keep adding more classes!
What Is Taught (Badge Requirements)
What I teach will meet these badge requirements:
Step One: (Choice 1) Interview a local photographer (that's me!)
Step Two: (Choice 1 & 3) Photograph a friend or group of friends, photograph a landscape.
Step Three: (Choice 1,2 & 3) Fix something, change something, add something.
Step Four: (Choice 1) Create a collage (HOMEWORK)
Step Five: (Choice 2) Stage an art show (NEXT MEETING using Step Four Collage)
Why choose me and not Apple/Microsoft?
FOUR REASONS:
1) EXPERIENCE: I'm an experienced photographer who will actually teach your girls how to shoot better photos. Those places make you take your shots before hand and will only help you edit them on their devices. They don't actually teach you how to shoot better photos/videos, which is kind of important for this badge! You get what you pay for!
2) NO WAIT TIMES: You will be on a 6-12+ month wait list with them, with me you can have class a week after registering if that's what you need.
3) NO EXTRA TRAVEL: Why pile girls into vehicles to go to a sub-par class at a retailer when I will drive to your meeting place (or be online) to teach my quality class instead!
4) SUPPORT LOCALLY: These retailers only want you to play with their products so you will buy them, whereas I'm a small business owner trying to make a living with teaching classes like this.
GENERAL GIRL SCOUT CLASS QUESTIONS
When do we pay for our online/in person class?
I wait until the day of class to get an accurate head count as sometimes not everyone shows up. Once class is concluded, if this is in person, you will pay by cash or credit card before I leave. If class is online, I will email you an invoice from SQUARE immediately after class has concluded.
Can we have multiple troops in the same online/in person class?
Absolutely! Each troop has to register separately, so have the other leaders put in the "Anything else?" section of the registration form that they are joining your troop and give your name and troop number so I can connect the dots.
What is the minimum/maximum number of girls to hold class?
MINIMUM: Online: 3, In Person: Green zone: 3, Yellow zone: 5
MAXIMUM: No max BUT if it's more than twenty, please CONTACT me so we can work out the logistics first.
Thinking of adding any other badges?
YES but finding badges I'm capable of teaching can be difficult. There are several factors in finding one that works, including the right mix of what I teach (and feel comfortable teaching) versus what their homework is, and several other factors. Please CONTACT me and we can discuss possibilities!
Plan to teach the Brownie’s “Painting” badge?
Unfortunately, no because the art supply costs are too high.
JUNIOR PHOTOGRAPHY BADGE QUESTIONS
What supplies are needed for this badge?
ONLINE: A secondary device for them to take and edit photos during class. (can't use same device they are watching the class from.) Also an app to download so Todd can teach editing. (for cell phones and tablets only.)
IN PERSON: A device to shoot/edit photos with. Also an app to download to learn editing. (for cell phones and tablets only.)
DEVICES FOR BOTH CLASSES: Cell phones, tablets, or traditional cameras.
"ONLINE" GIRL SCOUT CLASS QUESTIONS
How do the online Girlscout classes work?
After registration, we will work out a time/date for the class. A couple of days before class, I will email you the class link (Zoom) as well as a PDF for them to print out, along with other instructions. This email is forwarded to the parents.
I will open up the class about ten minutes before start time. Content is exactly the same as the in person classes. I have a camera pointed down at my desk so they can see what I'm doing, along with supplemental slides I show on screen.
Once class is over, I will email you an invoice for payment through SQUARE, the same credit card processing system that I use if I came physically to your troop meeting for class. I wait till day of class to send invoice in order to get an accurate head count.
What is required technically to have this class online?
1) Each girl needs a large screen display (laptop, desktop, tablet) so they can see what I'm drawing or showing. (no cellphones, if possible.) A camera on the device is also needed so I can see them in return.
2) High speed internet is a must for everyone.
Can my troop be in the same physical location for online classes?
Absolutely! I've taught many troops online who were together at the same location. You would need to plug your laptop into the TV via HDMI cable, and then only you need access to the Zoom link to connect. This way everyone sees my screen nice and big.
It is NOT recommended to all meet in the same place and have each girl individually connect to Zoom with their own device. That will slow your internet down and cause problems in the long run. If everyone is in one place, you only need one connection.
Some girls cannot make the class, can we record it for them to watch later?
Sorry but I have a policy to not allow recording of my classes, so they will have to miss it.
Are the prices the same for online classes?
Yes, it's the same price regardless if it's online or in a physical building. The only difference is my "coverage" map located on each class page no longer applies (as well as gas fees) as I can now teach these to troops across the United States.
"IN PERSON" GIRL SCOUT CLASS QUESTIONS
Which towns do you travel to?
NO TRAVEL FEE (within 15 miles of my location)
Missouri: St. Louis City, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Clayton, Ladue, Brentwood, Maplewood, Richmond Heights, University City, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Town and Country, Manchester, Ballwin, Ellisville, Chesterfield, Maryland Heights, Bridgeton, Hazelwood, Ferguson, Florissant, Crestwood, Sunset Hills, Affton, Sappington, Concord, Mehlville, Oakville, Lemay, Fenton, Valley Park, Arnold, High Ridge, and nearby areas.
Illinois: East St. Louis, Cahokia, Dupo, Columbia, Granite City, Madison, Venice, Centreville, Washington Park, Fairmont City, and nearby areas.
$10 ONE TIME TRAVEL FEE (in addition to per girl fee) (15–25 miles)
Missouri: Imperial, Barnhart, Pevely, Herculaneum, House Springs, Eureka, Wildwood, Pacific, Spanish Lake, St. Charles, St. Peters, Cottleville, Weldon Spring, Dardenne Prairie, O’Fallon, and nearby areas.
Illinois: Belleville, Collinsville, Fairview Heights, Swansea, O’Fallon, Shiloh, Waterloo, Millstadt, Smithton, Caseyville, Pontoon Beach, Maryville, Glen Carbon, Alton, East Alton, Wood River, Hartford, and nearby areas.
Near a zone's borderline? CONTACT ME and I’ll go by your meeting place address to determine. Farther away? Take the class live online instead, same content and price!