Top Button's Teen Spotlight with Scout Hunt

Scout Hunt is a 14 year old photographer who is living proof that dedication and passion lead to success. Scout first made a social connection with us via Instagram and we quickly fell in love with her creative eye behind the camera lens.

The verse 1 Timothy 4:12 came to mind when we first discovered how young Scout was:

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."

In efforts to inspire YOU to continue doing what you love, we've conducted a brief interview with photos from Scout's portfolio.

[divider_line]

Photos by Scout Hunt

1. What sparked your interest in photography? How old were you when you started, and did it come naturally for you? Feel free to describe any struggles or frustrations you had along the journey.

"I was in California for several weeks during the summer after seventh grade and my uncle brought his Canon camera and showed me how to use it. He let me take random photos of grass and things with his lenses and I really enjoyed it. He thought I was doing fairly well so encouraged me to continue it.

When we got back to Florida I began searching on eBay and Craigslist for a Canon DSLR that I could afford. I ended up finding his exact camera at a great price and buying it. I learned nearly everything from Pinterest articles, like how to shoot in manual mode, lighting tips, and editing tutorials. When I look back at some of my first portraits I realize how, honestly, bad they were. But at the time I was very proud of them so I did not really encounter too much frustration.

The hardest part about it was learning how to shoot in complete manual and how to edit well. But, through practice it slowly came together to produce better and better photos."

2. What kind of photography do you enjoy the most? "I mainly enjoy portraits because people can give feedback and I love the accomplishment of someone absolutely loving a photo, but I wish I was really good at landscapes because I think those are so beautiful."

Photos by Scout Hunt

3. What word of advice would you give other teenage girls towards pursuing their interests? "It's very important to pursue your interests because of where they could take you and how enjoyable it is to do something you're passionate about."

4. What do you want to be when you "grow up"? "I actually want to be a director, but always continue photography."

5. A lot of people use their hobbies to express themselves, to cope with emotions, or simply because they love the rewarding feeling of accomplishment. How do you feel when you capture a photo you really like? And what's your muse or inspiration behind photography? "Whenever I capture a photo I really like, I try to pass my excitement to the person I'm photographing because when they love the photo just as much as I do I know I accomplished my goal. My main inspiration generally comes from when I see photos other photographers have taken, then I want to capture a photo just as pretty."

Photos by Scout Hunt

6. What's your perspective on modesty? How would you define it? "I would define modesty as respecting yourself and your worth in the way that you dress and carry yourself."

7. We've recently been doing a "Good Girls Deserve Props" campaign amongst the youth, where we highlight young ladies who are doing good. In what ways would you say you and your friends are doing good? Any friends you want to give a shout out to? "My friend Hannah Williams has been volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters which is an organization that pairs  youth with 'Big Brothers" and "Big Sisters" who they can develop a one-on-one relationship with. The big siblings also tutor them, help them with homework, play games with them, or just help them out where they need it. Quite a few other friends volunteer at Parker Street Ministries where they also work with young children. Also many of my friends help out with Tennis for Tumors which raises money for brain tumor research."

[divider_line]

As you can see, Scout not only has an eye for photography, but a mind for modesty! She took the initiative to pursue her passion for photography and through hard work and dedication, she has excelled drastically. She definitely makes our list of Good Girls who Deserve Props by promoting modesty through her photographs and by spreading love through volunteering with her friends at various organizations.

On that note, we encourage YOU to pursue your passions and spread love too!

TWO TEENS WHO SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE

At a young age, high school students Elizabeth and Delaney have decided to put their talent and passion for capturing moments on film to use for a greater purpose.

We've introduced you to Delaney before, but were excited to share a little more about her the characteristics that make this young woman so interesting. She is a high-energy junior in high school that has been captivated by film-making since the first grade. "I am a storyteller, Delaney confessed." She enjoys making stories come alive on screen, to entertain and educated others.

As far back as she can remember, she has been involved in video production. Delaney is a student at a performing arts school where she studies cinematography and video production. With this training she has gained skills in screenwriting, production, and editing, which she says has made her a well-rounded student.

“When thinking about my future, I’m not sure what I want to do. I know I love film, but I’m not sure if it’s going to be my career.” Delaney is a determined young lady, and with that focus and determination comes interests in many other things, which she says makes her future career decisions difficult. “No matter what I end up doing, the skills I’ve acquired thus far will translate into any career,” shared Delaney.

The lack of boundaries in the way women dress is often an issue that arises while working in the filmmaking, confessed Delaney. “But it's all about leadership. You have to work with so many different people in order to accomplish the vision for the film. I see this as an opportunity allow my actions to speak louder than my words. Modesty has a lot to do with respect for myself, but more so for my God.” Delaney shares that she believes that modesty is more than what you wear. It is an attitude of modesty and humility that is imperative in working with people, especially in the area of film and media.

She is prepared for her future as either a creator or connoisseur of film and will carry on her ideals to encourage modesty in young women in whatever field she ends up in.

Elizabeth is new to our Top Buttons team and she has a similar passion as Delaney. But hers is for photography. At the age of twelve she became fascinated with picture taking after her father received a camera for his birthday, but neglected to use it. Elizabeth took her Dad's camera and capitalized on this opportunity to photograph everything she could find. "I had no formal training," shared Elizabeth, "I looked online and taught myself about composition, depth, varying angles and camera settings." Elizabeth started out taking photos of friends and family, and developed her skills for capturing the moment.

Her desire is to capture moments and faces that people might not notice with a natural eye. "I just feel like it's natural when I'm taking pictures."

When asked why she wanted to be involved with Top Buttons, Elizabeth shared about her family values that have been instilled in her from a young age. In her family, she and her sisters have always been encouraged to have reasonable, but distinctly different boundaries of dress than the typical cultural standards of the day. She describes her view on modesty in media by saying, "There is no filter; It's challenging and near impossible to find modesty in photography."

Elizabeth is still deciding her future goals and desires, but would like to see herself owning a photography business on the side while being a mom and a physical therapist. “I will always be taking pictures, shared Elizabeth.”

Delaney and Elizabeth have combined their passions into one common cause. In a culture that expresses themselves in a way that demands attention for a false sense of self-confidence, these young women see the bigger picture. “We are excited to be a part of Top Buttons, and to have this platform to influence young women in a positive way,” they shared. They agreed that they feel empowered to be an example to teen girls who read the blog, and allow them to see that modesty can be fashionable and attainable with a little extra effort.

Photography: Jennifer Duarte