Through Their Lens: A Call for Youth Photo Submissions

Share your photos to help tell your community’s story

Every three years, Children's Hospital Colorado conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment to better understand the health and well-being of the communities we serve and guide how we invest in and partner with those communities moving forward.

This year, we're inviting local youth to help tell that story through photography.

“Through Their Lens” asks children and youth across the Denver metro and Colorado Springs regions to capture and share photos of the places and things that help them feel healthy, happy and hopeful about their futures.

How to participate in Through Their Lens

Your photo — and your voice — will help shape how Children's Colorado understands and responds to what young people in our communities benefit from the most.

To participate, choose one prompt to answer:

• What helps you feel healthy and happy? Take a photo of something in your life or community that helps you feel physically, mentally or emotionally healthy.
• What gives you hope for your community? Take a photo of something that makes you hopeful about the future for children and young people.

Once you’ve chosen your prompt and captured your photo, you can submit both by using our Through Their Lens submission form.

Where your photos could be featured

A handful of selected submissions will be:

• Featured at an in-person art exhibit at our Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora in early 2027
• Shared across various Children's Colorado communications channels
• Included as real data within our 2027 Community Health Needs Assessment report

This is a chance for youth voices to directly shape how we understand and support community health.

Photo submission guidelines

We want to see your community through your eyes. Before you submit, please review the guidelines below:

• Who can enter: Children and youth ages 0-18 may submit. Parents or guardians may submit on behalf of younger children.
• Where you must live: Respondents must live in the Denver metro area or Colorado Springs area.
• What to capture: Capture a photo of something in your life or community that supports your physical, mental or emotional health and well-being, or makes you feel hopeful about your future. This could be a park or playground, a local recreation or community center, a library, your school, a sports field or court, a garden or farmers market, a favorite walking or biking trail, a place of worship or any other space that makes you feel safe or happy. We're looking for uplifting, hopeful images that reflect what's working well in your community.
• Photo requirements: No people, logos or trademarks should appear in your photo. Photos should be vertical, in-focus and well-lit (see photography tips below).
• Tell us your story: Share a short, written reflection connecting your photo to the prompt you chose, plus what you want adults and community leaders to understand from your photo. These may be repurposed and used as captions if your photo is selected for the final exhibit or report.
• One form per photo: If you'd like to submit more than one photo, please complete a separate form for each entry.
• Deadline: All submissions must be received by Oct. 24, 2026.
• Recognition: Selected photos may be featured in an on-site art exhibit at Children's Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora in 2027, published in our next Community Health Needs Assessment report and shared on Children's Colorado's channels. If your photo is selected, Children’s Colorado will contact you with more information.

How to capture your photo

You don't need fancy equipment — just a smartphone or camera. Consider these simple tips to help your photo shine:

• Shoot vertically: Hold your phone or camera vertically (portrait orientation) so your photo may fit within our exhibit and other relevant formats.
• Hold steady: Use both hands, keep your elbows close to your body and brace against something stable if you can.
• Get close, don't zoom: Move physically closer to your subject instead of using digital zoom, so your photo stays sharp.
• Use natural light: Face your subject toward a light source (like the sun or a streetlamp) rather than shooting with light behind them. Avoid using flash if possible.
• Frame it up: Make your subject the main focus and shoot at eye level.
• Remember: No people, logos or trademarks should be visible in your final photo. Take a few shots from different angles or distances and pick your favorite before submitting.

How to submit your photos

Visit our Through Their Lens photo submission form page to complete both the photo submission and consent form for a chance to be featured in the Through Their Lens art exhibit.