By Jen Hodulik
11-year-old auteur already a videographer, award-winning photographer and media professional
Abby Weinstein, 11, is a Titusville prodigy. Having already owned her own painting business and won two awards for photography, she continues to learn and experiment with the arts.
Her love for photography started with a basic digital camera when she was five years old. She grew up watching her mother take pictures, and decided she wanted to give it a shot.
Weinstein was drawn to taking pictures of animals in their natural habitat and photographing sunsets. She quickly proved she was a natural, and was then allowed to use her mother’s more advanced Canon EOS Rebel T3 camera. She was unofficially promoted to designated family photographer.
On a recent family vacation to Costa Rica with her mother, Nancy Weinstein, her younger sister, Maddie Weinstein, and father Eric Weinstein, she and her family were walking to the beach when they heard a rustling sound. They anxiously looked around and witnessed a dozen squirrel monkeys gallivanting in the trees above.
Weinstein’s photographic instincts kicked in, and she was able to capture the photo that made her a winner of the December–January “Your Best Shots” photo contest—a contest sponsored by the Ranger Rick magazine.
Ranger Rick is a publication of the National Wildlife Federation. It holds the “Your Best Shots” photo contest for its magazine and online website to encourage kids ages 13 and under to capture original shots of wildlife or landscapes. Magazine winners like Weinstein are selected three times annually for publication in either the December, January, April, or August issues. Six magazine winners are selected for each issue out of thousands of submissions sent in from across the country.
“When I was looking back at photos of our vacation to send in, I saw the monkey photo and I just knew it was the one,” Weinstein said. “I was looking for something special and for me, something is special when I come across a moment I don’t think I will see ever again. I could not stop looking at the photo.”
In addition to the Ranger Rick contest, Weinstein also won the first photography contest of the Princeton Day School’s middle school newspaper, The Spokes. The winner will be featured in the next issue of The Spokes along with the winner of its current writing contest. She selected a landscape piece, submitting a tranquil photo of palm trees against a colorful beach sunset.
“I wasn’t nervous to send in my photo,” Weinstein said. “I figured, what do I have to lose?”
Deciding to explore more options in film, she began filming movies and trailers with sister Maddie. To help her film her videos, Weinstein watches Youtube tutorials that show the step by step processes of how to film and edit.
She said she enjoys the challenge of learning on her own and working hands on with her equipment to figure out what works and what doesn’t. To produce her work, she uses her Apple iPhone, Apple computer, and a tripod.
“Making trailers is the most fun, because you are able to explore so many different genres,” Abby said. “My favorite trailer I’ve done was a spoof on the comedy called ‘Young Frankenstein.’ We tried to replicate the script, dressed up, and acted. Maddie was in charge of costumes, and I directed.”
Weinstein’s spontaneity and ability to think creatively under pressure have been greatly nurtured by her involvement in the Destination Imagination’s Improve Challenge at PDS. She works on a team of seven boys and girls from the sixth grade.
For each challenge, her team is given 13 different scenarios to research. Categories can consist of anything from the art of finger painting to modern news events. From the 13 scenarios, the team is asked to select eight options they would prefer to perform. From those eight, one is randomly selected. The team performs in front of a panel of judges using random props.
“Abby’s school and teachers have been great in fostering her love for photography and supporting her along the way. I couldn’t have asked for her to have a better support system,” mom Nancy said. “It’s great to know that aside from us letting her work on creative projects, buying her supplies, and giving her space to work, Abby’s passions are cared about.”
Weinstein’s latest project allows her to explore even more options with videography. Nancy Weinstein has put Abby in charge of directing an informative video for her new business, Mindprint.
Mindprint was developed by Nancy Weinstein to help parents understand how their child learns best. Through its three step process of assessment, creating a learning profile, and developing an action plan, Mindprint generates an individualized plan to help each child succeed academically.
“Abby and her sister are completely different learners from one another and have different interests from me and my husband,” Nancy Weinstein said. “I found it fascinating that Abby could be so independent and wanted to understand how she and Maddie learn. When I tried to find information, I realized there wasn’t much out there. I just kept thinking, there has to be a better way.”
Nancy then began researching and developing the Mindprint system. She met and collaborated with researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. She wanted Mindprint to not only help students who were struggling or had special needs, but those who were gifted and ahead of their peers like Abby.
For Mindprint, children take an at home test administered by their parents. The cost is $199. The test assesses anyone ages 8 to 21 and is based on several different factors, such as speed and accuracy. The overall assessment takes less than two hours and results are immediately sent out, scientifically validated, and available for parents to review within days.
Parents can review the expert analysis of their child’s test results to better understand their child’s strengths and weaknesses. In addition to test results, parents are provided with simple strategies to help improve their child’s academic performance, such as how to improve homework completion.
Later, parents are able to review their child’s recommended action plan that encompasses psychologist, teacher, and parent recommendations. Parents are provided with a list of suggestions for in- school supports, activities that can be completed to prompt a fun, meaningful learning environment, and a broad view of apps, games, and workbooks.
Parents and their children have access to this information for up to a year after the test is administered.
While Mindprint continues to launch, Weinstein will continue to interview parents and kids who have used the product with the goal of sharing how easy and beneficial it is. A family friend will help her edit the video and add creative touches, but Weinstein has the final say.
“Abby has such a great eye for style and design. I go to her for a lot of things, like choosing logo colors. I sometimes trust her judgment more than my own!” Nancy joked.
Although Weinstein has already had a pretty ambitious start, she still enjoys being a kid. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog Trixie, going to the movies with her sister, hanging out with friends, and playing basketball, field hockey, and softball. She doesn’t know if she wants to be a professional photographer yet, but instead said, “I want to be my own role model.”
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