Problem subjects?

[IndyJeff]

A friend and his wife have an autistic child. Tonight she was asking if I can come to their house and do a portrait for them. Seems like they went the Sears route and it was a disaster.

Potraits are not my forte' but I will try. Anyone ever had to do something like this? Any suggestions, tips, hints, warnings?

[ChrisN]

Autistic children are typically anti-social. Very little eye contact and not a lot of communication.

Don't be suprised to find out the child will not look at the camera. If I were you I would devote a bit more time to the family and get them in a setting that makes them all comfortable. If the child is happy, content and not intimidated by you, your camera's presence, then you may very well get some good shots.

You may want to attempt less formal poses and have the family interact with the child in his or her favourite settings. (If the child likes cars, then build them into the scene)

I honestly think you will need to be very patient and wait for the child to just start acting normally (in their own sense of normal), it may take an hour extra, but the payoff will most certainly be worth it. It will only be a disaster if you lose patience with the situation, or try to force the child into something they are not prepared to do for whatever reason. (like the forced poses at sears)

Good luck, have fun.