Special Needs Kids Photography

Any body else here interested in photographing Special Needs Kids? By that, I mean kids with special needs in regards to physical, emotional, developmental special needs. I took a course a couple of years ago, put on by the "Picture Me Foundation" and it was designed to teach professional photographers how to deal with the special needs of these kids in a photo setting. It was fascinating and I really learned a lot. I used to regularly photograph a family here in Southern California that have adopted 31 special needs boys, so I've had plenty of experience in that area.

I got to be a contributing writer on a book that they published on photographing special needs kids as well. For example, it teaches photographers about how to use bean bags to pose children who don't have much muscle control. It teaches photographers about how to deal with the autistic child who avoids eye contact with you and won't look towards the camera, or who will melt down if you make a sudden noise. For kids whose needs are physical, like they have trach tubes or feeding tubes, or wheelchairs, you are taught how to camoflauge them if that is the parents' wish, or to not be scared of them. If you are talking to the kid in a wheel chair, drop down to his level and ask him the questions. He is sick of looking UP at people all the time and will love you for it.

The main thing the book teaches is that we fear what we don't understand and the biggest thing you can do for a parent of special needs is to TRY to educate yourself on their need, so that you aren't uncomfortable with it. Don't assume that a kid with cerebral palsy is intellectually impaired because he "looks" a certain way. Ask the parent to tell you about him and then direct your conversation and eye contact to kid, even if he can't answer back. Both the child and the parent will appreciate it. I've know CP kids who graduated high school at 16 and were WAY smarter than I'll ever hope to be. Parents of special needs kids are often a nervous wreck in a studio because they worry about how the photographer will react to a kid who is shrieking or drooling or flailing around. They just want pics like any other parent and are just as proud of their kids, even more so, than parents of able bodied children.

Anyhoo, I'm rambling again, but I am passionate about the topic and get verbal diarrhea sometimes. Just wanted you to give the topic a thought. The world will be a better place for it.

Sure! Send me a round trip ticket for February!

OK, just a <bump>.

Sue-Thank you for pointing out what needs pointed out.

I have had several portrait sessions in this area, and the book sounds like a God send, where can I buy a copy? I would be happy to purchase one. There are so many techniques that we need, no one person could know them all.

God Bless,

Les

Where to buy a copy? I have no idea. The foundation sent me one cuz I was a contributing writer. I'm sure you could get one by googling the phrase "photographing special needs kids" or by going to the Picture Me Foundation website. They must sell them there, it is a major fundraiser for them. I just wanted to raise awareness of the topic of kids' and parents' needs, to photographers on this forum, as something to think about. Being involved in this area is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. win/win

Oh, and PhotosGuy, if I send you a ticket to Southern California in February, will you stand in my sun room with a bucket catching the leak drips from the torrential rain we always get in February? Nothing in life is free. : )

I don't do special needs per se, but shoot for an adoption agency for free helping them build the portfolios for kids awaiting adoption. It is very worthwhile and fulfilling way to give back and use some of the skills I have.... be they what they are. Highly recommended, thanks for bringing up the subject.

suecassidy wrote in post #3842490
Any body else here interested in photographing Special Needs Kids? By that, I mean kids with special needs in regards to physical, emotional, developmental special needs. I took a course a couple of years ago, put on by the "Picture Me Foundation" and it was designed to teach professional photographers how to deal with the special needs of these kids in a photo setting. It was fascinating and I really learned a lot. I used to regularly photograph a family here in Southern California that have adopted 31 special needs boys, so I've had plenty of experience in that area.

I got to be a contributing writer on a book that they published on photographing special needs kids as well. For example, it teaches photographers about how to use bean bags to pose children who don't have much muscle control. It teaches photographers about how to deal with the autistic child who avoids eye contact with you and won't look towards the camera, or who will melt down if you make a sudden noise. For kids whose needs are physical, like they have trach tubes or feeding tubes, or wheelchairs, you are taught how to camoflauge them if that is the parents' wish, or to not be scared of them. If you are talking to the kid in a wheel chair, drop down to his level and ask him the questions. He is sick of looking UP at people all the time and will love you for it.

The main thing the book teaches is that we fear what we don't understand and the biggest thing you can do for a parent of special needs is to TRY to educate yourself on their need, so that you aren't uncomfortable with it. Don't assume that a kid with cerebral palsy is intellectually impaired because he "looks" a certain way. Ask the parent to tell you about him and then direct your conversation and eye contact to kid, even if he can't answer back. Both the child and the parent will appreciate it. I've know CP kids who graduated high school at 16 and were WAY smarter than I'll ever hope to be. Parents of special needs kids are often a nervous wreck in a studio because they worry about how the photographer will react to a kid who is shrieking or drooling or flailing around. They just want pics like any other parent and are just as proud of their kids, even more so, than parents of able bodied children.

Anyhoo, I'm rambling again, but I am passionate about the topic and get verbal diarrhea sometimes. Just wanted you to give the topic a thought. The world will be a better place for it.

Sue,

I'm totally new to photography, just getting my first DSLR last month but I think this is a really great topic. I was one of those parents that was a nervous wreck when we took our first child in for her first pictures. Our daughter was born with an abdominal wall defect called an omphalocele, basically her organs were born on the outside of her body. She was a premmie, on oxygen and on an apnea monitor at the time. She could be off the monitor and o2 for a bit so we would not have wires in the photos but she could not have the typical naked baby shots as she had bandages around her tummy to protect it. She also could not be laid on her belly like most babies. The lady doing them was sort of nervous as well and didnt know what to do. Elizabeth, our daughter, was also born with microtia atresia on her right side, it is where the ear is malformed. The lady was also unsure of what side to take her picture from, like we wouldnt want that side in a photo.

You are right we are VERY proud of our special babies! I am sure the book is great!

Croasdail wrote in post #3845918
I don't do special needs per se, but shoot for an adoption agency for free helping them build the portfolios for kids awaiting adoption. It is very worthwhile and fulfilling way to give back and use some of the skills I have.... be they what they are. Highly recommended, thanks for bringing up the subject.

Croasdail,

Bless you for the work you do for the adoption agency. We adopted a little boy from Guatemala that was an awaiting special needs child as he also had the mictrotia atresia that my daughter was born with. Those first photos that a family sees of thier child will always be special to them.

On another topic has anyone ever thought of or do photography for families in hospitals? My daughter spent 35 days in the NICU so we did not get those first moment photos that a lot have the chance to. I have heard of photographers that do go to the hospitals and take them for the sick babies. I have also heard of photographers who are willing to take pictures of babies who have passed so that the family has something to hold on to. Some of the babies may not have been full term but the photographers find ways to make the photos beautiful. I think that is one thing, when I eventually learn what I am suppose to be doing, I would like to do.

Amber

God Bless you sue.
im in Los Angeles, if you ever need an assistant to come and help out in a shoot,drop me a line and I will be happy to come and help
thanks for the thread

MOMBOT wrote in post #3849071
Sue,

On another topic has anyone ever thought of or do photography for families in hospitals? My daughter spent 35 days in the NICU so we did not get those first moment photos that a lot have the chance to. I have heard of photographers that do go to the hospitals and take them for the sick babies. I have also heard of photographers who are willing to take pictures of babies who have passed so that the family has something to hold on to. Some of the babies may not have been full term but the photographers find ways to make the photos beautiful. I think that is one thing, when I eventually learn what I am suppose to be doing, I would like to do.

Amber

Check out the website of one of MY fav child photographers, footprintsphotography.​com

Under the "Portfolio" section, you will find a subsection called "Heart and Soul". This shows the babies that she volunteers to photograph in the NICU, who are either dead at birth, or going to be soon. She shows up with a black background and does absolute magic in capturing those last moments. 100% free. If it doesn't tear your heart out, you don't have one. Tiny deformed babies in angel wings, babies so young their skin is transparent and you can see through them. This lady started a national association for photographers interested in this sort of volunteer work. She is an angel herself.

As an aside, I'm quite familiar with the condition your child was born with, as our young pastor's son was born like that. All is internal organs were born outside his body. I saw photos of it. A large purplish membrane the size of a bowling all, and you could see his intestines floating around it. Fortunately, even though his condition was worse than many, he had none of theother congenital problems some have. After months in the hospital and being fed through a tube for over a year he is now a thriving 8 year old boy and aside from a large scar, has no problems whatsoever. I wonder how uncommon it is, because I shot a wedding the weekend just after September 11, 2001 and the airlines had all shut down because of the World Trade Center and none of the families and few of the friends of the bride and groom got to the wedding as a result. A rough beginning, for sure. One year later, the bride had a baby girl with the same condition. Again, she is now six years old and perfectly healthy, so take heart!

Sue,

Thank you for the link, I will be sure to check it out. I would love to do this for families eventually.

I think my daughters condition is more common than we think. I think that a LOT of doctors give the advice of termination and not much hope to women expecting a child like this as this was the advice of our doctor. I am glad to hear that the two children that you know are doing great! My little one is 2 1/2 years old now and a little spitfire! She is talking up a storm and running around everywhere.

Thanks again for bringing up this topic!

Amber