Photographing Your Special-Needs Child, Part Two

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• Photographing Your Special-Needs Child, Part One

Tips for getting great shots

By Susan Cosgrove

Above and beyond taking pictures of their child, many families who have children with special needs also hope to have professional family portraits taken. In itself this presents a whole different set of challenges. Taking some children into the photo studio can be an overwhelming and over-stimulating experience for the child, and incredibly frustrating for the entire family. Although any family’s experience at the photo studio can be unpredictable, there are ways to help make it a smoother and less stressful experience.

Ask other parents

Talk to other parents in your area who have children with special needs. Find out where they have gone to get pictures and if their experiences were positive or negative. They may be able to tell you places to avoid or they may have had a very successful experience with a special photographer.

Consider staying home

There are many photographers out there who will be happy to bring their equipment to you. Your child can remain in their home where they feel comfortable and can stick to their routine as closely as possible. The more comfortable your child is, the better chance the photographer will be able to capture their genuine smiles. Don’t be shy to let the photographer know if your child needs a break.

Make a schedule

Whether you decide on the studio or the home, be prepared.  Depending on the size of your family, you may want to come up with an order in which the photos should be taken. Try to get the large group photos out of the way first. That way you can always try again later in the session if the group photo doesn’t work out on the first try. Be sure to offer your child many breaks, have drinks and snack ready, as well as a distraction such as a hand-held video game or DVD player. Schedule their most important photos for after their breaks, when they are most likely to be calm and co-operative.

Talk to your photographer

As a photographer, I can tell you that we want a smooth photo session as much as you do. If the photographer you choose is the right one for you, they will be happy to discuss your child’s needs before the session. Be honest; tell them your concerns and what sensitivities your child may have. If your child does not like to be touched or is intimidated by noise or activity, tell them.  Share with them the schedule you’ve prepared and insist that they follow it. Remember that this is about your family, and you are the one who knows how to bring out the best in them.

Don’t forget to have fun!

Don’t let the photo session be a burden. This will show in your photos. Try to have fun with the photographer and with your family. Snap a few photos of the kid’s silly faces to let them get it out of their system. Tell some jokes to encourage laughter and a lighthearted feeling to the session. If you are enjoying yourself it will show in the photos. And that’s what we all want to remember in the end.

Photographing Your Special-Needs Child, Part One