{Autism Awareness Month} How I Approach Photographing a Child With Autism or Special Needs | College Station Newborn & Family Photographer
My main thought when preparing for a family photoshoot with a child (or an adult!) that has special needs is “How can I make this a fun and stress free experience?” I want to make the process as easy as possible for the whole family!
Here is a series of things I do to create a fun and successful session!
Always ask questions about your kiddo and your family before the session! I do a pre-session consultation with parents either over the phone, email, or in person. I ask lots of questions to get to know your child’s likes, dislikes, capabilities, and challenges. But mostly, I want to know what helps them thrive! I like to know your child’s favorite toys, characters, colors, things to do, etc. It’s helpful to know any sensory challenges, physical, or cognitive impairments, so that I can tailor my approach accordingly.
Talk to your child, not about them. This is so important to me and one of the reasons I do a pre-session consultation. I want to be able to ask all the important questions before our session, so that I can spend the session talking and interacting with your child (and their siblings/you). Children with autism and other special needs have varying levels of expressive language, receptive language, and processing speeds. I always try to adjust my communication to fit their needs.
Try to enter their world. This means I will observe what your child is doing and follow their lead. Sometimes that’s going on a “lion hunt” in the tall grass or pretending to be their favorite character. I want to have fun with them!
Focus on what’s most important to you (mom and dad). I want to prioritize what you want captured. Is a classic family portrait most important? Or maybe a lifestyle family photo of everyone interacting? Or is it capturing your child(ren) by themselves in some candid moments?
Engage parents and siblings. I want to capture the personalities of each person in your family, as well as the bonds that you have with each other. I’ll give you simple prompts to help you engage with each other throughout your shoot.
Adjust the session length. Lots of people with differing needs need extra time to adjust to new places and people. On the other hand, some kiddos (and adults!) need a short and sweet session so that they don’t become overwhelmed. Some people just need breaks during their session. We’ll adjust the session length and pace to meet your family’s needs.
Haven is an experienced photographer servicing Bryan, College Station, and Navasota, TX. She has been working in photography for 5+ years and enjoys serving the Brazos Valley. Haven specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, birth and family photography. To book a shoot, visit her contact page.