Where Advocacy, Special Needs Parenting, & Life Collide
The Real Family Photo Shoot When You Have Children with Special Needs
One of Parenting’s Greatest Challenges when you have Children with Special Needs
Taking photos when you have children with special needs includes rare gems like this one, taken just a couple weeks after Logan came home from the NICU. Bobby (5), Andy (4) and Logan (~6 weeks)
I read a post a long time ago that detailed the challenge of taking a “real” family photo (link at end) and I couldn’t help but think how vastly different our lives were from the author’s, even though her post was a great read.
The thing is, like most things in our life, taking that perfect family photo is much harder than it might be for the typical family (although, really, what the heck is typical?).
Parents, special needs parents, moms, dads, and everything in between know that taking a great family photo with kids is difficult. (You mean picking my nose isn’t allowed in the picture? But … why?)
Nah, I don’t know many parents who don’t ‘get’ that one.
With three autistic guys in our home, I don’t think we’ve gotten that absolutely perfect (or close to it) family portrait. Maybe when the youngest was a teeny tiny thing. Since then, someone is always close to or having a meltdown. *sighs*
My other pictures still tell the rest of the story though. That
picture of my youngest blurring into the distance, only his face visible in the corner of the picture – we caught his dimples! My favorite photo of my oldest wasn’t one I shot, a teacher took it and sent me the Jpeg because it was so perfect. His smile, with little dimples and crinkles by his eyes from grinning so hard?
His rare disease makes his eyes appear spun in white webs and we often receive compliments on his gorgeous eyes, no one the wiser that those gorgeous eyes tell the story of legal blindness and a rare disease that could never stop my own child.
And my middle guy, my ham, who is always caught with a grin on his face that never quite looks natural? His perfect picture is one snapped when he was unaware, a soft smile, un-self-conscious, on his face. He doesn’t smile widely these days, his teeth are affected from the rare disease the guys all have and it makes him self conscious. His best picture…it shows a hint of those pearly whites with absolutely no hint of the future surgery, braces, and other treatment he’ll need.
We haven’t been able to have a professional photo taken since our youngest was only a couple weeks past his NICU stay, but our family portrait is told in the simple snapshots of life, moments captured unaware.
Just last week, a local friend told me about a photo opportunity offered by the Autism Society of Indiana. Depending on where you live, you might check with similar organizations in your neck of the woods. And if you are in Indiana, check to see when they might do this again, and if you see it in time, here’s a copy of the graphic they sent out:
The article I read that made me think of this, oh so long ago: The TRUTH Behind Our Family Photo Shoot.
Your Turn! What family picture nightmares have you had? Do you have children with special needs and have a great shot to share? Give us a link in your comment!
Katrina Moody
Graphic Designer, Wordpress Addict, Blogger at Kat's Media & More
I'm a special needs parent before just about everything else in life, but also a passionate advocate for my three boys and husband, who all have a bit of awesomeness about them. Awesomeness = Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome, Autism, Epilepsy, Dyslexia, Cerebral Palsy, and more. It all adds up to some awesome kids and an amazing family.
@KatrinaMoody
Wife; Mom to 3 guys w/ARS, autism, epilepsy & awesomeness; Advocate. Writer, Graphic Designer, Wordpress addict, social media nut. Site: http://katsmedia.com &
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I always found that the best pictures I have of the family are the ones taken randomly. I also found that our ‘professional’ shoots go well because I don’t expect the ‘perfect shot’, nor do I want it. I want pictures of my boys being my boys
I love your pictures. You have a handsome family
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Angel – I totally agree! Our best shots are always the ones that are taken ‘in the moment’ and with no expectations!
Yes I agree with this blog, because I have multiple collections of children photo with some special movements. I have collected the entire picture in different activities of my child from 1 year to 6 year old. When some times we are suddenly capture the picture it was looks superb.
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Those children are angels even they have disabilities. Cute pictures indeed!
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