Would you pay a little extra to take your child(ren) to a photographer who specialised in special needs?

[ShinyHappyPeopleHoldingHands]

A photographer friend is wondering if this is a marketable idea. I suggested it to him because decent professional pictures of DS have often been few and far between, particularly from school. They just don't have the time to amuse him and accomodate his little ways!

We were thinking that the availability of a photographer who had the time, patience and experience to reassure and coax smiles from children with additional needs might be just the thing some families were looking for (for individial or photos of whole family).

And would you prefer to take your child(ren) to him (in a studio) or have him come to you in your family home? Was thinking that the latter might better suit some SN children, particularly maybe some ASDs who might find a studio a bit overwhelming?

What does everyone think? Please give feedback and ideas if you can spare a moment..

very good idea,we cant take our dd anywhere for a family photo.

Would you pay a bit more than the average Shiny? And would you prefer, in theory, the photographer to come to you.. or you to him in a studio?

It would be a lot easier for the photographer to come to our house as dd is hell to handle when out and yes i would pay a little more,it would be worth it for a decent photo of her.

Thanks for the feedback. Hope enough people see this; I have only just realised that I didn't even have that box for SN ticked on the "hide and show threads" option.. so am wondering if other parents with SN kids have done the same..

Can't keep up with the changes!

Yes - it would be so lovely to deal with people who have some awareness of speech/communication problems.

Definatly a good idea IMO. I would like to get some decent photos of my ds but it may take a long time to get a good shot due to his poor posture and stuff. i would pay more and i know his grandparents would love it.....!

Yes, but although it takes time as long as they can could cope with the ds1's of this world- (which would mean allowing extra time) and then a choice for home or studio. Think its a great idea. Was thinking about doing it myself at one stage

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I would. Ds is a complete nightmare with this sort of thing. I think it would be best if your friend offered customers the choice of taking the photos in the studio or in their home as children can be so different about what makes them feel safe/unsafe iyswim.

Bump

(Thanks for the feedback )

(I meant to say some with ASDs ! I am surprised noone has picked me up on what looks like terrible "labelling".. altho wasn't.. was just a typo!)

How much experience does photographer friend have? It's just I've been to so many things that are supposedly ASD friendly but when we turn up it's clear they had no concept that a child like ds1 even existed. I would be happy for your friend to run some ideas past me - eg the need for LOCKABLE (with removeable key) doors in a studio, and I'll meniont them on Aut2Bsafe as well if they want.

Yurt, friend's experience thus far revolves almost entirely around the needs of my DS, who does not have autism (we don't think; although God knows.. they add a few new labels every year while neglecting to diagnose the "main" problem ) but he is very very used to dealing with DS all his many needs; he is his Godfather and has babysat for him alone (one of the few people I could trust to do that).

His other experience he would obviously acquire as he went along.- and I expect his prices would reflect that. He is very patient and unphased by additional needs though; I think he's got it in him, long term.

yes. Either at home or the studio BUT it would need to be a sn friendly studio.

TBH I think attitude is more important that experience, sometimes experience can end up being unhlepful- a lot of people with supposed ASD experience have turned out to have no idea how to deal with ds1. I've turned up to so many things which are supposedly designed for ASD and then find that the first thing we hit is a queue or some sort of wait for example. DS1 cannot queue or wait at all. Or they'll be a waiting room with toys, which would be nice except he's far more interested in what's behind a closed door than a bunch of toys. We would need to turn up, be in a lockable room that he couldn't get out of, but could explore freely and it would work fine.

I think its a great idea.

That sounds exactly like my DS would need.. maybe he does have an ASD as well!

Friend is watching this thread - thanks for all the feedback, it's great

Please add to it, anyone with any (more) thoughts.

Hiya I think thats a great idea :-)

I havn't had one decent photo of my lil lady from the school photographers!! Luckily the staff do take photo's now and again and I have had some nicer ones from them than the proffessionals!!

I often wonder when I see smiley photograhs of Autistic children in the papers/magazines,just how long and how many photograhs were taken before they got a decent one!

Think your friend would need to be aware that he'd use a lot more rolls than he would normally lol

good luck if he dedcides to go ahead, give me a shout if he wants a guinea pig lol

That's an idea Geri.. guinea pigs.. will suggest it to him. (He is in Kent btw)

Am assuming rolls of film would not be an issue, due to everything being digital

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Yes, and I'd also pay through the nose for a hairdresser who understood about special needs and was prepared to come to the house.