As a special needs parent myself, I wanted to share some tips to help fellow photographers. By considering accessibility and scheduling, you can help families with special needs feel more comfortable in booking with you and ultimately create a positive experience for clients with disabilities.
Here are my top five tips for working with the special needs population as a photographer:
- Consider your locations. Are you choosing locations that are accessible? Is parking handicapped accessible? How far will your client need to travel from the car to the site? What is the terrain?
- Consider your time slots. The quality of your session is more important than quantity when working with the special needs population. Kids with special needs, especially those who are neurodiverse, may need additional time to transition into a new environment. So a 15 minute mini session may be challenging if your client needs a few minutes to adjust. I encourage clients to reach out to me ahead of time so I can reserve an additional time slot at no charge for those who may anticipate a difficult transition. It’s a small offering that can mean so much to families and can help photographers be more inclusive to people of all abilities.
- Similar to tip #1, consider the features of your location. As a mom of a kid who likes to wander and is drawn to water, I would be particularly hesitant to take him to a photo shoot near a busy road or a body of water. Put as much detail about your location as you can in your listings so parents can decide for themselves if a location is ideal for their families.
- Offer non-traditional photo shoots. My child isn’t going to sit still and pose for pictures. He is much happier moving around and playing, and isn’t the point of photos to capture happy, meaningful memories? Think outside the box and offer different types of sessions where more movement may be ideal. Think splash pads and trampoline parks or playgrounds.
- Understand that for neurodiverse families, rescheduling may be needed and for very valid reasons. Meltdowns, therapy sessions, lack of sleep and many other factors can play a role in postponing a session. Consider leniency in your cancellation/rescheduling policy. Ultimately, you’re trying to build a long-term relationship with your clients for repeat business, so being understanding of their mental and emotional needs will strengthen that relationship.
I hope these tips help as you serve the special needs population through your photography services.
