Disability awareness in Family Photography


Your Family Story Deserves to be Told


Neurodivergence is picture worthy.

 

Meet Liam.  

Liam has autism.  But more importantly, Liam has an infectious smile, two incredible parents, the most beautiful eyes (lots of people pay $$$ to get eye lashes like his), and an immense love for snow and sledding.  

Son, father and mother walking up sledding hill on snowy day. Trees, barn and Boulder Flat Irons in background.
Young boy with autism eating snow flakes off finger tips.
Mother and son preparing to sled down hill, dog wearing snow coat standing in foreground.

Neurodivergent families are picture perfect.


His parents work lovingly and tirelessly to advocate for Liam.  Liam deserves a world that sees his value, his worth and his joy.  Liam’s family also deserves family photos that celebrate their value, worth and joy.  


Liam's mom mentioned to me that her family hadn't taken family photos since he was a baby.  Family photography can feel stressful to neurodivergent kids are expected to sit-still-and-smile.  Enter documentary photography.  Documentary photography's goal is to capture your real.  And in this case, that meant putting gloves on a million times, eating lots of snow, and lots and lots of sledding.

Mother lovingly putting on autistic son's gloves.
Mother and father putting gloves on son.

Photography that is person-forward, and person-led.


In this case, that means that Liam gets to call the shots.  Before the session, I asked what Liam's preferences were - personal space, noises, things that might make him laugh.  This session was Liam forward, because Liam deserves a photographer who sees him for who he is.

Mother putting on son's glove in foreground, Bould Flat Irons in background.
Mother standing in snow, looking away from camera, toward Boulder flat irons on a snowy day.
Father, mother, son and dog preparing to sled down a hill.

A moment for the parents, too!


Parenting a neurodivergent looks different.  Different worries, different stressors, different joys.  These parents deserve to be photographed, too.  Photography celebrates everyone.  

Man and woman smiling toward one another on snowy day, snow capped flat irons and red barn in the background.

More of this in 2026.


This was one of my favorite sessions from 2025.  Low key manifesting getting to document more families like this in 2026.  


Less sit still and smile, more carefree and wild.

Mother, father and young son standing in front of Boulder flat irons, all smiling.
Documentary photograph of mother and son getting out of car, dressed in warm winter gear, preparing for sledding.
Family of mother, father and young son standing in the snow, a red barn and Boulder flat irons in the background.
Mother, son and father preparing to sled down a snowy hill on blue sleds.
Family sledding photo session, father standing on hill, child crashing in snow on blue sled.

 

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