Do you feel you have "Special Needs" child(ren)?

When I do a family photography session, I typically allocate 3 hours for the session. Although most families only stay 1.5 to 2 hours, having a long time to do the session means we can relax and wait for the children to be ready.  I understand with handicapped children, it can be even more difficult than with infants to know when they will be in the correct mood. For this reason I will make special exemptions at no additional cost to try to accomodate your needs. For one, if you need to split the session over several days (even if the total time is much more than 3 hours) this can be accomodated. Also, if you are out driving around and call me on your cell phone saying "we are driving around, NOW would be a good time to do the photos", I promise I will do everything I can to accomodate these requests.My Sister has had 3 Special Needs children (very severe level), as a result, to a limited degree, I understand the issues you are facing and am willing to help.

Potential problems. I want your experience to be a positive one. Please note the following possibe problems and proposed solutions.

• Your child or you are afraid of dogs. We have 2 medium sized (75lb) loveable dogs. If you have any concerns about this whatsoever, let me know in advance and we will bring them inside (in the house, not the studio) so that there is no possible problem. We also have a cat that mosly lives outside but occasionally wanders the house and I do pet photography in the studio. If you have any allergies to dogs/cats/other animals, I will ban the animals and do a very thorough cleaning the day before you come and again on the day you come. Also click on the Allergy link on the left - and as for one of the 1st 3 sessions in the cluster. But if you or your child is very allergic, we will need to do the shoot elsewhere.
• Access. The studio is at ground level (no stairs) a couple miles out in the country. But the 50' path to the studio door is, well, a wide "path". Most wheelchairs find it "rough but manageable" when there is no snow. When you get to the studio door there is a half step up over the threashold. I would be happy to assist you. Let me know if you need assistance, and I will come out when you drive up (and help you out when it is time to leave.)
• Light Flashes. Most children have no problem after the first flash or two. Unlike a normal camera and normal pictures where the flash is directly in their eyes, my studio flashes are further offset so that the light flashes are more natural (they still are very bright flashes though!) By not flashing directly into your eye, the flash is not quite as much a problem, but it is a lot brighter than a flash "on camera." If you have a child that is hypersensitive to flashes of light, we can make other arrangements without "cooking" with super bright always on lights. They are not as "perfect" and won't stop as much motion, but if you are like most families, technical perfection is not the highest criteria anyway, capturing the essence of the family is!
• Other allergies. We do use peanut butter in the studio (It is used particularily to pose dogs with their owners.) If this or any other allergy is a problem, please disucss it with me in advance so we can decide whether steps can be taken to make the studio safe for your family (and again, see the link for allergies on the left).

Note: I use the term "Special Needs" because I have been told by parents with severe mental "special needs" (and partly physical) children that that is the current non-offensive term to use. I have used other terms such as handicapped previously when they told me that THOSE terms were the then current "correct" terms to use. They indicated that while "Special Needs" is the currently in-vogue term, they would personally prefer use of other terms and that many parents are offended or irritated by the use of "Special Needs." Sigh. If you are offended by my use of the term Special Needs and would prefer I use a term like handicapped, please understand that I am trying to be sensitive and not trying to offend. The real goal is to get great photos of your wonderful blessing(s) from God not fuss with symantics.