Developmental Diversity: Working with kids at all developmental levels

Marcie Randall

Sunschein Photography
Special Needs Portrait Photographer
MA in Child Development; Certificate in Digital Arts, Photography; Certification in Special Needs Photography

Marcie has a Master’s degree in Child Development and has worked in various capacities with children and adults with disabilities, and their families. She was always the one to have a camera close at hand to capture fun moments with her clients, students, and program participants.

Marcie's Website

Missy Stevens

Based in Somerset, MA, Honey & Hyssop Creative Photography was born when Missy's lifelong love of photography collided with a new awareness that special needs families did not typically have family photos taken. After working with the special needs community as an Occupational Therapist in the hospital Neonatal Intensive Care unit, as well as with babies and toddlers in early intervention, it became evident that there was a need to fill! Combining photography with this special developmental skillset, Honey & Hyssop focuses on Newborn and first year photography to help these amazing families shine!

Missy's Website

Saturday, Feb 22nd 4:00pm

We will focus on teaching photographers how to prepare for and execute sessions with developmentally delayed and differently-abled individuals. Physical and cognitive differences are even more prevalent than ever before in our communities and knowing how to interact with these families is key to a successful photoshoot.

Attendees can expect to learn:
- How to use detail-oriented questions specific to both the individual and the session goals in order to get the most information for a successful outcome
- Techniques for engaging individuals when it may be difficult to gain eye contact or attention.
- Background information on autism and kids with various sensory needs
- Techniques for accommodating the individual to get the best images
- Background on specific medical devices and how to work around or include them in images
- How to use the child's natural environment for truly authentic images