special needs

[pepe]

I have a cousin who wants me to take some family pictures when I come home this summer. She has a daughter who has cerebral palsy. She can't sit up by herself, and I have a couple of ideas for the children poses. all of them laying down, heads in a circle, or line them up on a slide, with the bigger brother helping her sit up, but when it comes to a family pose, Traditional or not, I'm clueless.
She's 4, and has a twin who is fine.
I would love all suggestions, kid grouping, twin w/ twin & family.
Thanks in advance, I know u will come up with some great ideas!

[dlaf]

You've already got some great ideas! I would also (if you haven't already) look for CP websites and CP family support websites for photographs they display. Good luck!

[dhart]

My brother (who is 30) has a severe case of CP. One thing - DO NOT USE FLASH. Whatever you do. It will throw her into a seizure. Parents can verify this, but I would be shocked if it weren't the case.

The other difficulty we have had with Colby (my brother) is that one eye looks off in one direction and the other looks straight. You can kinda see it here: (This is actually one of the better photos for his eyes)


One thing I noticed about him is that he likes to throw his head back, so I went with it and stood above him (he is in a wheelchair) and took photos with his head back. I was so suprised with the results:



It helped with his smile and his eyes are actually pointed in the same direction.
BTW, the photos were taken after sunset and it was actually too dark for normal photography, but since the sun gives him seizures, well, I just rolled with it.

So I guess the point of this long response is:
- Pay attention to her eyes. Try to work with the "lazy" eye if you can and if she has one.
- Keep clicking. Let the others know to just keep smiling and looking at you. It's kinda like when shooting with a 1 year old - have everyone else behave and hope the kid does too!
- Ask the parents if there are any limitations. Mention the flash because they may not think of it.
- If she can crawl, that could be good.
- Ask the parents how the best way to have her sit (believe me, they will know) and build the family portraits around her.
- Bring some nice blankets for the family to sit on or to drape over her chair.
- If her parents have a special "chair" that supports her, have them bring it. This will be something like a booster chair for the table, but able to use on the floor or outside.
- If the parents have any physical therapy rolls or such that are portable, have them bring those. The rolls are like the blocks and rolls you would find in a Gymboree or gymastics or activity gym for a small child. Basically, hard foam covered by a durable plastic type of material.

Be patient. Watch the child and work with what she tends to do anyways. Oh, and last, but not least, don't forget about the other kids. Greet them, focus on them, let them have their moments too. I know that that may seem ovbious, but growing up with a handicapped sibling, it's amazing how the handicapped child gets the first and most atttention from people that don't even realize that they are ignoring the well child.

Anyways, hope that helps. The CP websites and asuch were also an excellent idea. You will be able to find specific family poses and such there. But listen to the parents, they will teach you how best to "poses" her.

[pepe]

Thank you both very much. I have some time before I go home (this summer) but I knew or figured this will take some more then normal prep work, and i wasn't sure how easy it would be to find out the info.

Thanks aga in

[dmmcarten]

This is an interesting thread, I happen to also have CP, albeit not a severe as mentioned above mine is mostly limited motor functions now thanks to several operations.
Although it is usually me behind the camera, this does prove a challenge at times with the limited use of the left side of my body, such things as holding the camera steady at times is a nightmare., but I think I've found a way around most other issues that I have.
As I think has been mentioned, assessing what is possible with the subject on the day as some days are worst than others.

Dean