SESSIONS THAT ARE EASY ON KIDS
Hey, I’m Janae, the photographer behind These Days Photography.
This is a photo session where your child does not have to mask, sit still, make eye contact, follow directions, warm up to me, or say “cheese.”
Traditional family photography asks a lot of kids. Go somewhere unfamiliar. Wear this. Stand here. Stop moving. Look at a stranger. Look at the camera. Smile. Now do it again.
For autistic children, kids with ADHD, sensory processing differences, anxiety, demand avoidance/PDA, or other neurodevelopmental differences, those seemingly simple requests can be anything but simple.
And for their parents, family photos can start to feel like one more place where everyone is watching to see whether your kid can behave the way they’re “supposed to.”
Not here.
These Days Photography offers sensory-friendly, neurodivergent-affirming family photography throughout Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Montgomery County, Maryland.
Sensory-Friendly & Neurodivergent-Affirming Family Photography in Northern Virginia & Washington, DC
It's personal.
My daughter is five, and she has completely changed the way I think about photographing children.
She experiences the world a little differently. She needs a lot of autonomy. Directions can feel like pressure. Transitions can be hard. Big feelings can get really big. And she has approximately zero interest in making things easier because her mother happens to be a photographer.
Ask her to stand over there? No.
Look at the camera? Absolutely not.
Smile for me? You've made a terrible mistake.
She does not perform for my camera. She bosses me around. She changes the plan. She walks away. We are the public spectacle. Everywhere. Every time.
And if I want photographs of her childhood, I have to photograph her on her terms.
Why I photograph the way I do.
I just need to be good at photographing your child.
Your child doesn't need to be good for my camera.
So that's what I learned to do.
I started paying attention. I follow instead of direct.
I wait. I work around movement, breaks, changing plans, sensory needs, big feelings, and the occasional complete rejection of my existence.
I realized this wasn't just a better way to photograph her. It was a better way to photograph kids.
I also know the other side of this.
I know what it feels like when your kid is the loudest one in the room. When an ordinary outing becomes anything but ordinary.
When strangers are staring. When you're trying to help your child through something while simultaneously feeling the weight of everyone else's judgment.
So when you are with me, you don't have to worry about mine.
You don't need to apologize for your child. You don't need to convince them to cooperate for my sake. And you definitely don't need to whisper, "I'm so sorry, they don't usually act like this."
They can act exactly like this.
I'm used to changing the plan. I'm comfortable with big feelings. I'm not bothered by a child who ignores me, runs away from me, hits me, needs space, doesn't make eye contact, wants to do the same thing 47 times, or wants absolutely nothing to do with having their picture taken.
I photograph on their terms
Your family does not need to be easier, quieter, calmer, more cooperative, or more photogenic before it deserves to be documented.
If you've tried traditional photos and spent the entire time sweating, negotiating, apologizing, bribing, and wondering why you paid someone to document the most stressful hour of your month.
Maybe you just want photographs of your child that don't require asking them to become a different version of themselves first.
COME EXACTLY AS YOU ARE
Photography without the pressure to perform
My documentary approach means we don't need to manufacture cooperation before we can make meaningful photographs. I photograph your child doing what they actually do, interacting with the people they love, in an environment where they can move, regulate, play, retreat, return, and be themselves.
A neurodivergent-affirming family photography session removes as many expectations of performance as possible and allows the photographer to adapt to the child instead of requiring the child to adapt to the photographer.
That can look different for every family.
Some children want to talk to me immediately. Some need me to basically pretend they don't exist for the first 30 minutes.
Some kids want to run.
Some want to show me every single Pokémon card they own.
Some communicate with AAC. Some don't want to talk to me at all.
Some children love having their photograph taken. Others—including my own—would strongly prefer that everyone put the camera away forever.
All of those kids can be photographed.
What is a Neurodivergent-affirming Photo session?
Some children need time before a new person feels safe.
That's okay.
I don't expect an immediate (or any) greeting, conversation, eye contact, or interaction. If your child needs me to hang back and photograph quietly while they decide what they think about this strange woman with a camera, that's exactly what I'll do.
Anxiety & unfamiliar people
There is no requirement for your child to verbally communicate with me.
AAC devices, gestures, scripts, echolalia, limited speech, lots of speech, or no interest whatsoever in talking to the photographer are all welcome.
I will follow your child's communication style rather than expecting them to adopt mine.
Communication differences
Your child does not need to sit still.
Movement photographs beautifully.
We can run, explore, jump, wrestle, dance, climb, take breaks, change activities, and follow whatever captures your child's attention.
I would much rather photograph your kid joyfully moving through the world than spend our session repeatedly asking them to stop.
ADHD, movement, & difficulty sitting still
For children who experience strong demand avoidance, including children with a PDA profile, even seemingly harmless photography directions can create pressure.
So I don't need your child to follow a list of instructions.
I can use observation, play, indirect invitations, environmental changes, patience, and good old-fashioned waiting instead.
If an idea isn't working, we abandon it.
The photograph is never more important than your child.
Demand avoidance & PDA
- Instead of: “Look at me! Smile! Stand still!”
- We can: Forget about eye contact entirely.
Your child can read, run, climb, stim, cuddle you, build something, spin in circles, hide under a blanket, inspect bugs, or become intensely invested in something that wasn't remotely part of our original plan.
I'm watching for connection—not compliance.
Eye contact & posing
- Instead of: A bright studio, unfamiliar equipment, uncomfortable clothing, and lots of stimulation.
- We can: Photograph at home, in your backyard, or somewhere familiar and comfortable. Kids can wear clothing they actually tolerate, keep comfort items nearby, and take breaks whenever they need them.
I primarily use natural and available light for these sessions and can plan around known sensory sensitivities whenever possible
Sensory sensitivities
Every neurodivergent child is different. There isn't a universal list of “autism accommodations” or a single approach that works for every child.
Before your session, we'll talk about your kid: what they love, what they avoid, how they communicate, what makes things harder, and what helps them feel comfortable.
THE DOCUMENTARY APPROACH IS GENTLE
How I Accommodate Autistic, ADHD & Sensory-Sensitive Children
Please don't hide the things your child uses to comfortably move through the world because you're worried they'll “ruin the pictures.”
Bring the noise-canceling headphones.
Bring the AAC device.
Bring out the stim toy, favorite stuffed animal, blanket, snack, chew, book, tablet, or incredibly specific object your child currently refuses to leave the house without.
If it's part of their life right now, it belongs in the story.
BECAUSE IF IT's PART OF YOUR LIFE, IT SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR PHOTOS
Comfort Items, Stim Toys, AAC Devices & Mobility Supports Are Welcome
Nothing terrible.
We stop.
A meltdown, shutdown, sensory overload, anxiety, or a sudden need for space does not mean your family has “ruined” the photo session.
The camera can go down. Snacks can come out. Someone can disappear into another room. We can change locations. We can sit quietly. We can give your child time to regulate with you.
And, importantly, you don't need to manage the situation for my benefit.
I'm not standing there wondering when we can get back to taking pictures.
This is why my shortest session is 2 hours long. It gives us the space to be without the pressure to get photos in a single moment.
What happens if my child has a meltdown during photos?
Your child comes first.
These Days Photography comes to you at your home or a location of your choosing in the greater Washington, DC area. Documentary sessions happen where your life happens. If that's in the DMV area and you're ready to document it, then contact me.
WHERE DOES THESE DAYS PHOTOGRAPHY TRAVEL TO?
No. My documentary sessions are designed for all families. What works for neurodivergent children and people tends to work well and to the benefit of neurotypical children too.
All of my sessions are documentary, family and child led, slow, and without pressure. For families of neurodivergent children, we just do a little extra planning and set our expectations a little differently for breaks as needed.
Looking for more general information about my documentary family session? Learn about documentary Family Photography in Northern Virginia.
ARE THESE SESSIONS ONLY FOR NEURODIVERGENT FAMILIES?
You tell me about your child, we make a plan, you explain to your child who I am, and I follow your child's lead. There's never any judgement or expectation on my end. I have a pre-session discussion and consultation with all of my families, as well as an extensive questionnaire, so I can know how to best support you during our session.
How do we prepare for a sensory-sensitive session?
No.
A diagnosis is never required. If traditional photography sounds difficult for your child—or if you simply want a photographer willing to slow down, follow their lead, and remove expectations—you are welcome here.
Does my child need an autism, ADHD, or other diagnosis to book a sensory-friendly session?
We pause and give your child what they need. There is no punishment, embarrassment, judgment, or pressure to hurry back to the session. Before your session we will chat about whether a "meltdown" is something you want photographed or not.
What if my child has a meltdown?
Then I don't force them. I can hang back, photograph interactions rather than portraits, give them time to become comfortable with me, or simply document family life as it unfolds. Some of my favorite photographs happen when nobody is cooperating with me at all. The magic happens when you don't make this into a photoshoot, but rather just interact with your family like you would on any other day.
What if my child refuses to have their picture taken?
Sessions can happen at home, in your backyard, or anywhere familiar and comfortable for your child. Natural and available light is used to avoid studio equipment and bright flashes, and sessions can be planned around known sensory sensitivities. Serving Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Washington DC, and Montgomery County, MD.
Where do neurodivergent-affirming sessions take place?
No. There is no requirement for verbal communication, greetings, or eye contact. AAC, gestures, scripts, echolalia, limited speech, or no interest in interacting at all are all fine. The photographer follows your child's communication style and can hang back and photograph quietly while your child decides how they feel.
DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO TALK TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER OR MAKE EYE CONTACT?
Sensory-friendly photo session FAQ
I photograph my daughter in her raw, unfiltered, and (in some people's opinions) unflattering glory because I refuse to edit our reality. I do it because I have a sense of humor, and quite frankly, if I didn't laugh, I'd be crying into a cold cup of tea (just kidding, you can find me crying in the car, the shower, and on the floor on occasion).
Some people might look at a photo of a kid having a hard time and think "Is that appropriate? Shouldn't she put the camera down?" And yes, most of the time I am not photographing my children during these moments —I am dealing with the meltdowns, co regulating, or at worst, trying not to loose my own s***.
But hiding those moments feels like pretending we are "normal." And "normal" is incredibly boring. Those meltdowns, her anger and frustration, that is her real complex life. It's our real, complex life. Twenty years from now, I don't want a sanitised version that pretended to be something else. I want the whole beautiful truth.
So if your kid screams during a session or refuses to look at me? If they face plant into the grass and stay there for ten minutes? Great. I'll be right there, getting the perfect light on their stubborn little shoulders.
If you scroll through this page, you will see some gorgeous, warm emotional moments. But you're also going to see my daughter purposefully turning her back on a family picture. You're going to see her mid-scream, having a spectacular, gold medal public meltdown. And honestly, if you see us in public, this is probably the version of us you will encounter anyways.
Let's talk about these photos of my daughter.
The honest parent's guide to "inappropriate" photos
A personal footnote
