Special People Big Hearts!
A mother’s eye is non differentiating, to her, her child is unique and precious.
“When people see my photographs, I want them to see the children, the same way as seen through their Mother’s eyes — beautiful, unique, loved and full of potential.”
I started this project in 2016 as a loving dedication to my best friend’s sister — 'Akku' was born with Down Syndrome. I was hardly 8 years old when I met her first. When I think of her, the only thing that comes to me is the innocent smile that lights up her face as she greets & acknowledges my presence each time, her pure heart and her unconditional love!
I now know that, special needs is much more than just Down Syndrome. I am a lover of children and an Inclusion advocate. Having met and captured children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Dravet syndrome and many other genetic and non-genetic disabilities; I have learned the true essence of the quote “see the ABLE not the LABEL”.
Once I met multiple children with Cerebral Palsy in a single day. Each child presented unique concerns and unique capabilities, making each photo shoot experience unique. One thing I saw common in every shoot was the glowing innocence of the children and the resilience & determination of their mothers.
Inclusion starts with “U” and “I”. Through photography as medium I also try to raise awareness on the same.
♡ Year round the shoots under SPECIAL PEOPLE BIG HEARTS are offered at a discounted price.
The resilience and strength a mother brings forward is commendable. A special thanks to Nikon Middle East for its support and enabling me to offer a free photoshoot to some these amazing moms. On the occasion of Mother’s Day in UAE, we were able to gift some special moments to cherish.
♡ How a typical shoot experience is:
Every family receives a free pre-consultation which includes outfit guidance. I set no rules or no time constraints for this shoot. There are shoots that have concluded in 10 mins and those that took an average time of 30mins. The comfort of the child & parents is my utmost priority. There are no stiff poses. The images are captured in a more natural and candid style with minimal guidance where necessary.
♡ What I bring to the shoot:
A happy spirit, loads of patience, my love for motherhood and my passion for photography.
Moms often call me “the child whisperer”. I have been fortunate to connect with every child, be it receiving a glance into the camera or an unconditional smile. It has been my pleasure to connect with & photograph each of them. On a lighter note, many a times it is the adults whom I find more difficult to capture.
