WYATT

Sometimes, the mere sight of a camera can send a special needs child into a downward spiral—a reality Wyatt painfully knew. Just the day before, on picture retake day, his mom had taken off work, hoping her presence with Wyatt would calm his anxiety surrounding school pictures. Yet, traditional methods often prove too overwhelming for children like Wyatt, as seen below in his retake picture, whose sensory aversions make every flash and click a potential trigger. 

 

When I first met Wyatt, his tear-filled eyes widened at the sight of my large camera, and he repeated in a trembling voice, “NO CHEESE, NO CHEESE!” In that instant, I set the camera aside and shifted my focus entirely to him. I reached for his favorite stuffed companion, Peppa Pig, and began to engage him through indirect play. I narrated every little gesture—admiring Peppa’s beautiful pink skin and red dress—reassuring her again and again that she was safe with me, and so was he.

 

I then staged a little photo session with Peppa, inviting Wyatt to watch from a comfortable distance. As he observed the playful scene, his fears gradually dissolved, and I could see him physically relax. He then came over to me and grabbed Peppa and started playing with her. I continued to narrate everything that I was seeing through my lens. With time, Wyatt's true personality began to shine, and together, we created some of the most heartfelt images—a stark contrast to the terrified boy I’d met only thirty minutes earlier.

 

The Pure Bliss Project is redefining picture day for sensory-averse children like Wyatt, transforming a once-traumatic experience into one filled with understanding, patience, dignity, and pure bliss.

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**Click on each image to see the full composition**