Getting into any industry is difficult as it is, but adding a disability or illness adds other challenges that the person has to face and overcome in their field of work. My passion is taking the images and creating something new, however I sometimes struggle to be able to create what I want due to having chronic fatigue syndrome, because of this I have missed fantastic opportunities that I would have loved to be apart of, and do feel it can hold me back sometimes. Due to living with condition for so long I have managed to work around challenges and pushed myself to work harder and achieve my goals.
My main worry for the future is when I start my own business and leave university, this is because in the past it has sometimes taken me longer to edit photos and get them to the client, this worries me as I want to keep the clients happy and give them what they want. However after recently finding out a photographer that I admire a lot and has been very successful in the photography industry, has fibromyalgia and Chronic fatigue it has boosted my confidence and ability to know I will be able to achieve what I want.
Brooke Shaden was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at the age of just 15 after she starting getting pain in her left knee before the pain started spreading to other areas, due to her mother having Lupus she went to the a joint specialist where Brooke got tested on the pressure points that help diagnose Fibro, 12 out of 18 of the pressure point gave Brooke pain, which the doctor then diagnosed her with Fibromyalgia. Brooke said on one her blog about living with fibromyalgia that “It was good and bad news, because at the time there was very little information on it and it meant there was nothing I could do. But at least I knew I wasn’t crazy like a lot of people thought.”
Brooke does a lot of traveling, speaking and workshops however doing these are a struggle for her, and she tried to not show it to the people around her when she is doing the workshop. Brooke – “I admit it has been embarrassing at times, when I am on a shoot or teaching a workshop and I feel that horrible sense of fatigue come over me. Sometimes I have to turn around for a moment, take a minute to myself, take a deep breath and push past it.” Brooke has also mentioned that there are days upon days, and sometimes a week at a time, where she doesn’t want to move at all. However, one thing she has found that has helped is having a positive attitude and that her photography has helped her in more ways than one, has it keeps her healthy by moving and gets her doing something she loves. Brooke also also said “I count my journey a lucky one. After all, I learned from my mom, who has Lupus, how to push through and conquer. Plus, so many have it so much worse than I do”. I also find it amazing that she is using her skills as a photographer as back in 2015 she created three images that incorporated butterflies to help raise awareness for fibromyalgia.
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When doing research into Brooke having Fibromyalgia, she also mentioned she has chronic fatigue, which I found really helpful to know, as I already look at her for her style of work and creativity, I can look to her for guidance for a condition we both have and know that I will be able to achieve many amazing things like she has.
http://shadenproductions.com/blog/2011/01/07/photography-and-fibromyalgia/
Alessandro Capoccetti was born in Rome in 1979. Alessandro has rare condition called Syndrome Gollop Wolfgang. The condition causes Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the tibia, which means he has skin missing. This is accompanied by pre-axial Oligodactyly or Monodactyly of the feet, where his toes are malformed or non-existant.
Alessandro commented about his disability by saying “Having a disability means having to overcome lots of challenges. But I think that the strength I have and the will to live life to the fullest helps me to face any obstacles. When you have a passion for something, even the greatest barriers become smaller. What is important is to live every day with a big smile.”
Alessandro said that his biggest highlight and achievement within his career so far was being a part and creating the “Models of Diversity” documentary, which is an amazing documentary showcases how people with disabilities can work in my different industry and achieve my possibilities.
In an article the interviewer asked “What advice would you give other disabled people who want to start a career in photography?”
He replied by saying “It’s important to study, to want learn beyond what you already know. To be photographer you need to have a keen eye for detail and have a creative, artistic ability to capture those memories. Good communication skills and time management are important too as you’ll often need to meet tight deadlines. You’ll of course also need to have the technical ability to use a range of photographic equipment and technology. As with any job, it helps to enjoy and have passion for what you do.” which I think is great advice for anyone with or without a disability.
http://disabilityhorizons.com/2017/05/be-inspired-by-disabled-photographer-alessandro-capoccetti/
Jaleel King is 42 year old wedding photographer from Philadelphia. When Jaleel was eight, he was shot in the back with a sawed-off shotgun, which has left him unable to walk since. Jaleel got into photography as he got tired of working at a desk job so started to seek other occupations before he found photography. The main challenge that Jaleel faces is accessibility to different locations, as he would love to some beach shoots however due to sand it is apt something he is able to do without a special wheelchair. Another obstacle he faces is height, however he has managed to turn this into a positive as many clients tend to like that images are from the perspective that he sees, however Jaleel has lost some clients due to his disability, as people have cancelled appointments once they found out that he is disabled.
In an article Jaleel spoke about how he had a potential wedding client and that they had spoke and was arranging a meeting at her home due to him not know what her home was like, and it most likely not being wheelchair accessible, Jaleel told her that he was was wheelchair bound and asked if they could find another location. However when he called to confirm everything and she gave an excuse for why she couldn’t meet. Jaleel later found out that her mind set was that if he can’t meet her at her home, how could he possibly capture her wedding? Jaleel continued by commenting “And you know, I wanted to be upset, but a part of me couldn’t.” he later continued by saying “Also, it was another place for me where I had to recognize that the reality and the dream of having my photography speak for me more than my wheelchair was not something that was going to be separate. They had to come together.” I think its great that Jaleel has continued to do what he loves and even with set backs of losses clients he still continues forward with his work and creates amazing images that his clients are happy with.
Two companies in the UK have set up organisations for disabled photographers, so they can learn more about photographer, get adaptations that could help them and meet new people. The Disabled Photographers Society is one that I had heard of before but also talk to some of the members, when they have been set up at The Photography Show at the NEC. The DPS have been to The Photography Show for years to sell old camera equipment to raise money for the society but to also raise awareness of having a disability and still being able to do photography.
http://www.photographerswithdisabilities.org/index.html
Articles on other photographers that deal with disability in photography-
Elise Davies 