A local photographer from Maryland, US, is making it her mission to show children with special needs just how beautiful they are.
An office manager by day, Stephanie Smith from Annapolis takes photos during her free time.
Having a knack for photography, she started to do it professionally just a few months ago and charges clients around $125 an hour. After hearing about a photographer turn down a woman with Down syndrome, Stephanie knew she had to do something.
For kids with special needs, her services are absolutely free.
“I put it out on Facebook that I was willing to donate special needs photo shoots and the amount of people who reached out to me was completely insane,” she said.
Families who worked with Stephanie praised her because they had always felt too intimidated to have portrait sessions done.
“It’s to make them feel important. Make them feel special, original, and no different than any other kid,” Stephanie said.
Without asking for a single penny, all Stephanie wants in return is a photo with the beautiful model.
“I have a disabled sister,” Smith said. “She became paralyzed from the chest down with a rare disease called transverse myelitis — it’s when your body attacks its spinal cord. Ever since then, I just felt like I have to lend my hand out to people in need because we were in need.”
Stephanie makes time for three free photo shoots a month. So far, she’s done 16.
Her most recent portrait session was with 12-year-old Shane Lapsley who suffers from brittle bone disease.
Last week, Shane and his family met Stephanie in a park in their local area to take photos. Christina Lanham, Shane’s mother, said that they’ve tried to set up a photo shoot since last winter, but he just kept breaking one bone after the other. Over the past twelve years, Shane’s broken almost 60 bones — and yet still stands strong.
The portraits Stephanie takes may seem normal to some, but for these kids and their families, they’re something close to a miracle.
You can view more of Stephanie’s works here.