Say Cheese!
You may remember different points in your childhood where your parents decided it was time for a holiday family photo. Your mom may have picked out the perfect outfit to match your siblings, all dressed in red and green. The multiple photo shoots. The many flashes. The constant smiles. The arguments and stress #IfYouKnowYouKnow… the list goes on.
A typical family photo shoot might not be accessible to special needs families. They often need sensory friendly opportunities that finish in under 5 to avoid overwhelm from the lights, unfamiliar sounds and the requests for eye contact which can be difficult for children with anxiety or autism. Families and photographers alike have shared the first 30 seconds are typically key to capturing the essence and personality of the family. Because pictures and memories can arguably be even more important to this particular community, Pause partnered with local professional photographer, Katie Laughlin of Cin Day photo to provide families with a sensory friendly opportunity.
Katie has donated her time and talent with Pause since 2015 to capture photos at events and started providing holiday family photos several years ago. She has been married to her husband, Cameron for 17 years and has three boys who she has homeschooled for the past 10 years! With her help, Pause was able to provide 28 families with holiday portraits this year.
As a child, she was always the one at school hanging out with friends taking pictures of them with her film camera. Katie has always loved photography and after college she began pursuing it as a career. After 20 years, Katie still loves the joy she experiences when her clients see their portraits and are so happy!
"I feel blessed to give parents a low-stress portrait experience that they might not otherwise have. When parents stop and tell me they haven't had a family photo in many years it touches me deeply because every family deserves to have memories in the form of a portrait. I experience so much joy using the gifts God has given me to be able to gift them a family portrait. I hope that they feel seen and loved and cared for when they have their portraits taken, even though it is a brief encounter!"
- Katie Laughlin, owner of CinDay Photo
We love Katie and our families do too. One of our Pause families said it perfectly.
"Getting a professional family picture taken is something we have rarely done and never at Christmas. Our boys have a hard time sitting still and we always say a good picture is when everyone is looking in the direction of the camera. Most photography sessions would be way too long for them to handle & changing backgrounds etc would be too much. The low key, quick in & out of the Pause Holiday Photos was perfect! The photographer knew to snap quickly & not worry if everyone was smiling (not going to happen). My husband texted me today to ask me to remind him to print the picture out so he can put it on his desk at work!!"
- Amy B., Pause Mom
Katie - thank you so much for providing a quick and easy option for Pause families to have their holiday photos taken. We are so thankful for your continuous partnership!
Interested in booking a future session with Katie? Contact her at katie@cindayphoto.com.
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
