Parents sit on the floor with their young son playing with stacking toys during an inclusive in-home family photography session in Durham, NC for a child with ADNP Syndrome.

When people search for inclusive family photography in Durham, NC, they’re often looking for more than someone who can take a nice photo.

They’re looking for someone who understands that not every child communicates the same way. That comfort matters more than compliance. That joy doesn’t always look like “everyone smiling at the camera.”

I’ve made it my mission to become a photographer that neurodivergent and medically complex families can trust. So when the Petts family invited me into their Durham home last month, I felt deeply honored.

Their family of four includes three-year-old Theo, who has been diagnosed with ADNP Syndrome, and his younger brother Archie.

What is ADNP Syndrome?

Mother sits with her young son as he plays with a spinning stacking toy during an inclusive in-home family photography session in Durham, NC for a child with ADNP Syndrome.

Parents cuddle their son beside a sunlit window during an inclusive in-home family photography session in Durham, NC for a child with ADNP Syndrome.

Close-up of a mother holding her child’s hand while wrapped in a soft blanket during an inclusive in-home family photography session in Durham, NC.

Young boy interacts with an assistive communication device during an inclusive family photography session in Durham, NC.

ADNP Syndrome is an ultra-rare genetic condition with fewer than 500 diagnosed cases worldwide.

According to Theo’s mom, who shared about their journey on Rare Disease Day:

“The ADNP gene plays an important role in helping regulate the expression of other genes. The ADNP protein helps to form other brain cells, chromosomes and aid communication between different neurons. Changes to this protein can affect how the brain and body develop.”

Because ADNP impacts multiple systems, it presents differently in every child.

In Theo’s case, this currently includes:

Global developmental delays
Hypotonia
Vision challenges
Autism

If you'd like to learn more or support ongoing research, I encourage you to check out the ADNP Syndrome: Parent And Caregiver Network of Hope.

Why We Chose Home As The Backdrop For This Inclusive Family Photo Session in Durham

For this inclusive family photography session in Durham, we intentionally chose to photograph the family in their home.

For many neurodivergent children, unfamiliar environments can create sensory overload. Home offers:

Familiar sounds
Known routines
Comfort items
Safety adaptations already in place

And most importantly, it allows kids to lead.

Mother plays with a toy school bus while two young brothers sit on the floor during an inclusive in-home family photography session in Durham, NC, designed for a child with ADNP Syndrome.

Theo loved engaging with toys that responded to his movement, like stacking donut-shaped pieces that twirled down a post and toy pots and pans that clanked when lids were added. Sound and cause-and-effect play clearly brought him joy.

One especially meaningful detail was the family’s Fisher Price Little People bus, complete with a wheelchair-accessible figure. Theo watched closely as his mom slid the figure out of the bus, mirroring mobility experiences he may one day have himself.

We also created cozy moments, wrapping Theo in his favorite blue blanket while his parents snuggled him in a sun-filled patch of the living room. His mom had shared ahead of time that Theo loves feeling cozy, and honoring that helped create calm, connection-filled images.

Letting Kids Lead

This is advice I give often, but it becomes essential when it comes to inclusive family photography in Durham:

Let your kids lead.

It’s okay if they:

Jump
Wander
Make noise
Stim
Ignore directions
Change the plan

In fact, I prefer it.

When children lead, we get to capture something far more meaningful than a posed portrait. We get a glimpse into their curiosity and how they experience the world.

A Relaxed Approach to Inclusive Family Photography in Durham, NC

Parents hold their two young sons' hands while walking together across the living room during an inclusive family photography session in Durham, NC.

Young boy plays with stacking toys on the kitchen floor during an inclusive in-home family photography session in Durham, NC for a child with ADNP Syndrome.

Young boy sits on his father’s chest while holding a small book during a relaxed in-home family photography session in Durham, NC.

Mother cuddles her son wrapped in a soft blue blanket near a sunlit window during an inclusive in-home family photography session in Durham, NC.

Father balances his two young sons on the couch beside a window during an in-home family photography session in Durham, NC.

What stood out most wasn’t a single moment where the session “clicked.” It was the tone Theo and Archie’s parents set from the beginning.

This didn’t feel like a once-in-a-lifetime event where everyone needed to perform. It felt like a relaxed Saturday morning with a new friend present.

Archie clearly takes many of his cues from Theo. Their mom shared that when Theo feels comfortable, Archie tends to follow and I saw that play out in every room. Archie would first watch Theo’s reaction before exploring toys or climbing onto furniture.

That sibling awareness created an unspoken rhythm to the session and made it super easy for both boys to feel comfortable with my presence.

Why Communication Matters

Mother plays with her son using stacking cones on the playroom floor during an inclusive in-home family photography session in Durham, NC for a child with ADNP Syndrome.

Theo’s mom shared something important about past photography experiences:

“There was no conversation beforehand of ‘are there things that make the kids uncomfortable?’ There was an expectation that they understood spoken word, language, that they can speak back and that’s simply not always the case.”

Before this session, we talked about:

What regulates and dysregulates the boys
How the family naturally interacts
How to make the session accessible

That preparation helped create an experience where everyone could relax. In fact, here are some strategies I utilize when preparing to work with neurodivergent families.

Creating Space, Not Pressure

One of the ways I approach inclusive family photography in Durham, NC is by allowing time.

I do not bookend or put a time limit on these sessions.

We move at the family’s pace so there’s never pressure to “get the shot” quickly. For families already navigating complex needs, the last thing they need is urgency layered on top.

Why This Work Matters

Throughout the session, I kept returning to one feeling: honor.

Parenting a neurodivergent child requires immense emotional and logistical energy. Inviting someone into your home, your safe space, requires trust.

This session felt like a reminder of why I’m doing this work and why I hope to continue becoming a go-to inclusive family photographer for families across Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill.