23/06/2025
Yesterday I had the pleasure of welcoming Agnes and her daughter Tessy into the studio for a passport photo session.
Now, I don’t generally do passport photos anymore - it's usually quicker and cheaper for people to use a machine or a manned booth like Max YouKnowWhoIMean at a supermarket - but I always make an exception when someone is autistic or has additional needs.
Tessy is both autistic and has complex needs. She's also non-verbal, which made getting a passport photo up to this point incredibly difficult (actually, impossible) for them. The passport office had strict requirements that despite Tessy's challenges can not be bent: Tessy had to be facing forwards, neck straight and looking directly at the camera - something that’s almost impossible in her case.
To make things worse, Agnes had already tried several places... some simply said "sorry, can't help", a couple that attempted it briefly before giving up, and also another that quoted £400 to "have a go".
When I got a call from Agnes' friend Sam last week and heard about everything they'd been through - just for a much-needed short break in Europe - I knew I wanted to help.
Agnes and Tessy arrived on Sunday morning. Just over an hour later, they left smiling, with a successful passport application submitted from the studio. We even uploaded the photo together while they were here, just to be sure.
Photographing autistic or SEN clients takes a little patience all round - but it's genuinely one of the most (if not THE most) rewarding things that I do, and a real privilege.
Sadly, Agnes told me that her experience isn't uncommon. And that's heartbreaking. Something as simple as getting a passport photo - something most of us take for granted - shouldn't be so difficult.
If you or someone you know has struggled with this, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Even if you don’t visit my autism/SEN-friendly studio, I’m happy to share advice to improve your chances of getting a suitable photo.
And please - don’t pay £400 for a passport photo!
Full story on my blog!
