Bell gives disability a face through photographsDate: 3/12/2015 EAST LONGMEADOW – Sometimes a photograph can capture moments that humanize and evoke strong emotions in the viewer.
That’s just what Holly Bell, a photographer and lifelong resident, has been doing in a series of family portraits she’s taken that focus on children with disabilities.
Bell, 42, told Reminder Publications she had previously worked as a clinical social worker for 15 years before deciding to leave the field. Around that time, she took a photography course at Springfield Technical Community College, which later developed into a passion.
She said she left social work for personal reasons four years ago and before that had no experience in photography.
“I quickly realized the meaningful connection between social work and photography,” she said. “My effortless way of engaging others and making them feel comfortable was certainly valuable as a social worker and is equally valuable when photographing others. People often feel awkward and uncomfortable in front of the lens, so it is my duty to help put them at ease.”
Last year, Bell was hired to do a family portrait shoot for the Eckert family of East Longmeadow. The photo shoot included the family’s 13-year-old daughter Mia, their nine month-old baby daughter Emily, and 11-year-old son, Joey, who is disabled.
“It’s a population that is often marginalized and if you don’t have someone in your family who has a disability; it isn’t part of your day to day life,” Bell added. “You don’t think twice about it … The idea was born of, ‘Well, I can be creative and artistic and I can take photos of families who might otherwise go without any professional photos done because of limitations, medical reasons; there’s a million reasons.’”
The photo shoot was a surprise for the parents and was planned by another family member, she noted. Angela, the children’s mother had told Bell that the photos were her favorite gift she received for Christmas.
“I went to their home and photographed them in their own setting; which allowed the most flexibility and comfort for the family,” Bell said. “It is often difficult on many levels to bring a disabled child to a photography studio and expect them to sit and pose.”
Many children with disabilities sometimes have seizure disorders and cannot be photographed by the “bright studio lighting and flashes,” she added.
“I want to use my camera to do good for others, to dignify, to normalize, and to humanize,” Bell explained.
During the last six months, Bell said she want to specialize in portraits of families with children who have disabilities. So far, she has shot “a handful” of these types of family portraits.
“For example I did a shoot of sweet little girl who was born with spina bifida who is wheel chair,” she added. “Her dad is an artist and her mom just had another baby and while she was pregnant we did a shoot of this little girl, Aurora, in her wheelchair with a pallet of paint; painting [on her] mom’s belly.”
Bell said she has also taking senior portraits for high school students and shooting photos for small weddings during the past few years.
When she began photography, she initially started by taking photos of “strangers on the street,” particularly of homeless men and women, she said.
“A good photo or good portrait is sort of being able to capture the soul of someone; the essence of who they are” Bell added. “What I discovered was I liked taking photos that could covey emotion.”
These photos of people on the street have been featured in the Monson Art Show in 2013. Bell also won the Gutenberg International Award for black and white photography in 2012.
For more information about Bell visit www.hollybellphoto.com or go to www.facebook.com/HollyBellPhotographie?ref=br_tf.
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