Proving Beauty Has No Boundaries

CLEARWATER, Fla. – As the message of body image and self-love continues to trend on social media and in society, the images we see in advertising and media are changing. We see people who look more like those around us; but, how many people with disabilities have you seen in front of a professional camera lens?

Research shows 1 in 4 households are impacted by disabilities, yet 1 in 4 ad campaigns don’t show individuals with disabilities. A huge part of our population is being excluded. While inclusion is a trending topic, it’s also a smart business move. As retailers all over the country are closing stores and losing sales, companies who have been inclusive in their marketing have found their way back into the spotlight and out of the red.

The team at nonprofit Help Us Gather noticed that many people with special needs were not getting the opportunity to be featured in photos or advertising. That’s why Help Us Gather, or HUG, hosted a Photoshoot Day at their office in Clearwater, Florida. The goal: to challenge current thinking about what is and isn’t beautiful, giving individuals with special needs a chance to step in front of the camera and show why they deserve to be represented in what we see in media and online.

“I am fed up with hearing that there is not a market for individuals with special needs to model,” said Robin Lally, Founder of HUG. “I believe many organizations would choose to have people of all abilities represent them in advertising campaigns, if given the opportunity. However, talent agencies are keeping photos out of their catalogs and setting them aside for “special requests.”

Behind the lens, two talented professional photographers donated their time and efforts for this event. Jessica McKnight’s award-winning photography has been featured on 40+ magazine covers and billboards. Francisco Castro is a high fashion photographer whose work has been featured in publications around the world, including Vogue Italy. In a world where stories about people with disabilities regularly make headlines, these two talented photographers show us why shining the spotlight on people with special needs shouldn’t be a “special request”; they deserve to be front-and-center.

If you are interested in changing the status quo and booking an individual with a disability for your next ad campaign, HUG is happy to help connect you to talented models with special needs. HUG also welcomes the chance to discuss this important issue in a news article or TV segment.

ABOUT
Help Us Gather is part of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Clearwater, Florida. HUG’s mission is to advocate for inclusion and connect individuals with disabilities to social events and activities. Robin Lally founded HUG as a way to find or share events for people with special needs in Tampa Bay. For more information or interview requests, contact HUG at (727) 489 - 5885 or email robin@helpusgather.org.
###