Randell, Robert, Freya, Beau and ElijaH
Getting to know the Foard Family has definitely been one of our highlights of 2020! What a team they are!
Randell and Bob wanted to celebrate the awesomeness of their amazing family and we have to say that ‘awesome’ doesn’t even come close to describing them.
Freya and Beau have additional needs, so every day has its challenges for the family. Randell and Bob have built and incredible home for them full of rewards and positives, and of course lots and lots of rainbows!
Randell loves taking photos herself but finds that this means she’s rarely in them. It was important for Bob that she got to be in the photographs and have a visual reminder of what an incredible Mum she is, pulling the strings at the centre of this extraordinary family.
It was also a dream for both of them to be able to have a family photo to remind them every day of the love that keeps them so strong.
After their shoot Randell very kindly answered a few questions about their experience with Unique + United
What were the fears or hesitations that have stopped you from having a family photography shoot in the past?
Well the fears and hesitations that stopped us from having a photo shoot before was that we have two autistic children, and the eldest, Freya can be very violent.
When she gets stressed she can be aggressive and will scream, cry, kick, bite and all sorts. So to get a family photo has always been so difficult until we found you guys.
I’ve always stopped myself from even thinking about it because Freya couldn't ever deal with the idea. Even when it comes to School photos we would have to be there to make sure they're not hurting each other. To try and get them to stay still was always the biggest challenge with Freya as she's a massive movement seeker.
So that was always been our biggest fear.
Now that you’ve been through the experience of working with us how do you feel it went?
I think the way it made me feel was emotional. It was overwhelming, comforting, welcoming. It was amazing! You guys really respected us, and the kids, and their behaviours. You really helped out, and were so patient and obviously it was just fun! The kids really loved you!
For them to have their little gifts as well when they first entered really cheered them up and excited them. It was awesome. And when Freya got quite upset, and started getting a bit violent, Jo was there to walk her around the studio and keep her calm and happy which was amazing.
To have the photos I have now is just the best thing in the world. To have my babies, and us, altogether in an amazing family photo, was something I had never thought I'd ever get in my life.
A family photo with me in it is rare because, although I take photos of my kids all the time, they are always with their Dad or Nanny and Gang-gan, but never with myself.
No one ever really thinks about taking the picture of the mum with the kids.
It was the best, you guys were amazing seriously amazing.
Now you’ve completed your session how do you feel it has brought your family together??
It’s made me feel the most the love for my babies. It is so hard for them to show their feelings and express them correctly but they show me how they feel towards me as well. Looking at our artworks I see their smiles, their happy place, their enjoyment - it's the best in the world!
I just love looking at them every day. From where I'm sat on the sofa once I can see the one of all of us together above the fireplace. You can see the love the happiness and the joy in that photo of all of us together. It's just the best, it really is!
What would you say to someone considering having a session with us?
I would highly recommend you guys anyone, especially to the Braunton carers group and the other Autistic Spectrum group in Barnstable. The studio is wheelchair accessible and you're so friendly, welcoming and really patient.
For kids with additional needs, who maybe lack the understanding, it can be really scary for them. They don't necessarily understand why they’re in this big room with flashing lights but you guys put out play tables and brought in a bubble machine and were so friendly.
You also just take ‘live’ shots, which are really great because you see them in their happy place - at their happiest, and being themselves.
I tell everybody you guys are the best that I’ve known with autistic children and I can't wait to come back one day with my sisters and get my niece and nephews all together in a photo!
Want to learn more about how Unique + United can help you see, feel and celebrate the best in your family every year?