15/10/2026
💛 THE WITH GRACE PROJECT – HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD 💛
Some children have stories that deserve to be told, faces that deserve to be seen, and moments that deserve to be remembered. That is what The With Grace Project is all about.
I created The With Grace Project in honour of my beautiful daughter, Grace, who has a rare genetic condition called 4q21 microdeletion syndrome. As her mum, I know that life with additional needs can come with challenges that many people never see or fully understand.
Through my photography, I wanted to create something meaningful for children like Grace - a space where they can simply be themselves, feel celebrated and have their stories told without expectations or pressure.
📸 So, what is The With Grace Project?
It is a photography project offering FREE portrait sessions to children under 18 who have an illness, disability or additional needs, including those with invisible or complex conditions.
There is no pressure to smile, no need to sit still, and absolutely no expectation for a child to behave in a particular way.
Our sessions are informal, relaxed and completely guided by the child’s pace. We take breaks when needed, follow their lead, embrace their personalities and celebrate them exactly as they are.
Whether your child is full of energy, needs extra time to feel comfortable, uses medical equipment, communicates differently or simply doesn’t enjoy having their photograph taken, they are welcome.
✨ But I have bigger dreams for With Grace.
Following our recent exhibition, which shared the beautiful faces and stories of children involved in the project, my next goal is to create a book featuring these children and their stories.
I want to help raise awareness, challenge perceptions of disability and show the world that every child deserves to be seen, celebrated and included. I hope this book will help families feel less alone and give a voice to children whose experiences are not always understood.
To make this happen, I need your help.
💛 PLEASE SHARE THIS POST.
You never know who in your circle might need to hear about this project. You might have a friend, family member, colleague or someone in your community raising a child with additional needs who has never come across With Grace before.
If you know a family with a child who might be suitable for the project, please share this post with them or encourage them to get in touch. I would love to welcome more families and continue growing this community.
You don’t need to have a rare diagnosis. You don’t need to have everything figured out. And your child certainly doesn’t need to fit into anyone else’s idea of what a photography session should look like.
Every child has a story worth telling. Every child deserves to feel seen. And every child deserves photographs that celebrate who they are. 🤍
If you would like to learn more or apply for a session, please visit:
🌐 https://niamhfitzsimons.com/the-with-grace-project/
Thank you to everyone who has supported this project so far. Every share, every conversation and every family who puts their trust in me helps bring this vision to life.
Let’s help more children feel seen, more families feel understood, and more stories be told. 💛
