We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Elizabeth Rajchart. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Elizabeth below.

Alright, Elizabeth thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I’ve always loved the disability community. I’ve lived with disability since I was a child, and I’d always found my community fascinating and so strong. I’ve been speaking on disability since I was a child, talking to parent groups and teachers. In 2019, my chronic illness returned, enough so that I needed to use a wheelchair. All of these things coincided, and I realized how little representation there was in the boudoir scene. I’d never seen a boudoir portrait of a disabled person before. I decided to pivot my work to primarily focus on representation in the disabled community — first in boudoir, then expanding to disability portraiture as a whole.
My goal is always to show my models as they want to be seen, rather than how society sees them. Disabled people have a spotlight put on them by society, and frequently don’t get to decide what that spotlight is. I allow my models to choose how they show themselves; I’m just a tool for them to be able to do so.

Elizabeth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve lived with chronic illness for many years. In 2016, my illness became so severe I was virtually homebound, and I was extremely bored while stuck at home every day. I’d always loved photography since I was a child (I’d set up my dolls in “portraits” and take awful photos of them with my cheap point and shoot) and I wanted to learn more. I bought a camera from Facebook marketplace and began learning how to shoot manual on my cats. I’d practice photographing my cats every day.
With new treatments, my health slowly improved. in 2017, my friend invited me to a local drag show, mentioning to bring my camera. I fell in love with the drag scene, and photographed at the clubs the rest of summer, learning even more photography skills.
I began to be known in my circle as a photographer, and slowly throughout the community. I expanded my skillset to portraiture and boudoir, and began to gain more clients.
I realized how little representation there was in the boudoir scene. I’d never seen a boudoir portrait of a disabled person before. I decided to pivot my work to primarily focus on representation in the disabled community — first in boudoir, then expanding to disability portraiture as a whole.
I now offer a range of photography services, and I specialize in working with the disability community. I’ve started working at a boutique stock agency with the goal of disability representation. I’ve covered adaptive fashion shows at NYFW. I’ve received a grant for my work in disability representation. I’ve been flown out to cover the Paralympics. But my goal never changes — representation for my community.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve really had to unlearn my own internal ableism. I struggle with being harder on myself and being extremely ableist to myself and my own needs. I’ve realized recently that any ableism you have internally will inevitably come out when working with disabled models. You might want their hands “quieter”, or to photograph them in a way that hides their disability more, which is such a disservice to the model and their individuality. It’s so important to continue to work on your own biases if you’re going to photograph a marginalized group.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When my models tell me that no one has ever photographed them in this way before, that this is the first time they’ve truly seen themselves. That’s my goal — to show their true, authentic selves, not how society chooses to show them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elizabethrajchart.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/lizrajchart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizrajchart/
• Other: TikTok: @thatwheelchairphotog