Photographer captures kids as superheroes
Like many people, Katie Settel has felt overwhelmed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A photographer by trade, her business has been deemed nonessential, so she hasn’t been able to do her job. Settel, who lives in Fairfield, is also a single parent to a 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy. Between parenting her children and keeping her head up during an uncertain time for her business, Settel often felt scared, lost and helpless.
All of those feelings built up inside of her, until, one night, she had a revelation.
“I was going to bed one night and I thought ‘I need a superhero,’ ” Settel said. “And then I thought ‘We all do.’ ”
So Settel decided to create a superhero. Actually, she wanted to create dozens of superheroes, who could inspire the masses and work toward the common good.
Over the past few weeks, Settel has encouraged parents to take pictures of their children in superhero costumes — everything from store-bought outfits to homemade costumes involving bedsheet capes and cardboard shields — and post them to social media. She is also asking them to donate to Fairfield-based Save the Children, in the hopes of raising a total of $10,000.
To Settel, this project, which she has dubbed “SuperPowers United,” is a win-win. Not only does the project raise money for a local charity that helps children around the goal, but, ideally, it will flood social media with pictures of happy kids decked out in their heroic finest.
“I can’t think of anything more inspiring than a little kid in a superhero costume,” Settel said.
The plan has evolved from what she originally conceived. She said her initial goal was to enlist other photographers to shoot kids in their superhero costumes, and donate money. But, as photographers aren’t considered an essential business, she didn’t feel comfortable encouraging them to go out and work.
Instead, her plan shifted to asking parents and guardians to photograph the children they’re sheltering with in superhero garb. Settel said she has gone out herself and snapped a couple of children in her neighborhood (from an appropriate distance, of course) in capes, masks and the like.
As of Wednesday, Settel said, she had collected about 20 images and raised about $1,200 for Save the Children. Courtney Nields, associate director of community engagement and fundraising for Save the Children, said she’s moved by Settel’s project.
“Katie’s fundraiser is a perfect example of the best of humanity in these challenging times,” Nields said. “We are so impressed by her creativity both as a photographer and as a fundraiser. Her #superpowersunited challenge is helping to support Save the Children’s efforts in working around the clock to keep children healthy, safe and protected. Katie is a superhero in her own right, and we are incredibly grateful for her support.”
Most of the pictures are straightforward shots of children dressed up as fighters of villainy, but a few have been more unconventional, including a photo one person sent her of a dog clad as the Statue of Liberty.
“Somebody sent me a picture of their child from the 1980s, where they’re dressed as a superhero,” Settel said
She said she doesn’t mind that some people are interpreting her project a little differently — she’ll take all comers. Her main goal is to spread joy, and to empower families to help other families.
“My main thing as a photographer is to build connections,” Settel said. “It’s my life’s goal. Instead of being scared (during the pandemic), I want to put that fear into action.”
For more information on how the “SuperPowers United” project, including how to donate to Save the Children, visit https://www.facebook. com/superpowersunited/ or donate directly through http://support. savethechildren.org/goto/ SuperPowersUnited.