Lincoln man pursues passion for photography despite disability

Chad Madson is wheelchair-bound, nonverbal and only has the use of one arm.

But the 37-year-old doesn’t let cerebral palsy keep him from pursuing his passion for photography.

Even with his physical limitations, the Lincoln man takes professional-quality photos with the help of a custom-made tripod attachment for his wheelchair and assistance from Region V Services.

“Since having my camera on my powerchair in front of me, I am able to independently do all of the camera settings with no help,” he said in a written response to questions. “As my interest grew stronger, my passion for photography grew.”

The tripod was specifically made to fit the attachment that normally holds his iPad and easily slides into place. From there, Madson is able to control his camera with a remote and take photos with ease.

Before he had the tripod built, Madson used a webcam attachment for his computer and a smaller tripod he wrapped around the arm of his wheelchair.

Region V Services assists Madson with promotion and transportation to and from sites.

He is completely self-taught and learned his skills from watching YouTube tutorials about photography and photo editing.

Fifteen years later, Madson now has his own business — CAMpix Photography and Portraits — where he sells his photos and offers portraits through his website.

He has plans to further expand his customer base and provide low-income families with affordable portraits.