Houston Vandergriff: The Down Syndrome Photographer Making a Difference

Houston Vandergriff is not just a photographer, he is a true inspiration. Despite being diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth, he has become a successful travel photographer, an advocate, and a dreamer. Houston has traveled to all 95 counties in his home state of Tennessee, 49 of the 50 United States, 5 Canadian provinces, and 26 countries. Through his photography, Houston inspires others to live life to the fullest and to live life with compassion.

Houston’s Story: A True Inspiration

Houston Vandergriff was born in Tennessee with many complications, including Down syndrome, low muscle tone, and a hole in his heart. However, Houston’s parents never gave up on him. They took him to all the necessary treatments and gave him a lot of love and support. Despite all of the challenges, Houston has defied all odds and has become a successful travel photographer.

Houston’s Photography: Making the World a Better Place

Houston’s vision for his photography is simple: Make the world a better place. Houston believes that his photography has the power to make a difference in the world, and he uses it to share his view of the world without actually saying a word. Despite the low muscle tone from Down syndrome, Houston’s images capture the essence of his subjects with clarity, sensitivity, and an eye for detail. His photos inspire others, both inside and outside of the disability community.

Houston’s Journey: Advocating for Inclusion

Houston is a strong self-advocate who uses the universal language of the arts to push for inclusion. Through his gift of photography, he is sharing the gift of hope – the hope of knowing that everything is going to be okay. He also wants to help those who do not have the opportunity to visit the places he photographs to be able to experience them. Houston wants to show the world that having Down syndrome does not define him, but rather it is a part of him that makes him unique.

Houston’s Accomplishments: A True Expert

Houston started taking photos as a preschooler to help him with his speech and communication difficulties, and he fell in love with photography. As he grew older, he continued to hone his skills and decided to turn his passion into a profession.

His first non-disposable camera was a Canon Powershot, and after that, he started using a DSLR camera. Specifically, it was a Nikon D90 and since then, he has always used Nikon.

• Houston prefers to shoot in RAW format and then edit his photos using Lightroom software. He typically uses presets as a starting point and makes adjustments to them as needed. Additionally, he has the mobile version of Lightroom installed on his iPhone for editing on the go.

• In terms of his education, Houston has earned his Certificate of Photography in 2019 and his Advanced Photography Certificate in 2020 after completing more than 200 hours of study through the University of Tennessee Professional Programs.

Houston’s Travel: An Expert in the Field

Houston thrives on traveling to new locations, experiencing new cultures, and meeting new people. In the process, he has become an expert traveler. Numerous month-long trips have been spent with only a carry-on and a backpack for his camera. Planes, trains, buses, subways, or water taxis – he’ll do whatever it takes to get to the next beautiful place.

Houston’s View: All of Them

Houston loves to capture the beauty and uniqueness of every place he visits. He believes that every place has its own beauty and uniqueness, and that it’s important to appreciate and capture that in his photography.

When asked his favorite country?
He smiles and says, “All of ‘em.”

Houston Vandergriff: Advocate, Artist, Traveler, Dreamer

Houston Vandergriff is more than just a travel photographer. He’s an advocate for inclusion, an artist who captures the beauty and uniqueness of the world, a traveler who has seen it all, and a dreamer who inspires others to live their lives to the fullest. His photography has the power to inspire, to move, and to make the world a better place.

Houston’s Photography Business

Houston’s photography business, Downs & Towns, began in 2021, selling fine art prints, NFTs, and more. Shortly after he began to get requests for podcasts, shows, and news stories to share his message of inclusion, advocacy, and education about outdated stereotypes surrounding disability.

He is a member of the Southern Appalachia Nature Photographers (SANP) and the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance (ITWPA).

He has donated his images for both domestic and international charitable initiatives. He started selling his photography as NFTs in 2022 and has sold 70 NFTs to collectors all over the world.

His NFTs have recently been shown in Venice, Rome, and LA, and his work is also showcased in several virtual galleries.

In April 2023, Houston was a speaker at NFT NYC, discussing the use of NFTs for good. On this occasion, he was wearing Photography Inspired T-shirt. 

At Photography Inspired Fashion Shop, we are extremely proud to have such an amazing brand ambassador representing our brand worldwide!

If you're interested in getting T-shirts like Houston's, you can easily find them on our Photography Inspired Fashion Shop, here.

Houston’s Impact: Changing Perceptions of Disability

Houston’s photography has not only inspired others to live life to the fullest, but it’s also had a significant impact on how people view individuals with disabilities. His work helps to break down stereotypes and change negative perceptions of what people with Down syndrome can achieve. His story has been featured in numerous news articles, podcasts, and television segments, bringing his message of inclusion and hope to a wider audience.

Houston’s Vision: A More Inclusive World

• Houston’s vision is simple but powerful: a world where people with disabilities are fully included and valued. He’s using his photography and his story to help make that vision a reality.

• Through his work, he’s breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and showing the world that people with disabilities can achieve anything they set their minds to.

Houston’s Message: Live Life to the Fullest

Through his photography and his life, Houston’s message is clear: live life to the fullest. He’s a true inspiration, showing us all that anything is possible if you have the passion, determination, and drive to pursue your dreams. Houston has faced many challenges in his life, but he’s never let them hold him back. Instead, he’s used them as fuel to push himself forward, to explore the world, and to make a difference in the lives of others.

Conclusion

Houston Vandergriff is a true inspiration, a gifted photographer, and an advocate for inclusion. His work has the power to move, to inspire, and to make the world a better place. Through his photography, he’s challenging stereotypes and changing perceptions of what people with disabilities can achieve. He’s traveled the world, capturing breathtaking photos along the way, and he’s using his story to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. Houston’s message is clear: anything is possible if you have the passion, determination, and drive to pursue your dreams.

To learn more about Houston, visit:

• Official Website: https://www.downsandtowns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/downsandtowns/
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/downsandtowns
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@downsandtowns?lang=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DownsandTowns?s=20&t=wIGa4MFU3-grfjo50QgWpw