MORE THAN A STUDIO-A PLACE TO BELONG
ABOUT
HOPELYND
Our Mission
At Hopelynd, our mission is to shape a welcoming space where creativity, compassion, and community come together as one. Grounded in faith and love, we use photography to honor the stories and dignity of people with disabilities, ensuring every individual feels seen & valued while inspiring a world to view every person as wonderfully made.
Our Core Values
- Accessibility for All: We create inclusive spaces and experiences for people with both visible and invisible disabilities.
- Disability Inclusivity and Empathy: Our mission is rooted in honoring the diverse needs, identities, and perspectives within the disability community.
- Creativity and Expression: We empower individuals to share their stories, celebrate their strengths, and connect through art and voice.
- Compassion and Empathy: We lead with understanding and respect in all that we do.
- Community Engagement and Connection: We build a supportive network where every person feels seen, valued, and included.
- Empowerment and Opportunity: We champion spaces where everyone can belong and thrive.
Kellie Hetler and Kara Hanes, two photographers and mothers to daughters with disabilities, are creating Hopelynd to fill a critical gap in their community. Drawing from personal experience, they envision a nonprofit studio intentionally designed for people of all abilities. Hopelynd will feature wheelchair access, sensory-friendly lighting, and inclusive design to offer a welcoming space for photography, events, and connection. Their mission is to build more than just a studio—it will be a place where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to capture life’s moments in a space built with empathy, accessibility, and belonging at its core.
The Founders
Hopelynd's Name
The name Hopelynd carries deep personal meaning, rooted in love, resilience, and purpose. It was created by our founders—Kellie Hetler and Kara Hanes—two photographers and mothers to daughters with disabilities, who joined forces to build something their community deeply needed: a space of understanding, support, and visibility for families navigating similar journeys.
The name itself is a tribute to their daughters, blending their middle names: Gabriella Hope and Naomi Lynne. The word “Hope” reflects strength, optimism, and the enduring belief in possibility. “Lyn” represents connection, heritage, and compassion. To complete the name, they added a “D”—symbolizing disability, the shared experience that inspired their mission.
Hopelynd exists to bring both the physical and mental disability communities together—fostering inclusion, building community, and celebrating the full spectrum of human ability.
