How He Views the World: Photographer Tucker Collins

For Tucker Collins, a camera isn’t just a piece of equipment—it’s a vital outlet, a way to communicate more deeply, and an invitation into his world. Tucker, who receives services from our Auburn office, is a decorated photographer employed by the Worcester Red Sox. With the team—known locally as the WooSox—Tucker has found a second family and an avenue for his photographic talent to blossom.

His mother Paula says Tucker’s love of photography can be traced to a day when their family was stuck in New York City gridlock. Paula handed Tucker a camera to help relieve the boredom—and instantly, a passion was born.

“I just handed him the digital camera and said, you know, ‘Show me what you see.’ I figured it was digital, so who cares? We’ll just delete the photos when we get to the hotel,” Paula says. “But it got us through the last 20 blocks or so. Then we looked through the pictures and I was like, ‘What? What are these? These pictures are phenomenal.’”

“I didn’t see the things he saw,” she continues. “And it really hit me—this is his thing. Because he doesn’t have great speech ability. This is how he shows the world what he sees, how he views it.”

Tucker spent the rest of that weekend in New York continuing to take pictures—and he hasn’t stopped since. A fateful encounter with a WooSox ambassador, followed later by a formal interview, led to his current role as the team’s Fan Photographer.

In his work, Tucker isn’t focused on the game itself—he’s out among the crowd at Polar Park, documenting joy, excitement, and connection. With the support of a one-on-one job coach, he navigates the stadium confidently, builds relationships with coworkers and fans, and has become a beloved part of the WooSox community. The team even produced a video featuring everyone from executives to players talking about Tucker and his impact. (Watch above.)

Paula says the job has transformed Tucker’s self-image. “If you ask him about work, he will literally be like, ‘Hi, I’m Tucker Collins from the Worcester Red Sox.’ Like, he’s so proud of it and so excited about it,” she says.

The WooSox job has also opened doors to opportunities beyond the ballpark, including gigs photographing fashion shows and university sports.

Tucker’s photography was recently featured in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day alongside painter Jordan Chaira (who also receives services from Nonotuck) at a well-attended art show at Polar Park. The idea for the exhibit came from WooSox CEO Dr. Charles Steinberg’s wife, a special education teacher and longtime supporter of Tucker, who suggested showcasing his photography during the offseason. Paula proposed holding it on World Down Syndrome Day, and despite the tight timing—just a week before Opening Day—the team at Polar Park enthusiastically made it happen.

An ample crowd—including several parents of children with Down syndrome—welcomed both artists, snapping up the bulk of their work and inspiring the WooSox to instantly commit to another show in the future. In addition to selling his photos, Tucker also donated prints to be auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting the WooSox Foundation, which in turn donated the money to the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC).

Now, Paula and her family are working to build something sustainable for Tucker to pursue (mostly) independently. They’re in the process of establishing an LLC—owned by a special needs trust—to formalize his work as a professional artist. Their goal is to create a self-sustaining business that will allow Tucker to sell his photos—on canvases, wearables, and other products—and, they hope, grow to a point where he can fund any supports he may need on his own.

They’re partnering with companies to handle production and fulfillment, which will enable the business to scale. Paula also hopes to connect with organizations that represent artists with disabilities, believing Tucker’s work—especially his recent floral photography—would be a perfect fit for places like hotels and corporate offices.

What began with a traffic jam and a borrowed camera has become a career, a calling, and a vision for the future—one that’s entirely Tucker’s own.