Introducing Our Champions: Rick Guidotti

Being Awarded the RARE Champion Award – Advocacy
Rick Guidotti, Founder – Positive Exposure

From high fashion on the runway to the beauty of DNA, Rick Guidotti has devoted his career to finding the beauty in every pair of genes. Born in Philadelphia, the photographer would find himself shooting the fashion elite for the covers of Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and GQ. With clients like Revlon, Yves St. Laurent and L’Oreal, Guidotti was front row to some of the most beautiful models in the world. Then one day on a break from a photo shoot, Rick came upon a stunning girl at a bus stop. He was in awe of her stunning white hair and pale skin. She was albino, and her unique look struck a chord with the photographer. He wanted to know more.

Later, after much research, Guidotti was dismayed to see the images of children with genetic differences. The pictures of them were clinical, found mostly in medical text books. He found them dehumanizing. He was inspired to create change in the way those with genetic diseases were viewed, and in 1998 he founded Positive Exposure.

The non-profit organization is dedicated to highlighting the beauty of genetic diversity and challenging stigmas associated with differences in appearance. The six-person office collaborates with genetic activists worldwide. His show, “Positive Exposure, The Spirit of Difference” premiered in June 2011 at the People’s Genome Celebration at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The show continues to tour internationally.