Tuesday
Oct192010
Do you know one of these people?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 11:42AM | Kevin Kubota If so, it's urgent that you contact them immediately and give them a real or virtual hug. They donated their time this past Sunday to help with our annual Family Photos in the Park day in Bend, OR. Some gave of their photography talents, others lent a hand as assistants and coordinators. The day was amazing - beautiful weather, colorful leaves falling from the noble trees. We photographed 260 families between 10am-3pm and I certainly couldn't have done it without all of their time and talents. It was a complete volunteer effort created to give families in need a beautiful holiday portrait - something with incredible lasting value.
We've been doing this project for 10 years now and it gets bigger and better every year. If you are a photographer, and want to start something like this in your area, we'll be happy to share with you our experience and forms we use to organize the event.
Every year I'm touched by the families that come for their portraits - it's poignant in ways that are quite different from my normal portrait photography work. These families are incredibly thankful for their gift and I realize that for many of them this is also a first time experience. One family brought us some jars of home-made strawberry jam from their garden! Early in the day, I had one of the most heart warming experiences I've ever had there. A young girl came with her mom. She appeared to be very shy and hid her face from us as we tried to photograph her. I put down the camera and started to talk to her and she turned and looked at me. Then, with arms outstretched, she walked to me and gave me the biggest, longest hug I've ever had! She wouldn't let go…and I didn't want her to. After that, she joined her mom and we got some wonderful images of them together.
The gift that keeps on giving!
One of our setups in the park. The fall leaves were wonderful!
And…my wonderful volunteers!! Find them. Hug them. Thank them for me.
tagged Charity, Family Photos, inspiration in Charity, Inspiration, Journal Entries
Charity, Family Photos, inspiration in Charity, Inspiration, Journal Entries
Reader Comments (7)
I would love to get the information on setting up an event like this!
I would love to do this in my area. Can you please email me share how you went about kicking this amazing opportunity to give.
OMG! That first pic of the girl hugging you is sooooo sweet!! Wish I was there to contribute. Next year for sure and we're planning a family photo day in the park for our community as well. Keep up the great work Kevin, you rock!
Congratulations guys, I know that you guys touched lives forever! On my behalf thank you for setting a good example for the rest of us photographers. On another note: Can you share your lighting technique, & any other information that can help us in the future?
Thanks.
WoW! It is so great to see a group of people donate their time and talent in order to make someone else fell really good! Kudos to all who took part in this endevor! Hope you are able to continue this type of activity as it inspires all of us to do the same! It is so refreshing to see people giving to others in a world that says get all you can.. Thanks!