I was thinking today about all that I've been blessed with...so much...too many things to list! It occurred to me a while back that photography is a gift. I mean that in every sense. It's a skill or gifting that I have and it's a gift that I love giving to people. There is nothing like capturing a bride or a family and seeing them cherish that gift. But, since I've been thinking about being blessed and having a gift to give, I've also been thinking about giving it away! I know I charge for my services because I have bills like everyone else. But, I pay my bills and after that I want to give back. Where am I going with this? If you are a photographer and you love photography as much as I do...find a way that you can bless someone with the gift of photography. Here's a couple ways I'm looking at:
-find a women's shelter and volunteer to take pictures of families. (possibly families that left in a hurry and left all their memories behind) Pictures can help them create new memories and start over.
-the ministry of "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" is incredible! They're always looking for photographers willing to give of their time and their talents to serve families who have lost a child.
-find a family that could never afford you...and surprise them with a gift certificate for a shoot!
-visit a senior home or retirement community and offer to come in for an afternoon! Shoot and print images free of charge...memories for them and for their families. Priceless!
-One of my friends offers her services to families that have a member with a terminal illness. She comes in every couple of months or weeks and captures the family together.
The ideas are endless! I'm sure you have many that I haven't listed I WANT TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS! Let's all commit to do something this year that doesn't have anything to do with growing our business. We're doing it because photography is a gift and is meant to be shared.
