lifestyle magazine shoot
One of the most important goals that I want to continually emphasize in my photography business is the idea of “giving back”. To that end I have recently been donating a lot of my time to charitable causes in hopes that their important messages may be relayed through my photography.
Photography can be a very powerful tool to get a message heard since it’s one of the only ways we are actually able to freeze time and capture a moment, relay a message, or convey a thought . . .
A couple of weeks ago I photographed a woman named Kathy Waltz who was being showcased by a local Central Florida magazine for her considerable efforts in the community via Heart of Florida United Way (link), specifically with two wonderful organizations – Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (link) and BETA Center (link).
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a private, nonprofit organization that collects, stores and distributes donated food to more than 450 nonprofit partner agencies in six (6) Central Florida counties! The place was absolutely amazing with hundreds of thousands of pieces of donated food items in their warehouses. A truly incredible operation, to say the least!
BETA Center is another very important agency which focuses on parenting, teen moms and at-risk families. They reach over 17,000 people annually through the areas of Parenting Education Services, Pregnant/Parenting Teen Programs, Neighborhood-based Family Services, Emergency Family Support Services and the Residential Program!
I had heard of both of these programs in the past but wasn’t really familiar with what it was they actually accomplished in the community until this documentary project. Needless to say traveling to both Second Harvest and BETA Center was an eye-opening experience for me and I’m very thankful to have been asked to help tell their stories! Both of these centers, as well as the people who staff them are remarkable!
I’ve always believed volunteering to be a very honorable way to spend one’s time . . . and I’m amazed and thankful at how documenting these agencies and charitable causes via photography has really forced me to become intimately familiar with each and every cause!
I can’t wait to see what’s next!
That’s great that you’re helping out. Volunteer orgs need people of all stripes and skills. We did some video work for a children’s shelter and got more recommendations for future work from them than from anywhere else. It’s amazing.
PS–Love your blog.
I agree! I often tell my bored friends and family to do some volunteering. It’s always a win win situation. There are lots of organizations and people in need of your kind heart and time.