Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and we’re all thinking of how we can give of ourselves during this season. As a photographer I’ve had the most wonderful opportunity to partner with Pierce’s Project, an organization that supports NICU families both during their NICU stays and beyond, to offer free NICU portraits for families. Since I am both a NICU nurse and photographer, it’s been a gift to intertwine two of my passions in order to create an opportunity to give back.
For several years in a row, I donated my time to two annual March of Dimes Chef’s Auctions here in Charlotte. I spend most of my time donating to Pierce’s Project, including their family nights, Santa portraits, and the 2019 Oktoberfest. I was given the opportunity to display canvases of families I had photographed in the NICU at the event. After the event, I put up the canvases in the family waiting room at Novant. I am currently still donating sessions to local families with babies in the NICU at hospital here in Charlotte, which I started doing back in 2016. The opportunities are endless—get creative!
Here are three tips to get you thinking about for how you can give back as a photographer:
Look at the circles in which you’re already involved and offer free or low-cost photography. Does your church need updated head shots? Could the community animal shelter use your help photographing animals that need homes?
Think of special holiday events that you could photograph for little to no cost. Does your child’s school have an event you could photograph? Is there a holiday party or fundraising gala you could photograph?
Mentor an aspiring photographer. Do you know of an individual or small group to whom you could offer a few photography and/or editing sessions?
