Shooting for charitable organizations

Preacher

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There was a thread on another forum that extolled the virtues of donating time and effort to help worthy charities.

Among those listed were Special Olympics, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, even pet shelters and rescue organizations.

I was thinking this would be a good way to give something 'back' to the community that has been the target of my photo sharpshooting for many years and it will give me some experience working for a large group.

I know a woman who has worked selflessly for years to build the local chaper of the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" Foundation. (The Komen Foundation works tirelessly to educate the general public and to support victims of breast cancer). I contacted her and she set up a meeting for me with the Foundation's Board of Directors.

The upside is that I am now the staff photographer for the local organization. The downside is that I am going to have very little free time come October and November when they hold their yearly race to raise funds! :lol:

Has anyone else done this kind of volunteer work?
 
Well in fella, good on you for getting involved. A massive amount of people want money/paying for everything these days, and fair enough, they've got bills etc, but it's always good to give something back to those who need it. :thumbs:
 
I've not quite done that but I have given my local council permission to use some of my photos for a calendar they want to produce. They're not paying but I see it as a good way to get people to look at my images.
 
I guess my interest in photography started from my volunteer work. I've been volunteering for Northern SBT Rescue for around 7 years now. I do the website, put the newsletter together, including writing many of the articles. For the re-homing side I was given a camera so we could put photos of the dogs on the website and from there the calendar was developed. I only really started taking an interest in the calendar the second year it was produced and we are now on our 6th year. One of my favourite jobs of the year is choosing which shots go in the calendar.

I think the scariest thing I did for rescue was play the violin on the CD we produced to raise funds. The song was written and performed by a local musician and he asked if I'd like to play on the track. Terrifying experience, one I wouldn't repeat.

I guess I'll always be a jack of all trades master of none kind of person.
 
All of the prints that I sell are to raise money for Children's charities / hospices. More recently I have had a few prints auctioned for Breast Cancer which was quite nice as well. The past year the prints sold have raised just under £6000. All by word of mouth and through work colleagues.

I am still amazed that people think my prints are worth buying :shrug:. Just had two used for the front and back cover of a book of short stories / poetry that will be coming out in August. This came about because the publishers saw my pics at the Breast Cancer fundraiser.

It's a balance really. Photography keeps me sane :suspect: and now also allows me to give a bit back.

Chris :)
 
CHris what your website address, can i have a look please?
 
Blue Moon 7 said:
All of the prints that I sell are to raise money for Children's charities / hospices. More recently I have had a few prints auctioned for Breast Cancer which was quite nice as well. The past year the prints sold have raised just under £6000. All by word of mouth and through work colleagues.

I am still amazed that people think my prints are worth buying :shrug:. Just had two used for the front and back cover of a book of short stories / poetry that will be coming out in August. This came about because the publishers saw my pics at the Breast Cancer fundraiser.

It's a balance really. Photography keeps me sane :suspect: and now also allows me to give a bit back.

Chris :)
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That's awesome! What a great idea... I may suggest something like that (the auction aspect, anyway) if this season turns out well.
 
staffitaxi said:
I guess my interest in photography started from my volunteer work. I've been volunteering for Northern SBT Rescue for around 7 years now. I do the website, put the newsletter together, including writing many of the articles. For the re-homing side I was given a camera so we could put photos of the dogs on the website and from there the calendar was developed. I only really started taking an interest in the calendar the second year it was produced and we are now on our 6th year. One of my favourite jobs of the year is choosing which shots go in the calendar.

I think the scariest thing I did for rescue was play the violin on the CD we produced to raise funds. The song was written and performed by a local musician and he asked if I'd like to play on the track. Terrifying experience, one I wouldn't repeat.

I guess I'll always be a jack of all trades master of none kind of person.
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That's great! I would have been terrified, but then again, I don't play the violin so it would be understandable! (Just kidding!)

The calendar idea is great too! Thanks for the idea, I may suggest it as a fund raiser.
 
visualisetheworld said:
CHris what your website address, can i have a look please?
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I haven't got a website yet. I had a gallery viewing thing through LeeP (Togphotography) but do not use it. I am looking at getting one set up in the next month or so.

Most people see my pics because my girlfriend has them up in work (at a Local Authority Training Unit) and ask if they can buy them. I started giving the odd print away and asking for donations to charity but it was getting out of hand with the number of people asking so I priced them and it is more structured.

I then put a few up in my office and the same thing was happening. Many are of landscapes or the Gormley statues in Crosby where I live so there is a local element to it. A law firm has some massive prints on their wall that they bought from me 4' x 3'.

The Breast Cancer thing was in Bristol. I sent a print to someone that was leaving our Bristol Office as a leaving gift. Others saw it and asked if they could have one to frame and auction. I sent a couple to raise money. People saw it and the cover of the book thing followed.

Strange how these things work.

The really odd thing is that people actually think I know what I am doing :cuckoo: I haven't a clue really.

Many of my pics are flukes. It takes about 30 to get one I am happy with.

Chris :)
 
photochimp said:
I was just thinking about this and was wondering if anyone could recommend a charity that could use a photog on an occasional day.
Carl
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Some ideas that I have heard discussed around organizations who could use some good photography for public awareness ads, circulars, publicity etc:

Big brother organizations
Local adoption agencies (orphanages)
Pet rescue and adoption groups
Homeless Shelters
Community Centers
Most churches have some type of outreach program
Cancer survivor and support groups
Senior centers/retirement homes

There are also organizations that volunteer at hospitals, taking pictures of at-risk newborns with low survivability rates. Often, the only pictures a parent of one of these poor children have, are those taken at the hospital. Photogs with a big heart, strong constitution and the ability to interface with emotionally wounded families are in big demand.
 
thanks I will look into some of those.

I did think about the newborns at risk photos but to be honest im not sure if im strong enough to not get affected by it to much. I wish I could.

time to do some googling.
cheers
Carl
 
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