Passion to Pixels

I've been waiting for months for this day to get here. Today, my daughter, Ashley, and I volunteered our time to be a part of the Help Portrait movement. I had heard about the event last year, but I had something going on that permit me from being able to attend. So I blocked Dec 4, 2010 on my calendar because there was NO way I was going to miss it! I was volunteering as a photographer, and Ashley volunteered as a greeter/floater or anywhere she was needed.

Last night as the Tweets started flooding in from other parts of the country, I started feeling like a child on Christmas Eve. A Help Portrait group just started in Kenya?? OMG !! And then another one from Milan, Italy! Hokey smokes! It sunk in with me just how huge and global this entire thing really was. And what a blanketed wave of love and positive energy was started to spread around the world. At about 2:30 am I finally had to turn the tone off on my phone so it would stop "tweeting" with each new message, and I could finally get some sleep.

The alarm went off at 7:15 am this morning and after a quick 5 minute snooze of the alarm and a good stretch, my feet hit the ground running. All the equipment and gear was packed the night before - camera body, lens, flash, Gary Fongs, extension cords, electrical tape, Santa hats, candy canes, and a bunch of other stuff. I was probably overly prepared and over packed, but one thing I've learned on any photo shoot is to try to anticipate the unexpected.

Ash and I headed out the door and stopped at Chik Fil A to grab some breakfast. Chik Fil A was donating lunches to everyone in the Georgia area who was participating with the HP event, so we thought it was only right to 'give back' a little. Besides, who can turn down yummy chicken biscuits and hashbrowns!!

We arrived at the event about 15 minutes late (whoops!)...mostly from getting lost trying to find the actual location. But when we got there, and got inside, we were welcomed by an amazing group of folks. Everyone seemed really happy to be there, and were pumped up and ready to go. All we needed now were families! My friend Lee was there too volunteering as a greeter, so knowing a familiar face helped a lot too! I am really hoping to connect with a lot of the people we met in just the brief time we were there because they seemed like such an amazing group of folks. Natt and Tress were super nice. Kudos to them and to Liz for putting together this event and everything that goes on behind the scenes that makes the magic happen. So for now, I will stalk.... errr I mean, FOLLOW a few of the people I met on the HP page and hopefully befriend them on Facebook.

Not long after being there, one of the photogs asked if I minded running out to get some oil blotting sheets. For me the day was about giving back in any way I could, and if this is what was needed at this time - so be it. So Ash and I jumped in the van and headed to Walgreens. We finally found the pads, and I hit the trial size bins for all kinds of other essentials - lotions, tissues, handy wipes, mini first aid kit, and some other stuff. Maybe its the ex Girl Scout in me.. who knows!

When we got back with the "goods", the first families were just rolling in. Then Natt asked me if I could possibly drive to another location south of Atlanta to help their group out. They only had 4 people - 3 photographers and an editor - and they really needed someone to help AND someone to pick up their lunch since no one could really get away to do it. So without hesitation I said Ok. Again I figured I would just go where I was needed, do what I could do to give back in whatever way possible, and let the wind lead me where it may. So off on another adventure we went. We stopped, got gassed up, and aside from a few slight wrong turns, got our bearings again and picked up lunch. And then it was back on the road to head to the location.

When we arrived, I was ready to go but very nervous. At least at the other location I knew Lee and the group wasn't quite established yet. Walking into the new location, I felt like an outsider coming in to an already formed "family" of people. But I rolled with. Max and all of the volunteers were really nice and helpful. Since we arrived with lunch, everyone took a lunch break when we got there, so that gave us a little time to mix and mingle a bit before getting to work. I could tell Kelvin was going to be fun to work with - how can you go wrong with a guy who has his name tag stuck to the front of his winter hat! I mean c'mon!! :) And actually he DID turn out to be a lot of fun - very easy going, laid back and we might even get together at some point and do some photography stuff together. He and I talked after about how we are the types of photogs who like to share the info we have, and learn from others. So if that happens, just another win win in my little photo world :)

We all took turns taking photos of the women and children that came in to the location. Shooting with studio lighting is still intimidating to me a little - and not having the "fancy stuff" intimidates me a bit too. But I stepped up and rolled with the big dogs :) I tried not to step on toes or intrude on others peoples space or shooting style, but I'm afraid that my "team player" attitude might have been taken the wrong way by some. Not really sure, but I hope not. Just little things like standing over a shoulder trying to help a baby smile, or suggesting different poses. I really just wanted to get in and have some fun with the day and help the people we were photographing escape whatever trouble they may be having in their day to day life, even if just for a moment. I think the hardest part of the day for me was knowing the people we photographed had to choose only one photo and that we couldn't give them all of the best of the best that we took. Maybe its because I'm so passionate about my photography, and making people feel good when they their own beauty come out and shine, that its tough to narrow it down to just one image to walk away with. But I understand the financial impact that it woudl cause if they were given EVERY image. But it was still probably the toughest part of the day. But all in all, there were lots of smiles, and a lot of people who really enjoyed their photos - so I think there was definitely some good done today.

Its been amazing to read some of the stories that came from some of the other locations. I'm not sure that there were any pivotal moments that stemmed from our group - no "stories" to tell really. I can only hope that something from the day touched someone and may have changed their life for the better. Even if just for a moment.

I am really hoping to be invited back or able to attend next years event and hopefully more events in the future. There are some amazing photographers out there and I love watching other people and learning from others about style, technique, and overall photography stuff. I think no matter how experienced or amateur we are, we all have something we can share. I certainly learned a lot of do's and don'ts today. And a few "tricks" as well.

A HUGE thanks to the people at the Marietta location who helped us feel so welcomed, to Chik Fil A for an amazing lunch and to the folks at the S. Outside of the Perimeter Atlanta location for allowing us to come and offer some assistance.

It was amazing to be a part of something so inspiring and charitable.

THANK YOU!

Now...How many more days til Dec 4 2011!?!?!?!?!

Seems lately my days are becoming pretty mundane. Up at 7:30-7:45, walk dogs, feed dogs, wake child, feed child, get child off to school, walk dogs, surf internet, answer emails, harvest Farmville ( yes I've gone to the Darkside!). Then around 4ish the dogs go crazy, child comes home from school, D comes home from work, feed dogs, feed child, feed D, watch TV, lather rinse repeat and get ready for bed to start all over again tomorrow. Yikes!

My photobug is itching to be busy again. I've done some headshots and personal photo shoots here and there. But I want more. I want more memories. I want more shooting. I want more evidence.

One of the goals I have set for myself this year is to try truly pursue my certification to photograph children with special needs. It's something I'm passionate about and really want to puruse. My list of 'wants' this year is getting longer by the day, but this is definately at the top of the list.

I wanna shoot people. Who's game!