I wasn't sure where to put this.....
What are some groups/organizations that you have heard of or done volunteer work for? For example, I think there are 2-3 groups that do portraits for children (and their families) with terminal illnesses. I can't handle that, just using that as an example. I have also heard of teaching photography to homeless kids. Anyway, hopefully, you get the idea.
Why? Because I can, and because I want too
Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks.
Michael

I have worked with a group called Heart Gallery whichs helps children get professional picture to place on websites for porspective parents. Some also have a show presenting the photos in galleries. This has allowed for very high success rates of adoption of these children.

I belong to an organization called Celebrating Adoption. We do shoots for families who have adopted children within the last year. For some more information, check out http://www.celebratingadoption.org/

Also, to see my last several sessions for CA, check out my blog.

Hope this helps!

Operation: Love Reunited (www.oplove.org) does sessions for deployed/returning soldiers and their families. I'm a member, but haven't gotten any requests yet.

Well, that would make me ball my head off and go home with 10 kids every time! Wow.

I volunteer for my local newspaper. Its a great community newspaper, and has gone a long way to making a kind of sketchy community (think drugs and prositutes) into a place that feels like community (think families saying hi to the druggies and prostitutes )

Check out the National Association of Charitable Photographers
www.naocp.com

Wow... just wow. I had not heard of this one, checked it out and cried like a baby looking through those images and watching the video on the blog. I actually found that one of my photog buddies is a member & I didn't know it!

I know you haven't gotten any requests yet, but do you know how much notice you are given about airport assignments? I'd love to do this but don't have a ton of flexibility with my schedule.

i was thinking of doing this myself - but since i am near ramstein (sp?) airbase in germany(well, closer than americans), i thought i could do some work over here and send it home to the families.

i have been also thinking along the lines of doing something at the childrens hospital in houston - not quite sure what it would be yet.

With OpLove I have done a few. You get plenty of notice about the reunion at the airport, but only a general timeline. I usually only know the exact date the week of, maybe 2-3 days out, and the exact time the day of. So it's iffy, but I make it if I can. It's very cool seeing these soldiers come up the escalators at Hartsfield to applause from whatever crowd is there, being mobbed by family. The last one is on my blog. It was very low key, as security wouldn't let me shoot directly toward the escalators he was coming up, so I didn't get the initial reaction of him seeing her, and couldn't get far enough toward them to get her reaction at seeing him. That all depends on the personnel working that day. My next one is in October at Fort Gillem, where at least 3 members are coming home at once. Any Atlanta area folks wanting to get a taste of this are welcome to contact me to come on this one. I'll probably wish I had another camera there. I don't give a set of 4x6's like OpLove wants me to, but I do give a CD of the images. Easier and quicker for me, and better for the "client" I think.

I have tried to get involved with NILMDTS, and was contacted by Heart Gallery but she never followed up with me.

In small town world here I have donated my time to many of the fundraising events that happen through the year.

At Relay For Life I do team photos, my local lab donates the prints and we sell them with the proceeds going to The Cancer Society. I've done the MS Bike Tour and United Way events. Most recently I coordinated and shot our local Terry Fox Run.

I love doing it. I would like to get into OpLove but I'm not too close to a major airport...

Someday I would also like to be able to do NILMDTS but I have to get there in my head first...

I am doing a benefit for the American Cancer Society on October 18-20. It's breast cancer awareness month. For a $10 donation per person I make a photograph of the group, be it one or 10 people. Each one receives a 5x7 b&w photograph, and the ACS gets every penny of that donation. If additional orders are made I will donate 10% of those to the cause also.

I must admit I got this idea from Shalista, in South Dakota.

Great ideas everyone, I was just thinking of something I would like to do by giving back with photography. Now I have a bunch to add to the mix.

I am a member of NILMDTS, but that's definitely not a charity for everyone. I am interested in getting into some more charities as well.

http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

I think a great way to approach this is to just find organizations you feel strongly about, and contact them. Through auctions, images for their website, and event coverage you could really give back in a valuable way.

I'm planning on helping a non-profit by donating all proceeds from print sales back to the organization. They were very grateful for the offer, and it allows event attendees to feel that they are further supporting the effort.

Look up you local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Places like that always love volunteers and donations.

I have a personal interest in the Amanda Cates Fund because it was created in memory of one of my wife's best friends. I've done a few events for them, created the website (I know, it's not great), and donated some money as well. There's nothing else planned in the near future, but if anyone would like to help out please let me know. There will be a golf tournament in June that I'm certain we could use some help with.

Mark, thanks for chiming in on OpLove - that's something I was kind of wondering myself (sorry Autumn, I had no answer for you!).

I know you mentioned you might not be able to do this, but I would consider NILMDTS. I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle it either, but I wanted to at least try in honor of my cousin who died in utero, 1 week shy of her due date. When I got called, I prayed the whole way there, and was surprised that I didn't break down. I was concentrating so hard on getting them the best pictures possible and being sensitive to their needs that my own sadness was secondary.

I volunteer for Heartworks. They are always looking for editors also. The thing that is different for them vs NILMDTS is that it it for kids of ALL ages, not just newborns, and that they don't have to be terminal. Many of them are, but not all. They have to be in the hospital for an extended period, making it difficult for them to get out and get their picture taken. They try to edit out all the signs of a hospital, and focus on the child and not the disease they have. Here is thier website:
http://www.heartworksphoto.org/html/

After reading this post, I signed up for the Heart Gallery. I already was matched with a sibling group of children, and I scheduled to do them next week! I am excited about this!

I wanted to bump/wake up this thread again as I was reminded of the issue when speaking to a friend of mine that does volunteer work for a Hospice organization. I am following up on that. And with Thanksgiving this week, I was further reminded of volunteering.
BTW, I did look into NAOCP and they need more of a committment than I can currently offer. Something I will consider in the future.
Michael

I am a member of NILMDTS and I am very involved with alot of local charities. I am going to check out some of these mentioned here.

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas in this thread!! I've been trying to figure out some way to give, and this helps put more possiblities out there.

I am involved in Think Pink Photography as the issue hits very close to home in my family. http://www.thinkpinkphotography.org/


I am also going to check out the OpLove site....I am an Air Force wife so it hits close to home too!

I just started volunteering as a photographer for Habitat for Humanity. I have always been a supporter of the organization and this allows me to give back and use my photography skills.

a 4x6 album is one of only two requirements to participate in the organization. you can provide the cd in addition to the album along with any other prints or products as gifts, however the album is required.

Overall i think everyone finds something that touches their hearts when they participate in the oplove sessions. it really is a fabulous feeling to give such a joy back to those who protect us.

Has anybody ever donated photography to a family during hospice?

I lost my husband to cancer when he was 27 and I look back on that time and I know it sounds crazy, but I wish I had had a photographer come and photograph a bit of that time. Some b & w's of us gathering around him, us just holding his hand or singing to him are what I wish I had. It was a time in my life that I was shaped so immensely by an experience and like a birth or a wedding, I wish I had photography of it. I think of Annie L.'s book and how she photographed her partner during hospice. It's such a raw time in one's life, it would be an honor to capture it for a family.

I wonder if anybody else would feel that way. Death is so taboo though sometimes, that I can't imagine a family being open to it.

I'm babbeling. Any thoughts?


On a separate note, do you guys have a limit of how many sessions you can give away a year? I already have a full session and CD given out for a charity raffle and I"m at my limit of gift certificate sessions floating around (Haunting me at 2007 rates) that I felt awful when I had to say no to a recent raffle give away. Ok, I'm hijacking. Sorry!

www.naocp.org does hospice. Cheryl is amazing to work with too she's very dear to my heart.

The easiest way to volunteer your photography is to find an organization you like and ask them if they need photos . In 1996 I volunteered and paid my way to Africa on a missions trip to Sudan. A year later the organization hired me as their photo/video guy and so began a 7 year journey documenting persecuted Christians in Sudan and other places around the world. It was hard at times, but I had some of the best days of my life on the mission fields of Africa. I still volunteer and go on a trip at least once a year. Here's the latest video I did (I do both photo/video) this past April on a volunteer trip to Bolivia:

http://newsongcc.net/#/ckarackara/4528739456

Don't be afraid to get involved in other people's suffering. Let it change you. Don't "volunteer" with the hopes of making money off the organization. Pay your way if you can, it's more fulfilling than most of the things we waste our money on.

I am trying to set up the same thing. But I am donating my time to the local animal shelter where I already volunteer. The poor kitties need their photos taken so that maybe some prospective adoptor will see how cute they are and adopt them. So if any of you So. Cali people are looking to adopt a cat, PM and I can tell you about the adoption event going on soon!!!

Oh BTW, I am giving the shelter 1600x1200 digital files of the cats and will have prints made for them if they choose.

It is really a great feeling to see these animals find loving homes...

I would say find something that touches your heartm, and it'll be thoroughly rewarding.

I like to give back locally, to the small organizations that otherwise do not get any coverage.
http://jmitchelphotography.blogspot.com/20...ition-walk.html

They are more than greatful for it, often they recognize you in their sponsor list and other items, like T shirts and such. You get great publicity while helping a good cause. And, it is all local to your market.

For the first time last year I donated my service to a local domestic violence shelter to women who have left their abuser and are in either emergency housing or transistioning to a place of their own (after a certain amount of time) I did family portraits for these women and their children and it was by far one of the most rewarding things I have ever done with my photography. Most of them had never had a family portrait. For these women portraits can be so expensive. I went and set up a little "studio" at their local chapter and it was great. They were so appreciative and we are making it an annual event.
See if there are some small local charities you could help. Whatever you choose Im sure it will be much appreciated and incredibly rewarding for you


ETA - Sorry didnt realize this thread was from 2007 lol

I havent read the other replies so this might be a repeat but I volunteer for premature babies in the hospital. I take lifestyle pictures, nothing posed and then give them to their families. No money is ever exchanged. I really enjoy doing it.