New friends and giving

So while our nanny Christine is away, I rarely have more than a few snippets of time here and there to work - enough to do a cute blog post on my children (obviously!), but not enough to do the full shebang for a wedding or portrait session, though do stay tuned for a really fabulous post from my New Year's Eve wedding which will be on here in the next couple days. So to tide you over, I wanted to share a sweet story by someone whom I "met" through my new network of i heart faces friends. I am excited to say that they liked my textures pic of Indigo on the floor - although not in the guest judge's top 10, it was picked as a fave by the two photographers who run the website out of 639 entries so I am very flattered and pleased since it was only my second attempt.

One blogging mum left a lovely and encouraging note on Indigo's photo, so I in turn went to her see who she was on her blog, and next think I knew, I was swept up in her life - the world of blogging is a strange one, but amazing at the same time. Anyway, this post particularly hit home and reminded me of how Oslo corrects me still every night, insisting that we need to pray for Haiti first, before we do our own thankful time.

Click here to read about her loving and generous boy, Kaishon.

And because all photographer's posts need images to help tell the story, here is Oslo and his friend, Will, presenting the Bermuda Red Cross with their school's donations for Haiti.

If Only

I stumbled upon this agonising story - one I must share for knowledge is power, or in this case, prevention, and my streaming tears will not allow me to stay silent.

This sweet angel child lost her life by slipping into her parents car which was parked in their drive. She was looking for sweeties. But the car was hot, and she was only three and didn't know where the horn was in order to call for help. She fell asleep and the suffocating heat took her life.



Please click on the picture to read the beautifully worded postcard from Ava's parents.

These rules - Ava's rules - are ones that we should all learn, or at least remind ourselves of every day. So please share this story or this link and save a life.

Help Portrait

So I stumbled upon this amazing site, Help Portrait.com and I think it is a lovely idea. A small gesture I realise, but hopefully a big impact on one person or one family, and for each of us that participates, the impact on the number of lives out there is greater.

The idea is that you shoot some great images of people who would otherwise not be in a position to have a photography session. Whether you are a professional photographer, or just take great shots for fun, or if you have the gear or the talent, then this is something you can do. For more info, watch this clip or this promo.

Of course, when I first read about this, my mind started reeling with all those in need who would be great candidates to have their portraits taken. From severely premature babies, to handicapped children, to the terminally ill, I didn't know where to begin. But then I thought of who I have met in my life who would perhaps appreciate such a gesture. Last year, I did some charity work for the Salvation Army's annual report. During those shoots, I met some special individuals and their stories of their lives and what they had been through moved me.

So I tried to think if I knew anyone similar now and then it came to me. A few weeks back, I met a wonderful man whose story and whose life made a big impression on me. We started off simply, bonding over the tough task of raising our kids as well as we knew how. From that conversation, his story unraveled and he unbegrudgingly spoke of the difficulties he faces from day to day. As he spoke, he almost acted like he didn't realise, or perhaps he humbly and nobly accepted, these hardships. I was just in my car with the engine running and had to turn it off to finish our chat.

He inspired me that he was a single parent of two, had a disability that he never even mentioned, was a hard worker, and was doing his best for his family. He loves his kids and this was so apparent. I have not spoken to him about this yet, but I would love to capture him together with his girls. I hope to shoot him on 12th December if he can do it, since that is the day the site is aiming for all the sessions to be shot, but if that doesn't work for him, then at a date and time convenient to him.

So the point of this post is that perhaps if any of you readers love taking pictures, or if you know of other photographers, perhaps you can help spread the word. I would love to see the results! I promise to share his family's image and hopefully more of their story if he allows it.