Most of the year, photographers are busy marketing and shooting or, if you are a hobbyist, finding the time to take pictures. Along with the rest of our busy lives, photography can sometimes take a back seat.
If it seems to you that your life is hectic and you are running from one event to another, think of what you really are accomplishing. You have to answer that thought with how much of what you do is fulfilling. Certainly, the photography and/or your day job put money in your pocket and food on the table and those are needed. But we are not discussing your physical needs, but emotional.
Learning and growing in your personal photographic expedition is worthwhile and can provide a sense of accomplishment and wellbeing. Sometimes, however, you find it's just not enough.
You can use your photographic ability to help others and give back to your community and, by doing so, feed the other part of you; the part yet unfulfilled in your photography. Look around and you see people less fortunate than you, people having a tough time, especially in this holiday season.
Making just one of their days a little better--showing you care--can mean the difference between full-time despair and a moment of peace. Your gift of photography, that which you have studied and practiced, is also a gift to you.
This month (December 2009), Help Portrait is making a difference. Help Portrait is a movement of photographers giving their time and energy to those less fortunate. It may be to late for you to get involved, but here are some other ideas:
- Become involved with your church, boys and girls club or scouts to teach a photography.
- Volunteer at any not-for-profit event (look in the newspapers or online) to be the photographer of record.
- If you know of a family having difficulties, financial or otherwise, volunteer to take a family portrait and provide the enlargements at no charge.
- Get involved with animal rescue groups to document what they do and provide digital files for their publicity. Many of these organizations have little funds or are supported only by their volunteers. Helping them with photographic documentation has meaning.
Anything you do should be done without a strategy. Offering your services should not be a means by which you can hand out business cards and procure business. This act needs to come from your heart. Only by freely giving can you get back what may be missing in your life. Remember, a gift, not freely given, is an obligation.
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