There is something so special about our Photography Community. Whenever a purpose & opportunity to serve others with our cameras, so many rally and we’re always so blown away when artists collaborate on projects such as Help Protrait. Today, we’d love to share with you another organization that gives you the opportunity to gather in our community to raise awareness. You may have known someone personally who has dealt with a cancer related illness. On the other side of cancer, there are so many amazing souls in this world who are taking a stand to work hard in finding a cure. One of them Kristen Weaver. She has created “Images for a Cure” which is an organization giving photographers the opportunity to work on finding that cure together!
How it works: Photographers register to be a participant in Images for a Cure. They agree to simply donate one day of session fees directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation via our FirstGiving website (so it’s counted as money from Images for a Cure photographers). It can be one session, or 10 mini-sessions – whatever you’re comfortable with booking for that day. Clients can find photographers through their own marketing efforts, or by finding photographers in their area on the Images for a Cure website. Once they book the session, they pay through FirstGiving and confirm their session time with the photographer. Photographers can still choose to sell prints, discs or other add-ons, we just ask that only the session fees be donated.
Collaborating: Many boutiques, bridal salons and kids stores have asked to get involved and our photographers can use these businesses to cross-promote! By holding an IFAC in a children’s boutique, parents can come in and try on cute holiday clothes, the photographer can have a little setup and do a mini-photo shoot for, say, $25 – that money is donated and parents can purchase prints or digital files. It brings in clients to the store and new clients to your business, all while supporting a great organization!
Get Creative: Work with videographers, hair and makeup artists to support the cause! We’d love to see the videos and post them on our website. You can also think of creative ways to get coordinators involved in events! Everyone can help us achieve our goals!
Here is our personal interview with Kristen!
1. What inspired you to start this organization? I was really inspired to start Images for a Cure back in 2009 when I started my own photography business! I had spent years working in philanthropy through my college sorority, and then in to my professional career at other jobs. 
I love being able to do something to contribute to the betterment of other people – and I felt like we were so fortunate to have such a great capacity to give back as photographers! Although it’s difficult for one of us to make a big impact, I realized that once we joined together we made waves! It really encouraged me and excited me that we were such a strong industry and everyone was so willing to do something together. It’s inspiring to know such amazing people! We’ve had over 400 photographers across 4 countries join us, and I’m hoping to have even more this year!
2. How much has been raised in total and where does it go? I think we’re right around $30,000 and it’s all donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation! I chose that organization because of they contribute the highest percentage of their donations to research and education, as opposed to other national organizations that have higher administration and legal fees. I wanted to know that our client’s money is directly impacting men and women in our country that are fighting Breast Cancer.
3. Have you found that clients like to jump on board with their photographers? Yes absolutely! In fact, it’s also a great organization for budding p2 hotographers looking for an event to get their name out in their community. Our organization raises money through Platinum and Gold participation levels to pay for marketing and public relations materials that all of our photographers can use at no cost. So I encourage photographers to participate at those levels if they’re financially able. Clients have gone to our website to find photographers in their area from seeing posts on Facebook and press releases, as well as by finding us through industry sponsors like Shootsac, Adorama and Collages.net (just to name a few).
4. Tell us a little about the workshops you offer. The Spring 2011 workshop was a HUGE success! We welcomed 75 photographers to join us for a 2-day intensive workshop of speaking and shooting. Some of our speakers included a wedding magazine editor, photographers, a fashion stylist, a make up artist, and a professional retoucher. We’re already planning the Spring 2012 workshop and are expecting a monstrous list of speakers (rumor has it Scarlett and Stephen will be joining us!) and a sold-out event, so I’m pretty excited! Also, for my own Images for a Cure donation, I’m hosting a small, 10-seat workshop on November 3rd. I’m encouraging photographers to join me and help me meet my own personal donation goal! My blog has more information on how to register.
Click here to view a really great video from the 2011 Workshop.
5. How do photographers get involved and any perks they receive? Photographers can go to http://www.imagesforacure.com/register to sign up. There are 3 participation levels and all 3 levels have different benefits. The Platinum and Gold levels are paid participation and the money goes directly to IFAC to help us build our website, marketing, public relations and workshop budget (we’re running on shoe-strings here), and the Pink level is free for anyone to join. Registration ends August 31st and the new participants will be launched on the website in early September 2011. We’re also encouraging photographers to join our Social Media site – http://www.imagesforacure.ning.com to keep up on all the new happenings! Even if you’re not able to get involved personally, you can help us by tweeting and spreading the word!
Do you feel called to be a part of Images for a Cure? Here is where you can find all the details:
Where to find us:
Facebook Fan Page – http://www.facebook.com/imagesforacure
Ning (Social Media Network) - http://www.imagesforacure.ning.com
Twitter – @imagesforacure
Website – http://www.imagesforacure.com
Facebook Workshop Page – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Images-for-a-Cure-Workshop/131117773621746
For more detailed information about IFAC and our past, check out our About Us page: http://www.imagesforacure.com/about-us/
