Cans for Comments | Northern VA Wedding Photographer

I have lots of fabulous blog posts coming up, so I wanted to get this up first.

Last year, I started a holiday food drive after hearing about the food bank shortages across the county. Several food banks were being forced to close their doors at a time when there was more of a demand than ever for their services. During my holiday sessions, I asked clients to bring in food donations and I offered them a product credit in return for doing so.

Halfway into my own food drive, I read about Cans for Comments. The idea came from photographers Chris + Lynn, and the concept was simple: photographers around the country pledged to donate 1 food item for every comment on their blog during a specified time period. I signed up to be a part of it and ended up donating over 40 pounds of food to Loudoun Interfaith Relief, the largest food bank in the area.

I am participating again this year so help me out in my quest to donate over 100 pounds of food this year!

For every comment left on the blog from today through December 20, I will donate an item of food towards my holiday food drive. I'll give periodic updates to tell you all how I am doing--so, stop reading, start commenting!

If you are a photographer or blogger who wants to participate, go to the Cans for Comments website. You can also follow them on Twitter: @cansforcomments

AOP is a New NILMDTS Photographer

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) is a an organization that provides professional photography services for families who may not ever have the chance to take their newborn home. I had heard about the organization several years ago, when I was pregnant with my first baby. I thought it was a great cause, but was really not sure if it was something I could handle. Over the years, I went to fill out the application many times, only to stop short of actually sending it. I was not sure I could handle it--being a parent, I know all too well the joy that comes with a pregnancy, and to have it end in infant loss--I just could not imagine it, or how I could deal with it. But, I kept thinking about. The organization would pop up in conversation, or I would come across something online about it. I felt like the universe was trying to tell me something. After a lot more thinking and talking, I decided to finally finish my application, and I just got my acceptance email!
I know this will be hard, but I think it is really worthwhile work, and I hope it will help the families in some way.

Fundraising for Breast Cancer Research

A group of women in my neighborhood, who go by the team name The Step Sisters, are holding an event on April 2 at Nick's Corner Grill in the Brambleton Town Center. From 8-10 PM, 20% of food and drink sales will be donated directly to the sisters' fundraising efforts for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Having done the walk myself, I know what a task it is to raise the funds necessary to even be in the walk, not to mention the physical and emotional task of completing it! These ladies are doing a great thing--last year, they were second in the region in fundraising, with more than $130,000 raised! Impressive!
Part of the nights' festivities will be a silent auction. Amie Otto Photography is donating a $100 gift certificate to the cause, to be used towards services of your choice. So, get out there to Nick's, have a drink, and help the cause! Walk on!

Food Drive + Cans for Comments Results

I was finally able to make it to the Loudoun Interfaith Relief's offices to drop off my load of non-perishable food from the Holiday Food Drive and the Cans for Comments blog post. I planned on donating my food after the holidays, as donations usually drop off drastically at this time of year, so the food is needed even more. Also, I know it is already February (which I cannot believe--where does the time go?) but in all fairness, I did try to make my donation several times and they were closed do to the 'Winter Weather' we had the last week or so. As anyone who lives here knows, we shut down everything at the site of a few snowflakes!
I want to thank everyone who donated items to the food drive--between that, and the Cans for Comments, to which I donated 20 additional items, we came in at a whopping 48 pounds of food! Not bad for the first try! This year, we are going for 100!!
Here are a few shots of some of the items--there was a box I totally forgot about that didn't make it into the group photo!

Add to the Food Drive: Cans for Comments!!!

As most of you know, I have been doing a food drive this year in an effort to help restock the barren food pantries in the area. I've asked clients to bring in items, and in return, I give them a credit to use on Pictage then will be donating all of it to Loudoun Interfaith Relief, the largest food pantry in the area. They provide healthy, balanced meals to those in need, as well as help the smaller organizations in the area with food donations. This is a shot of my donations so far:

Now I am upping the ante!!! Inspired by the wonderful Anne Ruthmann and the larger photography community, for every comment on this blog post by December 12, I will donate an additional can of food to the cause! I also love the idea of Kate and Mike of MKD Photography--ask a question in your comment, it can be just about anything, and I will do a follow up post answering them all. Check out the comments on their blog for inspiration.

Thanks to everyone who has already donated--I really appreciate it! Now, go leave a comment!!

Holiday Mini Sessions!

Now is the time for holiday portraits! Here are the details for this year's Holiday Mini Sessions.

-30-40 minute sitting
-in the studio or Brambleton parks
-all images edited and retouched
-25 flat custom holiday cards of your choice (designs below)
Cost: $100

This year, I will also be conducting a food drive throughout the fall and holiday season. With the current economic state, there has been more and more demand for food pantry services, and at the same time, donations have fallen drastically. I'm a big believer in giving back to the community, and right now, it is more important than ever.

Here are the details:
-Donations will be given to Loudoun Interfaith Relief , which is the largest food pantry in the area. They focus on providing nutritious meals to individuals and families in Loudoun County.
-For every 3 items you bring in, I will give you a $15 credit for use on Pictage! (maximum credit: $105)
These are the items that are on the wish list of the food pantry:
-100% Fruit Juice
-Peanut Butter
-Jelly
-Cereal
-Canned Fruit
-Canned Vegetables (especially corn and green beans)
-Macaroni and Cheese
-Tuna
-Canned Spaghetti and Ravioli Products
-Personal Hygiene Items


Call or email the studio to set up your appointment. Look forward to seeing you soon!

Kailee's Run

A few weeks back, I read about Kailee Vance, a 6 year old Ashburn girl who had been diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer affecting connective tissue. As a mom, my heart sank when I read this. As a business owner, I immediately wanted to help. A family friend of the Vance's has organized Kailee's Run, which is a run/walk to help raise funds for Kailee's medical costs. The walk is on May 10th in Ashburn. You can find out more information and sign up for the walk at http://www.kaileesrun.com/.
Raffle prizes will be given away and all runners/walkers are automatically entered. I donated a gift certificate to be raffled off and there are many other great prizes to be won. I hope to be able to attend at least the beginning of the festivities to take some photos. I hope you'll join in supporting this great cause! You can read more about Kailee and her story at http://www.kaileesstory.com/.

Casino Night Winners!

One of the things I wanted to do more of this year was supporting charities, communities, and causes that I believe in. Every year my neighborhood holds a Casino Night, and this year, attendees were able to bid on items donated by local area businesses with their gambling winnings. I love the fact that our 'hood does so much to foster the sense of community here, so I donated a gift certificate and Ken and Courtney were the winners! Aren't they so cute?
They are getting married later this year out of state, so I won't be doing their wedding, but it was great to have the opportunity to do their engagement sitting. Ken told me that there was actually a bidding war on my gift certificate, can you believe it?! According to the organizers of the event, only 2 other items went for more money! Wow!