I really love shooting in the winter. I don’t always get a ton of time to do it though, since before Christmas is so crazy with editing and orders, and January I always take off for catching up on stuff I don’t get to any other time during the year. February is mosty sports teams and cap & gown pictures, but now that March has hit, I have a number of grad sessions lined up. Here was the first one

A few weeks back, I came across this movement called Live:58.  I think I may have posted about it on the “bad” blog, but I’m guessing no one read it!  What Live:58 is, is an initiative to end poverty, through prayer, fasting and raising money.  It’s based Isaiah 58 (click on the link to read the passage). The church has often made a bad name for itself, and has often failed at portraying Christ. I really love that this movement is trying to change that. Jesus was the ultimate humanitarian, who loved people no matter what their situation.

Every month, Live:58 chooses a country in need, and rallies people to help raise money for an issue within that country. In January they raised money to buy mosquito nets for people in Thailand, to help prevent the spread of malaria.  In February they were raising money for food for people in Africa (forgive me, but I can’t recall which country in Africa. Sudan possibly??).  This month they are wanting to raise $15 000 to help the organization Living Water International, to bring fresh water into Haiti by fixing wells.  A friend of ours was in Haiti before Christmas, and his first hand experience is that this country is in the most dire need of help. They are in such extreme poverty right now, that we can’t even fathom it.

Now, onto what the plan is for sessions in March…..   a week late..    During March, $5.00 from every session fee will be donated to Live:58.  An anonymous donor has also offered to match any funds raised during the month of March, so whatever they raise in total, this mystery person is going to double that.  Pretty impressive and incredibly inspiring. It’s really amazing to see what the human race can accomplish. There are so many atrocities in the world, but there are also so many dedicated and passionate human beings. Sometimes watching the news you feel like there’s so little you can do as one person. But in the words of one of my favorite musicians, Michael Franti… “when many little people in many little places do many little things then the whole world changes.”

Click here to see the page about the plans for clean water in Haiti

VIDEOS

If you’re on facebook, you’ve probably seen the vimeo clip about Joseph Kony. If you haven’t, I’ve posted it below. This video was made by Jason Russell, and he has started a crusade to have Joseph Kony of Uganda found and arrested. This man has been in power for over 25 years, and has kidnapped over 30,000 children to be part of his rebel group, the LRA  and has forced the girls into the sex trade, and the boys to be child soldiers. It’s the most unbelievably horrible story, and the scariest thing is that this man has been relatively unknown until now.  The objective of this movement is to bring attention to the crimes of Joseph Kony so that the government (U.S.) will send help to find this man and arrest him.  The video is about a half an hour long, but please watch it. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also incredible what Jason Russell has been able to accomplish in bringing awareness to what Kony has done. You can sign the pledge to add your name to the list of supporters, so that congress will know that there is enough interest in this situation, and they will keep up the pressure until they find and arrest Kony.

causes.com/causes/227-invisible-children  (when I signed the pledge, it took me to my facebook login, so I’m pretty sure you have to have a facebook account to do this. It’s purpose is to bring awareness, and of course facebook is a great avenue to do that)

You can also buy products that will bring attention to who this man is   http://invisiblechildrenstore.myshopify.com/  or donate to Invisible Children stayclassy.org/checkout/donation?eid=14711

This is the link for the video. For some reason, I can never get Vimeo clips to show up here. The only thing I can do is post the link…    http://vimeo.com/37119711

I photographed this couple’s engagement session awhile back, so when I was able to go and photograph their brand new little girl, I was thrilled. She was  a perfect little subject. Wide awake at the beginning, good and sleepy after a snack and not a single peep from her until I was ready to walk out the door. 

This little guy’s blue eyes looked amazing with my new teal backdrop.  And his cloth diaper just happened to match too! Bonus