Olivia Act

I posted the following and I would encourage and challenge any photographers here on POTN who are able to do so as well.

The Olivia Act, named after one of the children killed in Newtown, was started by Leslie Spurlock Photography. Olivia’s family had family pictures taken a short time before she was killed on that horrible day.

Upon hearing about this, Leslie was moved to give away a 30 minute family photo shoot and has challenged other photographers to do the same. I know that not all families have the resources to have photos taken every year, but I’d love 2013 to be the year for one of them.

While I have not been actively advertising my Photography business, nor have I been updating my website on a regular basis (school has been my top priority and will continue to be for a while) I would like to participate and give a Family Portrait Session and some Prints to a family in Central Ohio.

I will be taking nominations for a central Ohio family who you think would appreciate this gift of memories. The session will take place sometime after the new year. Email me your nominations to Paul@Pergerphotography​.com including a brief message on who you’re nominating and the reason you’d love for them to receive this. I will contact the nominator and the family chosen via email, so please include that as well! I'll be taking the nominations until January 31st.

Please SHARE this status so your friends and family will know too! Can’t wait to gift a family with these memories that can’t be replaced or taken away!

And fellow photographers, please think about participating in the Olivia act too. You can "Like" the Olivia Act page on Facebook...

On a related note:
The help-portrait community and event is a fantastic way to find recipients for a gift of portraiture. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to photograph many kids and several beautiful families this past weekend at our event at a local children's home. Rumor has it, that my heart grew three sizes that day.

http://help-portrait.com

I'm seeing this Olivia Act crop up a lot on MWAC photography pages on Facebook. I don't necessarily think that the motivations are 100% genuine, as many are associating their photography "business" names with it now.

If I were going to take photos of people for free - I would certainly credit my work - as an artist - but I wouldn't do it to gain notoriety for my business in a charity fashion.

I'm trying really hard not to believe that this is someone (un?)intentionally capitalizing off a tragedy.

I'm not familiar with the abbreviation "MWAC".

I can tell you that in all charity, there will be some looking to profit from the situation. I know that the person who started this genuinely wants to give family portraits to a family who could not otherwise afford them.

Her reason for doing this is simple. She learned that a little girl named "Olivia" who was killed in the shooting had recently had her portraits done with her family. The family indicated that those portraits would be forever precious to them.

I am doing it for the same reason. My sister lost two kids and everything she owned in a fire some 20 years ago. The week before the fire she had purchased portraits that were shot about a month before. In the fire, she lost her children as well as her photos of them. Her best friend contacted the photographer and explained what happened. A few days later my sister received an 8x10, two 5x7s, and a sheet of wallet size photos of every photo he had taken. He also gave her the negatives and released copyright to her. Those precious photos are all we have left of those two children.

I choose to believe that MOST of the photographers who are choosing to do this are choosing to do it for the right reasons, so a family who otherwise wouldn't have, has a set of Family Portraits. Are there some idiots out there? Yep. Can't do anything about them. I certainly won't NOT do what I can for fear of being associated with them. I know what MY motives are, and that is all that matters.

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I have just seen a few of these on facebook that seemed disingenuous to me.

Btw: http://www.urbandictio​nary.com/define.php?te​rm=MWAC

I have been taking these kinds of portrait sessions for many years. Although the premis is a bit different than a child that unexpeditly dies. I have been offering free sessions for families with children that are sick, i have had a few that have passed away and a few that are still surviving. The sentiment is the same, these families have a lot of hospital bills, and no money to pay for "frivolous things." So I offer to photograph these families for free. I do not expect any praise or kudos, it's the way that I try to help. I also think that I will give the Olivia Act a go. There are lots of families that are not sick that can't afford anything extra. I hope God will be with the families of those that are gone, and give them peace.