My Story
I Think Everyone has that "moment" in life. Something that will change how you look at things forever, even if you don't know it yet. Some people call them "Aha! moments", Some people call them "Visions", Some people call them an "Epiphany". Regardless if they stay Dormant all your life, or if you choose to do something, that seed is still buried in your mind somewhere. Mine was while I was on Vacation visiting my sister in Georgia.
It was February, which where I am from (Michigan) we are plowing ourselves out of the snowdrifts for school, but here in the South it was a balmy 65 degrees. While driving through the underpasses in Atlanta, I noticed alot of bridges had sleeping bags under them, along with several other "household" items. I don't consider myself a naive person. I know there are people hurting all around us. But even living in one of the states where the recession has hit the hardest, I was not prepared for the sheer amount of homeless I saw that day. My sister explained that because they rarely got snow in GA, it was like this year round.
Then my eye caught something I will never forget. I Little pink stuffed animal sitting on top of a tiny sized sleeping bag.
I did a double take, thinking I was possibly tired from the trip and most likely seeing things. But there it was. And although I didn't see anyone under the bridge at that time, there was no doubt a child lived there. The tiny children's items tucked next to an adult sized sleeping bag and what looked like a camping lantern. I don't know why this suddenly impacted me so much. After all if there are Homeless adults, obviously there must be homeless children somewhere. Maybe it was because I have my own children now, Maybe because I was relaxed on vacation and didn't think I would see anything like that. I don't know why, but that image was burned into my mind so deeply, to this day I can still see it like I am looking at a postcard.
For the Rest of Vacation I saw many more Homeless people, and some in even worse conditions. I felt moved but didn't know what to do. After all soon I would be going home, and then what could I do to help them? I knew there was just as many people in need at home. Maybe I just didn't noticed them as much, or maybe I just chose not to notice. After all you cant save everyone, right? I wanted to snap a picture that day to remind myself, and show others, so I wouldn't forget the emotions I felt when I saw that little pink stuffy. But what good would exposing people and their hard times, if I couldn't help them? I simply settled, as most of us do, with handing a few dollars to a man with a sign, and noting how truly sad I felt for them.
Back at home I hadn't forgot what I saw but life had moved on. I was now working at a wonderful job, with a bright career in Health and Fitness. I was making good money, working for great boss, I loved my clients and co-workers, and got such a great sense of accomplishment from helping others with their goals. For a previous stay-at-home mom, with no furthering education, this was much more than I ever could have expected. I was truly blessed. But something was missing. Not wrong, just empty. A year and a half after coming back from GA, I quit my job, and decided to pursue my passion in Art. Now I am not suggesting this for everyone. My husband was the main source of income and took care of our needs, so we didn't have to move homes or anything like that due to the lack of my income. Still there wasn't any extra money left in the budget now to go back to school if I wanted, and with Michigan's broken economy, a degree in Art seemed frivolous. Especially as I had no Idea what I was going for. I had always been inclined to art, and had actually many awards in high school for my work, but it was truly just a hobby now.
I started taking local classes when I could, going to art shows, and generally trying to expose myself to as much Art as possible. Of course like most everyone else I was moved by the Soul-filled expressions of amateurs. As they Captured the Spirit of their Muses, I longed to do that as well. To make people really FEEL something when they see your work. I picked up Photography as a favor to a friend one day and quickly realized how much I enjoyed it. Although I had no formal education in it, I felt that I was able to get my vision across to people with much ease and clarity.
I started a Photography business, but was quickly burnt out. Again, I had many wonderful clients but I felt like I really wasn't accomplishing what I wanted. There wasn't the true fulfillment there I thought I would have. I was giving 20% of my profits to local charity, and my Clients seemed to be very happy with my work but I desired to do something....well that matters. I tried to throw myself into every charity I could and they felt good for a moment. Still there was something missing. I prayed for a year that God would help me find my place, the place I needed to be to make a difference.
I took a break from my photography in Winter of 2011 to Spend the Holidays with Family and re-think my business. It was then that I started reading "Start something that matters" by Blake MyCoskie, the Founder of TOMSshoes. I had participated in "One day without shoes" a few years in a row. And had even taken a picture of my two sons bare little toes in our home the year before, posting the picture online. I got many great responses to that photo, including several people asking about the "One Day" movement. I was so excited to share the Event with them, and to this day it remains one of my favorite pictures.
My personal theory is this: People really do desire to help their fellow man. That's why pictures like the Pulitzer prize Photo's, and National Geographic Study's, or Covers on Time Magazine, are so moving to us. We want to help, to give, but most people don't know where to begin. A picture of a starving child is touching yes, But if you don't know where to help them, its powerless.
Instead of just focusing on the problem, I knew we needed to show people the answer as well. To show you personally how you can get involved in Charities, Non-profits, or Philanthropic events and organizations that suit you individually. Utilizing the time, finances, and effort you have available on your own terms. From feeding the hungry, Educating the poor, to clothing the homeless, and everything in between. I want to show you Pictures you can connect with and then the places and people who are making a difference in those areas.
I know I want to help connect people with others who are making a difference, By using Photography to expose all the great things happening in the world to help the not-so-great situations. It may sound Cliche' but "Helping people, Help People"
I changed Second Glance Photography to a business who does exactly that. And the rest, as they say is history.
Thanks for your interest in what we are doing here at Second Glance Photography! You can go to our home page for more info and contact information as well. :)
It was February, which where I am from (Michigan) we are plowing ourselves out of the snowdrifts for school, but here in the South it was a balmy 65 degrees. While driving through the underpasses in Atlanta, I noticed alot of bridges had sleeping bags under them, along with several other "household" items. I don't consider myself a naive person. I know there are people hurting all around us. But even living in one of the states where the recession has hit the hardest, I was not prepared for the sheer amount of homeless I saw that day. My sister explained that because they rarely got snow in GA, it was like this year round.
Then my eye caught something I will never forget. I Little pink stuffed animal sitting on top of a tiny sized sleeping bag.
I did a double take, thinking I was possibly tired from the trip and most likely seeing things. But there it was. And although I didn't see anyone under the bridge at that time, there was no doubt a child lived there. The tiny children's items tucked next to an adult sized sleeping bag and what looked like a camping lantern. I don't know why this suddenly impacted me so much. After all if there are Homeless adults, obviously there must be homeless children somewhere. Maybe it was because I have my own children now, Maybe because I was relaxed on vacation and didn't think I would see anything like that. I don't know why, but that image was burned into my mind so deeply, to this day I can still see it like I am looking at a postcard.
For the Rest of Vacation I saw many more Homeless people, and some in even worse conditions. I felt moved but didn't know what to do. After all soon I would be going home, and then what could I do to help them? I knew there was just as many people in need at home. Maybe I just didn't noticed them as much, or maybe I just chose not to notice. After all you cant save everyone, right? I wanted to snap a picture that day to remind myself, and show others, so I wouldn't forget the emotions I felt when I saw that little pink stuffy. But what good would exposing people and their hard times, if I couldn't help them? I simply settled, as most of us do, with handing a few dollars to a man with a sign, and noting how truly sad I felt for them.
Back at home I hadn't forgot what I saw but life had moved on. I was now working at a wonderful job, with a bright career in Health and Fitness. I was making good money, working for great boss, I loved my clients and co-workers, and got such a great sense of accomplishment from helping others with their goals. For a previous stay-at-home mom, with no furthering education, this was much more than I ever could have expected. I was truly blessed. But something was missing. Not wrong, just empty. A year and a half after coming back from GA, I quit my job, and decided to pursue my passion in Art. Now I am not suggesting this for everyone. My husband was the main source of income and took care of our needs, so we didn't have to move homes or anything like that due to the lack of my income. Still there wasn't any extra money left in the budget now to go back to school if I wanted, and with Michigan's broken economy, a degree in Art seemed frivolous. Especially as I had no Idea what I was going for. I had always been inclined to art, and had actually many awards in high school for my work, but it was truly just a hobby now.
I started taking local classes when I could, going to art shows, and generally trying to expose myself to as much Art as possible. Of course like most everyone else I was moved by the Soul-filled expressions of amateurs. As they Captured the Spirit of their Muses, I longed to do that as well. To make people really FEEL something when they see your work. I picked up Photography as a favor to a friend one day and quickly realized how much I enjoyed it. Although I had no formal education in it, I felt that I was able to get my vision across to people with much ease and clarity.
I started a Photography business, but was quickly burnt out. Again, I had many wonderful clients but I felt like I really wasn't accomplishing what I wanted. There wasn't the true fulfillment there I thought I would have. I was giving 20% of my profits to local charity, and my Clients seemed to be very happy with my work but I desired to do something....well that matters. I tried to throw myself into every charity I could and they felt good for a moment. Still there was something missing. I prayed for a year that God would help me find my place, the place I needed to be to make a difference.
I took a break from my photography in Winter of 2011 to Spend the Holidays with Family and re-think my business. It was then that I started reading "Start something that matters" by Blake MyCoskie, the Founder of TOMSshoes. I had participated in "One day without shoes" a few years in a row. And had even taken a picture of my two sons bare little toes in our home the year before, posting the picture online. I got many great responses to that photo, including several people asking about the "One Day" movement. I was so excited to share the Event with them, and to this day it remains one of my favorite pictures.
My personal theory is this: People really do desire to help their fellow man. That's why pictures like the Pulitzer prize Photo's, and National Geographic Study's, or Covers on Time Magazine, are so moving to us. We want to help, to give, but most people don't know where to begin. A picture of a starving child is touching yes, But if you don't know where to help them, its powerless.
Instead of just focusing on the problem, I knew we needed to show people the answer as well. To show you personally how you can get involved in Charities, Non-profits, or Philanthropic events and organizations that suit you individually. Utilizing the time, finances, and effort you have available on your own terms. From feeding the hungry, Educating the poor, to clothing the homeless, and everything in between. I want to show you Pictures you can connect with and then the places and people who are making a difference in those areas.
I know I want to help connect people with others who are making a difference, By using Photography to expose all the great things happening in the world to help the not-so-great situations. It may sound Cliche' but "Helping people, Help People"
I changed Second Glance Photography to a business who does exactly that. And the rest, as they say is history.
Thanks for your interest in what we are doing here at Second Glance Photography! You can go to our home page for more info and contact information as well. :)