Click on the title of the blog post to view the entire entry.
For those of you who didn’t hear about the “Giving Is Awesome” contest I had earlier this year and who the winner was you can read about it HERE. Bobbie Harsch’s story is heart wrenching and as I read her blog and got to know her a little better I couldn’t help but think about how strong, brave, optimistic and admirable she is. Her little boy is darling too! Here is just a sneak peak from their session. More to come…
First, I want to thank all of you who submitted entries in the “Giving is Awesome” contest. This decision was SO HARD! With every email that came in, my heart broke. I wish I could do photosessions for all of them. After a great deal of thought and debate, though, I decided I need to do a photosession for Bobbie Harsch! Here is a little bit about her story:
“Imagine that you and your husband are anxiously awaiting the birth of your first child. You are thinking of all the things you will do together as your little family grows –and all the pictures you will take to try to remember every moment. Then imagine that just two months before your baby’s due date, your husband, the love of your life, suddenly and unexpectedly dies — leaving you to bring this new life into the world without him. It’s hard to imagine — but it happened. It happened to Bobbie Harsh who, even with the love and support of family and friends, is still, for all intents and purposes, “on her own” as she and little Dylan try to make a family of two. If anyone deserves a professional photography session, it’s Bobbie and little Dylan. As Bobbie works to sustain their life together, without her husband and with the medical and funeral expenses that accompanied his passing, and the medical expenses that accompanied Dylan’s medical complications after birth, professional photography is not really in the budget.
Bobbie lost her husband, Zachary Lee Harsch, when he died suddenly of an internal infection at the young age of 28. Zach passed away about a month after Christmas this year. He never got the chance to meet their son, who is now just shy of 2 months old. Bobbie named her son Dylan Zachary Lee Harsch, after his father. From the time Dylan was born, he was having health problems. Almost immediately after his birth, he was moved to Children’s Mercy because he needed abdominal surgery. He was also on a ventilator for the first week of his life. After doctors removed the ventilator, they inserted a nasal cannula to give him oxygen support. Dylan was fed only a TPN and lipid solution for eight days after he was born. When he finally got to have breastmilk, it was through a tube in his nose that went to his stomach. He didn’t get to go home until three weeks after birth. “
Bobbie, I’m so sorry to hear about your circumstances. I really look forward to meeting you and having the opportunity to capture cherished memories of you and your son Dylan. You will receive a photosession, all digital images on CD, a DVD slideshow, 11×14 print, and 3-8×10 prints.
I also want to thank Paige and Jill for reaching out and taking the time to nominate Bobbie Harsch. You will receive a comlimentary photosession as well!
And since this is a photography blog, I can’t end a post without sharing some kind of picture. Here is one from our vacation to Colorado last year.
I’m so excited to annouce a new contest I’ve been wanting to be a part of for a while now called “Giving is Awesome.” It was founded by Kristen Kalp and has grown to consist of hundreds of photographers from all over who are giving away custom photography to deserving families. I so love what I do and feel tremendously blessed to be doing it. I love the people I meet on a regular basis and love seeing them through the lens in ways I wouldn’t otherwise. I love capturing the chemistry between a family, the laughter of a child, the soft and squishy skin of a newborn, the individuality of a high school senior and the joy they feel from a photosession all about them! I feel like I’ve done my part when I’ve captured a little bit of their soul and who they really are. I want clients to look at their images and feel like they represent their favorite parts of them and their loved ones.
I love what I do and want to be able to share it with someone who can’t afford it but really needs this opportunity to have a custom photosession for their family. I would love your help to find that special deserving someone, and what a great time with Father’s Day coming up!!!
You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it at this time in their life. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.
You know someone. I guarantee it.
I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — The winner receives a free photosession, all full resolution digital images on a CD, a DVD slideshow, 11×14 print, 3-8×10 prints …. a value of over $1000!
Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a complimentary session and $125 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be?
The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services.
* The nominee must reside in the greater Kansas city area. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* You must e-mail me the full story by midnight of June 13th: jennifer@jfieldsphotography.com.
The winner will be announced on June 20th (the day before Father’s Day!) — get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone in need. –and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.
With love,
Jennifer Fields
