This month we are so excited to be shining our photographer spotlight on Kristi Bayerlein of Olive and Grace Photography. Kristi is a photographer based out of Northern Delaware, wife, and mom to two amazing children. She has a passion for capturing life as it unfolds–without the bells and whistles–in her personal life. This has carried over into her career as a professional photographer. She believes that every moment is beautiful and worthy of documenting, which makes her strive to capture families honestly and purely.
How would you describe your photography? My photography focuses on the natural connections and stories within a family. I work to capture the emotional, intimate, and joyful moments between family members while ensuring that each individual’s unique personality shines through.
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? As a professional photographer, I love being able to connect with families regularly, but really felt drawn to joining an organization where I could utilize my skills to give back in some way. With my husband being a pediatric hematology/oncology nurse for almost 10 years, it felt right to join The Gold Hope Project to give a voice to and shine a light on the very children he works tirelessly to support every day.
What is your favorite thing about being a Gold Hope photographer? I love interacting with the fighters. They are so strong and resilient, and it always amazes me how fun and joyful many of them still are during and after their fight with cancer.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? It may sound strange, but it has helped me enjoy my own children even more. It has helped me see that many of the day-to-day struggles that we deal with are not all that difficult to get through, and made me have even more of a drive to capture the details and mundane activities as we move through the seasons.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? I hope that with their photos and session experience they can see how strong they truly are. That they can see outwardly the love and connections they share and remember that through their difficult days.
This month we are so excited to be shining our photographer spotlight on April Cannon of Running Mom Photography. April is a natural light, storytelling, love the imperfect, photographer who started her business 6 years ago when she left her career as a physical therapist to become a stay-at-home mom. April has been photographing people since she was 10 years old and took her film to the local store to have it developed from her fisher price camera. April came by her business name because she loves to run and as a mom is usually “on the run”. Her favorite way to photograph people is interacting with each other and their environment.
How would you describe your photography? I love to capture real emotion and each individual family’s unique ways of interacting. Shooting at adventurous locations or at a place where my clients are the most comfortable gives me so much joy. I believe nothing that is real is perfect and so I love to embrace imperfection.
What is your favorite thing about being a Gold Hope photographer? Meeting the families of course! I love to bring smiles out in the short time we spend together. It is my hope they can “step outside” of the cancer box for even a few minutes. Knowing that these memories will be with the family forever and cherished to each family means so much!
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? One thing that struck me after meeting my husband’s family was how close his family interacted with each other. I later found out that the whole family came together when they lost my husband’s younger brother to pediatric cancer. He was only 2 and a half years old.
Observing how all the family had photos and mementos in their homes or on their person, stuck with me. Each person’s face and demeanor would have a sense of not just sadness but peace when they looked at their photos of a beautiful life lost too soon. When I found out about The Gold Hope Project after becoming a professional photographer, I knew she needed to be a part of it.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? Having young children of my own around the same ages as the fighters I have worked with truly emphasizes the resiliency of kids and the blessings that are seen in the smallest things. I have had several of the parents comment that going through the diagnosis and treatment – they can not see past that day or the next, much less the hopes of the next year. I appreciate living in the moment because of working with the amazing fighters I have the privilege to meet.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? I want the families I work with to remember that help, love, and hope are out there.
This month we are so excited to be shining our photographer spotlight on Jessie of Jessie Hearn Photography. She is the founder and lead photographer of Jessie Hearn Photography. A former elementary school teacher turned photographer, she is extremely grateful for the chance to build a career from her passion without sacrificing how much she loves working with others. Jessie loves people, animals, laughter, and sarcasm– not necessarily in that order! She gets exceptionally excited about gorgeous lighting and precious moments between people, and truly becomes emotionally tied to each photography session.
How would you describe your photography? I love photography; I always have. I remember waiting anxiously at the drugstore so that I could rush home with my new pictures and carefully put them into frames and photo albums.
Even though 20 years have passed and digital cameras changed photography, my feelings and excitement are the same. I still race home after a shoot to look at every image and relive each moment of our session. It’s magic!
My goal is to combine the emotion that I feel with every click of the camera with your family as you actually are: smiling, laughing, even crying. I strive to find the true essence of who you are and capture these moments for you for a lifetime. Your family, as you are, smiling, laughing, even crying, but most importantly, just being yourselves!
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? Photography can be a gift to people in all circumstances of life and I am eager for any opportunity to share that with others. But truly, the families I meet through this organization end up being the gift itself. Their strength, resilience, and unwavering love and support for one another are humbling and inspiring. I am honored to document a significant moment in time for them and to highlight the love and hope that they share throughout it as well.
What is your favorite thing about being a Gold Hope photographer? For a guaranteed moment in time, these families can relax, have fun, and celebrate their journey together! Their photo session is a chance to laugh, to be silly, and to reflect on what defines them as a family rather than any single circumstance defining them.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? Perspective is everything. As a single mom of three amazing kiddos, I hug them a little tighter knowing that life will bring its share of difficulties but together we have it all. I’ve learned to appreciate the mundane a little more and to be grateful for simple blessings like health, security, and family. Working with The Gold Hope Project has also encouraged me to lead with a servant’s heart. We are given one life to live, and I truly believe that it’s in the opportunities to help others that we grow the most and feed our own souls in return.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? My goal is that every family I photograph walks away with joy and hope… joy from simple moments with family captured on camera forever, filling their hearts with happiness and strength. And hope in continued laughter-filled days ahead– days where the innocence and wonder of childhood replace any fear or worry weighing on them.
This month we are so excited to be shining our photographer spotlight on Amanda of Amanda Orleman Photography. Amanda Orleman is a Kansas City-based photographer, specializing in portrait photography. She has 5 kids, 3 are at home, one is due in June, and one is in heaven. Her children are her inspiration. She wants to help make the world a better place for them. She has a passion for meeting other people and creating moments through photography that can be cherished for years to come. Amanda takes a laid-back, yet efficient approach to photographing her clients so that it is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
How would you describe your photography? I am a mixture between a lifestyle photographer and a posed portrait photographer. I love capturing warmth and light in my photos.
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? I’ve always had a special place in my heart for childhood cancer patients and families. I have never had to watch one of my own children be diagnosed with cancer, and truly cannot imagine how awful that would be. I know that I can’t even begin to understand what these families face on a daily basis. I had a family member pass away as a child from leukemia and it made me sit back and re-evaluate life. I was a child at the time and seeing death that closely had a definite impact. Cancer is a special kind of beast, it affects every aspect of your life and those around you. I feel that spreading awareness about childhood cancer can help bring about more funding to find a cure for these amazing families affected by it.
What is your favorite thing about being a Gold Hope photographer? I LOVE meeting the families that I work with! I feel privileged that they’ve trusted me to capture these special, fragile, intimate moments and I hope that they cherish the photos I’ve taken for them. My hope is that I can bring about some smiles and fun memories through our session together. I am continually inspired by the families that I have met and they have each made a lasting impact on me. I know that no one would ever choose the challenges that these families face, but I feel honored to witness their bravery as they confront the hardest task a parent could ever face. I think and pray about these families I’ve met daily and hope that they can feel my love for them. When I have faced challenging times during my life, the love and support of those around me kept me afloat.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? It has made me happier! Each child I’ve met has this special glow about them that I can’t quite explain. These children are much wiser beyond their years, and they are so incredibly loved and cared for. I love being able to watch the genuine love between the parents and their child(ren). The families I have met aren’t worrying about superficial things, they are focused on what matters most.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? I hope that they feel like they have someone else in their corner cheering them on and ready to help at the drop of a hat. I don’t want to just be their “photographer,” I want to be an advocate for them. Life throws us all kinds of curveballs and we need people who will be there for us to help us along the journey.
This month we are so excited to be shining our photographer spotlight on Rebecca of Hunnicutt Photography. Rebecca has always had a love for photography. She studied BW film photography, assisted in a portrait studio, and worked at a one-hour photo and camera store in college. She then focused her studies on healthcare and became a pediatric nurse practitioner specializing in endocrinology and bone marrow transplant. Upon moving overseas to Asia, Rebecca reignited her passion for photography when she had young children. She aimed to capture each age and stage of her daughters as they grew, knowing that childhood is fleeting. As Rebecca focused on raising global citizens, and during their everyday and extraordinary adventures, Rebecca realized her passion for composition and color use in photography.
These experiences transitioned into a modern and fun family, child, and newborn-focused lifestyle photography business first in Asia and now in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. Rebecca utilizes her prior life experience as a pediatric nurse and expatriate to create a laid-back and fun atmosphere within which she creates modern, joy-filled, and artistic photographs for families to treasure for years to come.
How would you describe your photography? I am a natural light lifestyle photographer, focusing on creating modern, relaxed, and joyful images of my family and clients specializing in capturing fun and connection. I also love composition and color and aim to incorporate those features into my work as much as possible.
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? Prior to working as a professional photographer I was a pediatric nurse practitioner and cared for oncology and bone marrow transplant patients. Their journey holds a special place in my heart, and I wanted to continue to work with these special kids and families in any way that I could. Being able to combine the pediatric specialty I previously worked with and my love of photography is a gift to me, and I’m happy to share this with the families who are offered a session with The Gold Hope Project.
What is your favorite thing about being a Gold Hope photographer? I love meeting the families and providing a service of lifelong memories for them out of the dark time of their child’s treatment.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? My experience working with pediatric oncology patients as a nurse and as a photographer continues to show me how amazing children and families are. It reminds me how resilient and awesome kids are, and I remind myself of this every day.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? I hope that the families were able to enjoy an hour or so together, relaxing, connecting, and having fun without having to think about the healthcare-related stresses in their life. I also hope that they are able to treasure these photos as a beautiful memory for years to come
This month we are so excited to be shining our photographer spotlight on Alyssa of Baby Face Photography. Alyssa’s journey of photography began watching two little girls grow and wanting to capture each little moment and detail. As the motherhood continued, Alyssa became passionate about storytelling through photography for others. From the first little kick inside to those incredible first days of life and the growth, one year can bring. Alyssa became specialized in capturing maternity, newborn, and baby portraiture. When she’s not behind the camera, Alyssa focuses her time on her two sweet girls and the beautifully fleeting moments of motherhood.
How would you describe your photography? My style is light and airy imagery that focuses on the uniqueness and the beauty of each baby and will clearly tell their story through generations.
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? Like so many, I have experienced watching someone I love suffer from this horrible disease. I have experienced both the wins and the losses that can come from this disease. Through this, I have become passionate about wanting to give back to others going through this experience.
What is your favorite thing about being a Gold Hope photographer? Even though there are struggles, these little fighters teach us what it means to be strong and faithful. The wisdom and strength they bring to each session are incredibly moving. It is clear that the joy and memories still exist… it’s an absolute honor to capture their journey.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? These sessions are consistent reminders as to what is most important in life. Spending time with those you love, making the most of each day, and living life with love, passion, and faith can change everything.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? I hope the families and little fighters can see their own perseverance, strength, and love in every image.
