We are so happy to be shining our photographer spotlight this month on Erika of Erika Rigger Photography. Erika grew up in California, met her husband in Virginia and now lives in North Carolina with her family. She worked as an Art Director in the advertising world for over 10 years before she felt it was time to break off and start her own creative business. She’s inspired by all kinds of art, music, films, travel and insists on infusing herself with one or more of those on a regular basis. She’s passionate and works hard but when it’s time to relax she enjoys spending time in her veggie garden, wine and Netflix or taking photos of her home and family. She’s living her dream of being a wife, mother and her own boss and hopes to spread all that she’s been blessed with out into the big ol’ world!
How would you describe your photography? My intention in every photo I take is to come across as natural, authentic and evoke a sense of connection. Often my clients think they want the posed photos and then give me feedback saying their favorites are the ones where none of them are looking at the camera, but instead looking at and engaging with each other. To create the authentic connections in my photos I simply encourage my clients to laugh, chase, tickle and play!
Why did you join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? I love children. I love their innocence and feel the need to protect and preserve it as long as possible. To see them have to face such an enormous challenge at such a young age is heartbreaking for them, and even more so for their families. The only thing I can offer them is what I do–to capture and preserve their innocence, smiles, laughter and love between family. That is eternal.
What is your favorite thing about being a photographer for The Gold Hope Project? I love having the opportunity to tell Gold Hope families stories through beautiful photos that reflect the love between them. Also, I love that my perspective is renewed and refreshed when I spend time them. They remind me to simply enjoy the moment and cherish every moment with your family.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? Yes. Simply put, it has made me appreciate life times a million. I’m so inspired by the strength and courage of these kids and their families.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? I just want them see themselves the way I see them–full of love, beautiful in every way, fiercely strong and absolutely inspiring!
This month the photographer spotlight is on JoAnna Robbins of JoAnna Robbins Photography. JoAnna has had a love of photography since high school, when she spent as much time as possible in the darkroom. She taught kindergarten for a few years before making the decision to stay home after having her first child. After my second was born, she rediscovered her love of photography and spent a lot of time reading, learning, and practicing as much as she could! She is located in the Baltimore and Washington DC area and focuses on newborn and family portraits.
How would you describe your photography? I like to capture lots of emotion. The best way to get genuine smiles is to tell parents to look at their children. All parents smile when they look at their babies! I also aim to keep things classic and timeless. I feel like trends in editing come and go so I always try to go for a timeless look.
Why did you join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? I was looking for an organization to volunteer for when I found The Gold Hope Project. When a member of your family is sick, priorities shift, and luxuries like custom photography move down the list. Additionally, most of these families have to take a lot of time off of work or even quit their job to get the child to doctor’s appointments, be with the child for unplanned illnesses or hospitalizations, etc. This can cause a great deal of financial strain on a family! So of course photography isn’t going to be a priority. I love that I can make it easy on them, and give them beautiful pictures of their families!
What is your favorite thing about being a photographer for The Gold Hope Project? My favorite thing about all my sessions is building relationships with the families. I love meeting the families, talking with them not just about their journey with cancer, but also about their lives in general.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? Of course, every parent’s biggest fear is something bad happening to their child. I am fully aware that at any time, I could be in a position like these families, and have become extra grateful for every healthy moment I have with my own children. Just days after my first session with TGHP, my youngest daughter had to be hospitalized for an infection. It was 5 days, but felt like an eternity. It gave me a brief glimpse into what life is like for these families. Seeing my child very sick, not knowing what the future would hold, the logistics of caring for both a sick child and dealing with the rest of our life (work, other children, life in general) was very difficult. I had a lot of help, and after those 5 days, my life went back to normal. Months or years of that must be so incredibly overwhelming and exhausting! I hope that I can give families a little bit of joy.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? I always try to get lots of pictures of the families interacting together. Everyone wants a good picture of everyone looking and smiling, so I’m sure to get that, but I love the pictures of everyone laughing, playing, being themselves. That’s what I want them to remember. Even in this very stressful time in their lives, there is still laughter and love!
This month we are so happy to be shining the photographer spotlight on Vanessa of Novel Etchings Photography located in Michigan City, Indiana. No matter what stage of life, what makes you unique will show. That is what Vanessa finds so inspiring and what brings her joy with each session. Her work has been featured in various online and print publications. Most recently her work was featured on the cover of the chapbook “Origin”.
How would you describe your photography? I am a photographer who loves to have fun! The collective uniqueness of your session is a page of your life. Those chubby cheeks, that expression you will always remember can bring back one million memories. To say a session is completely candid is false. Anytime you bring in an outside influence things are altered. It is my job, my passion, and my goal for you and your little ones to have fun. To bring out what makes them who they are and to feel comfortable enough even with an outside influence.
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? I have two careers. I am a photographer and a registered nurse. I simply had more than one passion and felt thankful to have the opportunity to pursue both. When I heard of The Gold Hope Project I felt it was a great way to give back to my community.
What is your favorite thing about being a photographer for The Gold Hope Project? My favorite thing is being able to give something meaningful to someone. I love the joy photographs bring to a family and when you are facing such difficult times, you deserve to have beautiful moments etched.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? I value every day with my son. I am grateful and thankful for my family. EVERY moment is cherished and it has been that way since I became a nurse. I saw the other side of life that is hard and painful.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? I want them to walk away feeling special and to look back on their session with a smile. I want them to know they are not alone and many people stand with them to fight for a cure.
Today we are so happy to be shining the photographer spotlight on Eboni Rivera of Luxe Art Images. Self proclaimed “Memory Giver”, Eboni Rivera captures honest pictures of awesome families. She is a Family Documentary Photographer and Film Artist located in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. She provides heart-tugging, feel good photography and films for families who give a damn about the preservation of their memories. Her storytelling approach to photography allow families to leave behind a legacy of who they are, how much they love and just how awesome their lives are.
How would you describe your photography? I capture timeless and emotive images forthe true sentimentalists at heart. I work with people who love taking a trip down memory lane getting lost in the feelings of nostalgia. My style of photography is intimate and emotive. I love to get in close to grab detail shots, particularly of body parts such as hands, eyes and feet. I’m inspired by my own experiences as a mother and I set out to capture the momentsin which I feel other’s would want to remember in the years to come.
What made you want to join TGHP as a volunteer? Deep down,I feel like I was put on this earth to help others. For as long as I could remember, I’ve always had this innate ability to relate to charitable causes. Throughout the years I’ve donated my time to many organizations as my way ofdoing the little bit that I can in my attempts to make a smallimpact on the world.
After discovering The Gold Hope Project and learning more about their mission, I immediately knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of. Reading Ava’s story and watching her video tugged at my heartstrings. I felt a need to help other children and their families whose lives have been touched by cancer.
A few years ago, I experienced my own health scare with my youngestdaughter when she was 2 yearsold. She endured many rounds of testing at the Pediatric Oncology Center for several months and it was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. Luckily her story turned out with a happy ending but I do realize that the same isn’t true for every family.
Becoming a Gold Hope volunteer photographer means that I would have an opportunity to give back just a bit of sunshine to families whom have seen so many dark days.Being able to give a piece my heart to families that could use anextra bit of loving,means so much to me and would be fulfilling. Additionally, as a volunteer I’d be able to mesh my love of giving back to others with my love of photography – I mean, what could be better than that?!
What is your favorite thing about being a photographer for The Gold Hope Project? I would say that my favorite thing would be capturing the love shared amongst all the family members. The children are so innocent and joyful even though they’ve been through so much andI really admire that! I enjoybeing able to capture their family togetherness and gift them with images from their experience. I also like interacting with them and learning more about their stories. Its absolutely awe-inspiring to see the strength and faith that they have and to be immersed in all of these feelings during the time we spend together during their session. It’s a connective experience for everyone involved.
What is one thing you hope to families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? As a Gold Hope photographer I want to give families a documentation oftheir moments that matter. I want them to have images that reflect the simple things that are happening in their everyday lives – things that others may take for granted – in whichthey are so very grateful for. I want them to be able to look back on their images and not focus on remembering the pain and suffering that they went through but instead the love and light that radiated within their family unit.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? Absolutely!Last year my life was touched by an angel when I met the sweetest little boy named Douglas Grimmett who was battling cancer. Douglas is a strong, resilient and determined 10-year-old boy who is all too familiar with the burden of cancer. He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in 2013 and has endured 1,170 rounds of treatment before finally being declared cancer-free!I was able to gift his family a session shortly before the end of his treatments and it was exciting to be apart of the tail end of his journey before being considered a ‘survivor’.
After his session, deep down in my heart I knew that this is the kind of work that I was put on this earth to do.
Tell us about “Cancer to the Curb.” After working with Douglas and learning more about his story, I realizedhow easilyit could’ve been my own daughters’ story – the chilling thought crosses my mind every single day. I feel like there’s a calling for me to do something more to help other children and families going through similar trials. So, in honor of Douglas, I’ve accepted a nomination to be a candidate in the 2017 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Man & Woman of the Year Campaign. My team Cancer to the Curbis on a mission to fundraise to help spread awareness in hopes of finding a curefor pediatric blood cancers.
It’s a team of local community members banding together working to raise as much money as possible within a 10-week period.Our goal is a bit ambitious but we are relenteless in our efforts to raise $25,000 from March 23 – June 1, 2017. Every dollar raised helps LLS provide access to treatments for pediatric cancer patients and their families. They also count as a vote for me and the candidate who gets the most votes is named the Man and Woman of the Year.
I can’t do it alone and I need your help. If it weren’t for the support of past donations to fund research for LLS, Douglas’ success story and so many other children like him most likely wouldn’t have been possible. Just 60 years ago the survival rate for leukemia, the most common form of cancer in children, went from having a 3% survival rate to over a 92% survival rate.
We are so happy to be shining the photographer spotlight on the beautiful work of Karyn Olsson Photography. Karyn Olsson is a lifestyle family photographer in Orange, CA. She is a wife, mother, sister and friend. Karyn is a self described people person and loves any opportunity to meet new friends. She has always had an appreciation of photography, but the flame really started to burn when she had her own children. When asked to describe her photographic style the words she uses are; raw, emotive, and real. She wants to preserve the real and unique moments in each family. Karyn shoots with a Canon 5dMark iii and her go to lens is the Canon 35 1.4L.
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? I always knew that I wanted to give back to the community through photography, I just did not know how I was going to make that happen. Then, I found The Gold Hope Project. I knew the instant that I saw TGHP that I wanted to be a part of this wonderful project. I wanted to be able to give a gift to these families that are battling childhood cancer.
What is your favorite thing about being a photographer for the project? The families that I have met through the project are absolutely the best part of volunteering for The Gold Hope Project. Words cannot describe how much these families have impacted and blessed me. I am so grateful that they have allowed me to be a small part of their journey.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? Working with children that have cancer has brought a new awareness to my life in so many different ways. The most notable, is that each day is truly a gift and that nothing is more important than the ones we love.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? My hope for each family is that they know that there are people in their community that care about what they are going through. That we are here to support and help in a time of need.
How would you describe your photography? I would describe my photography as emotive and real. I strive to freeze real moments in time. I want to capture that special moment between mother and child, the playfulness between siblings, and the unique bond within each family.
A big thank you to Karyn for sharing her gifts with our project.
Want to follow Karyn’s lead and become a volunteer photographer? Apply here.
We are so excited to be shining the photographer spotlight on Lindsey Rabon of Lindsey Rabon Photography. Photography has been a lifelong hobby for Lindsey, somewhere amongst the many boxes of old photographs you’ll find the one of her in diapers playing with my fathers 35 mm camera. Fortunately, her high school offered photography and she enrolled the first change she got, following that passion into college, and even into her first “real” job working with an event photography company. She can’t escape it, and would never want to. She has a passion for preserving moments and seeing the beauty in everything. Her business is focused mostly on high school seniors, but I love working with families and capturing the everyday moments with her own children.
How would you describe your photography? While I don’t consider my photography documentary style, I do try very hard to capture real and authentic moments and smiles. While maybe the real moments are what make the Christmas card, they are always the most treasured.
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? I am part of a wonderful community of local photographers and there was an immediate need on my side of town. We live in a huge metroplex so its not surprising someone “local” would be unable to take a session on my side of town. When I researched more about the organization it was a no brainer. I believe photography is so powerful and it such a wonderful gift to give a family who needs to capture this time with their child.
What is your favorite thing about being a photographer for The Gold Hope Project? It kind of feels odd to say, but I really enjoy meeting the faces of childhood cancer. It has made this horrible disease very real for me. Many of the children are the same ages as my own and it is really easy to see how such a tragedy can strike anyone at any time. I have been fortunate the little clients I have had the pleasure of meeting all have a good prognosis, so I enjoy following their stories. It makes my heart sing when I hear they are in NED (no evidence of disease). I know there may come a time where I meet a family who isn’t as fortunate, and that day will break my heart into a million pieces.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? Spending time with these children and families have given me a new perspective on what really matters. Before I began working with The Gold Hope Project, cancer was this horrible thing that happened to other people in a far away land. But it is very real, right in my neighborhood and surprisingly more common than I expected. It is so hard to read their stories; I cry every single time. I am forever changed by these kids and their families.
What is one thing you hope to families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? A photograph symbolizes so many things, it literally stops time. I hope that during the time we spend together, we have a little fun, and capture the spirit of the child. While I have no doubt these families need a photographic reminder of what they have experienced, I hope that what shines through is the child’s personality and the character that remains despite the struggle they’ve been through.
