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.
Be sure to follow Running Mom Photography online! Facebook | Instagram
6eso9zp ∆˙√©+-09yfbgc A big thank you to April for choosing to give back with us. Want to follow her lead? Apply to be a volunteer photographer here.