Updating this blog regularly will definitely be on top of my “must improve” list for the next year. It’s more than just sharing what’s been happening to me at work, in my photography, or maybe a peek on my very personal life… more than ever it is also for me to journal what has been keeping me busy. For me to be reminded that the days and weeks and months didn’t just flew by… but instead, plans were unfolded , stories were shared and photographs were taken and friendship was created.
That I wasn’t just busy… I was productive. I was happily running around doing things that I love and with people that I love.
But this one… this one I have to blog now because I had been itching to post, share, write and shout about this for the past week.
The latter part of 2013 had not been so good for my home country, Philippines. Specifically for my region, Visayas. A magnitude 8 earthquake and a series of very strong aftershocks shook the foundations of humble Cebu and Bohol. And just a few weeks after that, the world’s most horrific and strongest Typhoon made landfall in Leyte and neighboring islands. My childhood happy place of Bantayan was badly hurt also. I won’t share the details of the damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan, the news can do a better job on that.
I ran out of tissue from crying while reading the news, watching videos and keeping a lookout on the list of survivors hoping to see familiar names of people that I know or names of loved ones of friends asking for help to help locate them. But amidst the sadness, I am speechless with how quickly people from all parts of the world immediately decided to DO SOMETHING to help.
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| I could take photos of Danielle the whole day. Thanks Danielle for coming over! So nice to meet you! P.S: every photographer was hoping they’d get to do your set… haha I’m so lucky I did! |
One night my sister, Kat, posted this on her facebook status:
“How I wish I could give more. But remembering how Jesus fed the 5,000 with just 5 loaves, I know what I could give will suffice. Please find time to help and give. You are saving lives. You are some family’s hero.”
And all of us got our own version of 5 loaves to give. So I thought I’d give mine.
So instead of opening up a new box of tissue and continue crying, in 5 minutes I made a poster for a “Shoot for a Cause” Project. Wherein for $50 Singapore dollars, people can have their photos taken for 30 minutes. I thought it’s a perfect deal for families, friends, couples and even for personal portraits. Honestly, in the first few minutes, I thought nobody will book. Hahaha, yes I have some confidence issue myself. I had this inner monologue saying, “Dee, you’ve donated and given already to help. Buttttt…. if nobody book you, be prepared to give more.” Hahahaha.
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| Patricia’s (http://fancygirldesignstudio.com) cheeky boys! Oh my, oh my… these two made my job SO easy. |
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| The Superhero family! |
But seriously, a few hours after posting in Facebook and Instagram, the limited slots I initially opened were halfway full already. In 48 hours my humble 10-12 slots, 1 Day Shootfest ballooned to 50++ slots and extended into 2 days with other Photographers who volunteered their time and talent to help. I have never been so thankful for Facebook and Instagram and other social media channels.
There is never a shortage of people who are more than willing to help. Among the people who booked a slot, 95% of them I do not even know. They saw the poster from a friend of a friend of a friend who shared it in their social media. One of my past clients, a very beautiful Venezuelan lady, Maria, shared the post with her friend here in Singapore. And she immediately booked a slot for her family! And some of these people who booked a $50 slot, actually gave more than twice, more than triple , more than four times that amount. Their donations will go a long way. One asked how many slots I have left. And when I replied I have 7 more left, she booked everything! And gave the slots to her friends and family. One of them went a little further and baked some cookies and sell it to her friends and loved ones with the proceeds added to the fund. And she even bought some for me during the shoot! (Thanks Linda!!). My heart is bursting.
I do not know these people, but I am overwhelmed by their heart to help out. I have a mini United Nations thing going on on my schedule with Singaporeans, Americans, Venezuelans, Indians, Malay , Chinese and Filipinos shootfest.
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| Adorable? Cute? Sweet? Awwwwww? Do I even have to caption this one? |
It takes a team to make the project a success. So I am extremely grateful to friends who happily volunteered to help with the behind the scenes stuff. To organize the schedule for the day, ushers and greeters who welcomed the pledgers as they arrive, some played timers for each photographer because sometimes we (the photographers) get a little carried away shooting and we forget about the time, someone made sure that all the photos are backed-up because just imagine the amount of photos 5 photographers shooting non-stop for 4 hours can accumulate. These people who are not shooting ran around the park making sure we have water to drink (which is not an easy feat when you are in the middle of a very big park). And we even have volunteers who pumped balloons for kids!
And for Yuki, who volunteered her talent as a makeup artist, and some of the ladies got dolled up for an extra $30, with everything going to the fund as well. And big Thanks to Merry Love Wedding Things for providing us with paper pompoms and honeycomb balls. And for The Wedding Scoop for sharing the poster in their social channels. And to everyone who shared in facebook, talked about it and tagged their friends to sign up…. THANK YOU!
We finally finished Batch 1 of the Shoot for a Cause project yesterday. To say that it was a busy afternoon is an understatement. It suddenly rained heavily for about 30 minutes or so. And all of us volunteers who came early were huddled up under the grey gazeebo in Botanical Gardens looking up at the sky praying for sun. Haha. And the rain did stop and everyone can’t wait to put everything into action.
Everybody was doing something, and everybody got a huge smile in their face while doing it.
I am writing to honor these people and to say Thank You! Thank you for being some family’s Hero back in the Philippines.
Here are some of my takes from Day 1. Can’t wait for our wrap up shoot this coming Saturday, November 30! I will be announcing then the total amount raised from the project.
It was a tiring but very fulfilling day. To all who came from families to couples to pets… Thank You all for being there!
always,
Dee
P.S: If you want to donate we will be at Singapore Botanical Garden this Saturday (November 30) near the swan lake.
P.P.S: We still need volunteers!! if you want to help and have fun at the same time (and work a sweat! haha)… please let me know. Drop me a message at [email protected].
P.P.P.S: Big BIG Thanks to my wonderful photographer friends who selflessly volunteered their time and talent… Paul Sydney, Enggul , Annette Wong (http://www.annettewongphoto.com), Jhoe (josephinesicadphotography.com) and Robert (http://www.roberthechingerportraits.com)
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| I was surrounded with so much love that afternoon. |
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| Each other’s bestfriend’s. |
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| My last couple for the day. Thank you so much for coming over Charlene and Darence! (and Friends! haha) |
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