Recently I had a client send me an email about GIVING back and with a new CHANGE in our government and an energetic shift in all of us (both from our economic needs and a place of feeling new HOPE) I felt it was appropriate to share (with his approval of course). I hope with this email you will sit back and see - even in tough times how can you give back (not monetarily - but of yourself and of your time). As you all know I am very dedicated to Dress for Success. Go out and find an organization that touches your heart. You will be rewarded in so many ways and I think NOW is the time to start really making some changes.
EMAIL FROM MARK ESTES:
As you know I signed on with Now I Lay Me down To Sleep (http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/) and actually became the SF area coordinator. This past Tuesday, I performed my first case. I know this is one of my callings to assist families who are grieving the loss of their infants. I got the urgent call from a nurse at UCSF Medical Center informing me that 50-day old Leonardo had just died. I knew I had to do this and accepted the case myself instead of putting the word out on the NILMDTS photographers network I am creating. I crossed the threshold into the world of the grieving and in-shock family. They spoke little english but I was able to gently convey that I was there for them and explained how I wanted to conduct the photo shoot.
The shoot went well. I was professional, focused and confident as I did the shoot. I put my own emotions aside temporarily as I had learned in my hospice volunteer training to be an emotionally stable "place holder" for the grieving family.
Here's the unexpected experience for me. I processed and edited the images. I created the most amazing, touching b&w images. They are completely private and confidential as is the arrangement with the family and NILMDTS. I do not charge anything for the services, time or expenses. I may never hear from the family again after I send them the images. I look at the images and see that I have never created more touching and pure images in my life. I have created images of little Leonardo that more than likely will have more impact on the viewer than any I have ever done. A kind of pure photography driven by compassion is what I have discovered. In the past, I have always "validated" myself with my images in some way- by sharing and showing them, getting praise, getting them published with my credit and getting paid. Isn't that an amazing realization, so foreign to an artist or professional image maker, that there is no real room ego in this process?
Over the past three days, I have looked at and absorbed the images over and over. They are such beautiful images telling a very important and very sad story.
Mark then followed with a few other emails - doing this first assignment has not only rewarded him personally and spiritually - but it has also inspired him creatively and new projects are flowing out of him. Again, don't do a project because you expect something out of it - but if you give from the heart with no expectations - sometimes little gifts do come your way. Sounds like Leonardo was a gift to his family and to Mark. May his little soul rest in peace and may Mark's images bring joy and peace to the family.
To learn more about volunteering with Now I Lay Me down To Sleep - please visit: http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/
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