Wildly Kind Non-Profit ~ Sharing Kindness
Connection…in person, on social media, over the phone or through writing…is something us human beings need, whether we think it or not.
I was scrolling Facebook a few months ago and came across a post of someone asking for photography services for their non-profit. I stopped, read the post and moved on.
A few minutes later I came back to the post, read it again and read the comments, some uplifting and some “this is how you should run your business” comments. I agreed, partially, to most comments. Something inside just made me ache. At the time I wasn’t sure if it was a good ache or bad ache.
(Let’s pause and shift for just a moment.)
When I started out as a photographer, I volunteered my services quite a bit…like A LOT! So much volunteer work that I would come home burnt out and not fulfilled. (Yes, a little selfishness right there.) I started questioning the volunteering thing and realized I wasn’t counter balancing with paid work.
So, I took a break from volunteering…a long break.
Don’t get me wrong, I learned a lot about photography by volunteering and helped a lot of people, but I needed to revisit “why” I was doing it.
(Getting back to the post about asking for photography services…)
A comment was made about paying a photographer instead of asking for a volunteer. Yes, it’s nice to be paid to do work, but as I’m learning lately, if you don’t ask, you may not get. So, why not ask! It’s up to the photographer if they want to get paid or volunteer, so let them decide.
I read the post over and over and something inside was drawing me, but I didn’t do anything about it. I didn’t comment, I didn’t reach out, I just let it be for a day or two.
Then, something AMAZING happened…
Kayla from Be Wildly Kind sent me a message regarding product photography. She was asking for help and with little hesitation we scheduled a zoom call. We virtually met, talked, she shared her story, and I said I would think about it.
(I think and overthink about things sometimes to see if my heart says “yes”.)
A day, week or a couple of weeks went by (I honestly can’t remember). My heart and gut kept saying “yes”. If you know me well, I’m that woman who tries to follow her gut and what her heart tells her. For the most part I follow the signs and when I don’t, I find out that I “should have followed my instincts”.
I sent a message to Kayla and said, “I love what you are doing with this non-profit and I would love to be part of it.” Spreading kindness is in my heart. This world needs kindness. You and I need kindness. We all need kindness. We are unique individuals with different stories doing our best to make it in this world and WE NEED KINDNESS (yes, I’m shouting it from the rooftops).
All that to say, I’m grateful to be a part of what Kayla and her team is doing with this non-profit.
If you haven’t read Kayla’s story and her reason for doing this, please go check it out at WildyKind.org.
I had the pleasure of taking photos of Wildly Kind at the Portland Night Market. (Photos sprinkled about in this blog.)
For photography for your next event, contact me here.
#BeWildlyKind
