Warren Village Millionaire's Pampering Extravaganza

This post is a bit overdue but thought I'd share it anyway...

Here are some portraits I shot of the Millionaire's Pampering Extravaganza this spring, a charity event held at the Denver, Colorado First Unitarian Church for the residents of Warren Village.

Warren Village is a residential facility for single parents and this pampering day provided makeovers for these beautiful ladies entirely by volunteer stylists.

I volunteered for this pro-bono shoot to photograph the ten women who were drawn from a lottery for a portrait session with me. Last year, we stayed inside and did some studio-style portraits but this year we went with a more creative outdoor shoot.

Domus Pacis Family Photos and New Revelations

Domus Pacis (Latin for House of Peace) is a non-profit that brings cancer patients and their families to the mountains for a bit of peace and rest. Family portraits are often provided, and Domus Pacis asked me to volunteer to take some photos of one of the families.

Goran was diagnosed with grade IV brain cancer in November, and came up to Breckenridge with his wife Mirjana, and their son, for about a week. We shot at the BOEC Griffith Lodge and Old Town Resevoir with the mountains and aspen groves as a backdrop. After an hour or so with the family, I got to know a bit more about their story, and it's an understatement to say that I'm moved and inspired by their journey.

Mirjana emigrated from Bosnia about 20 years ago, and Goran fled to the United States 6 years after that as a refugee. They met in Boston at a conference, and now have a beautiful 3-year-old son.

Goran and Mirjana both work with refugees in the Denver area. We started chatting about Shoot Cameras Not Guns and my work teaching photography as a tool for empowerment and social change. Goran told me that with all the refugees he's met, the things (besides family) that people regret leaving the most is photographs. It hit me really hard, this re-affirmation of how powerful the medium of photography can be, and a few hours later a potentially life-changing brainstorm popped into my head.

So, let me introduce to you the newest branch of Shoot Cameras Not Guns. In addition to teaching photography for empowerment, I would like to PROVIDE photography as a source of healing for refugees. I'm going to round up my network of great photographers, much like Domus Pacis does, and provide family portraits for refugees resettled in new lives. Let me know if you'd like to help families create new memories.

Many thanks to this inspirational family.

It's time to start fresh.

Millionaires' Pampering Extravaganza!

A mother of the bride of a wedding I shot last year asked me to donate photography services for the Millionaires' Pampering Extravaganza at the First Unitarian Church in Denver. This day provided professional hair, makeup, nail care and photography (me) for some well-deserving women. All these ladies were super fun and the stylists did a fantastic job. It was really an honor to be a part of this experience and to provide images of the strength and beauty of these women.

Thanks to Kay Beaton for the backdrop!