Giving / Generosity.

These are two words that essentially mean the same thing but have been important principles of my business since the beginning. There are a LOT of reasons why I believe generosity is important and I have not come to the conclusion to give in the capacity I have lightly. It’s (unfortunately) true that some business owners give because it makes an easy tax write off and is a gimmick to get people to support their business. Because of this, I debated for a long time making the giving that I do top secret. However, I could NOT be as generous as I am without you and your support and it would be wrong to not thank you for that. So here we are making it an important pillar in my business that I am gladly sharing with you.

I started my photography business in 2018 as a side hustle while I was in college. At this same time I was exploring what I wanted to do for a career and began volunteering with Coyote Hill Christian Children’s Home in Harrisburg, MO. I was exploring becoming a therapist or social worker and both professions work at Coyote Hill. Coyote Hill is an organization that supports foster care children and families. Their location in Harrisburg specifically has 5 homes that could serve 8 foster children at one time. I volunteered once a week in one of these homes to help with the kids and get to know more about the foster care industry. Man oh man. I had no idea how this would change my life.

Ultimately, I decided being a therapist or social worker wasn’t the career move for me. But I continued volunteering at Coyote Hill and my heart continued to break for the foster care world as a whole. When I graduated in 2020 and moved back to the Quincy area I didn’t want to stop being involved in the foster care industry. As I transitioned into full time photography in February 2021, Jordan (my husband) and I talked a lot about how this career could be so much more than just taking photos. Quickly we decided that 10% of all profits would be given to the foster care world in some capacity. We decided this would give me the chance to advocate, support and share the importance of foster care and adoption with my clients. It also forced me to find ways to support this world in Quincy because at that time I didn’t really know of any organizations I could partner with. I had become stagnant in supporting the people and organizations in foster care that need it. I wasn’t okay with that, so it was time to jump back in head first.

After some very basic research I found Connect Child and Family Solutions and Chaddock in Quincy. Both organizations do great work for foster and adoptive children while hitting different needs for them. I began a monthly donation to Connect that allowed me to learn more about their mission and how I could continue to support them moving forward. As Christmas rolled around I reached out to Chaddock about how I could potentially support the children in care. They quickly shared about their Santa Express and I was HOOKED. Since that first year in 2021-2022, things have only grown.

And it is all thanks to you guys, my clients.

As of today (February 2024) we have provided Christmas for almost 100 children, given $15,000+ to the foster care community, photographed numerous events supporting the foster care world and captured multiple adoptions, adoptive families and teens in foster care. There is so much more to be done. We have not even scratched the surface of what help is needed to support these families, kids and teens in the foster care & adoption world. I can’t wait to see how this business will allow me to continue giving generously to these organizations.

I am immensely thankful for so many things. I am beyond words thankful for those working in the foster care and adoption world. They face brokenness in the face and say, what can we do. They don’t turn their back. They don’t shut the door and pretend the brokenness isn’t there, even though that would be the easier option. I am so thankful for the avenues that I have found in Quincy, IL to support this industry. I am at a loss for words as to how to thank you (my clients) for what you have allowed me to do. I am simply an empty vessel without you. You guys fill my pot that allows me to give so generously. I am nothing but empty without you.

If you have not found something to be passionate about giving to yet in your life, I encourage you to find it. Maybe it’s foster care like me. Maybe it’s a medical disease that still needs a cure. Maybe it’s providing beds for those who don’t have one. Maybe it’s helping pay off medical debt for strangers. Whatever it is, I hope you find it. I hope it pushes you to work harder, be more selfless and give beyond reason. You won’t regret it.