giving back

"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again." - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Maybe before, and certainly after. But there's no crying in the presence of a dying loved one. Never there. A few years ago my dear friend lost her life to breast cancer. I have always known how rampant this illness is, but it truly hit me hard the day I found out that my friend had lost her battle with cancer and was leaving behind her loving husband and very young daughter. During her last few weeks of life, one of the activities my friend chose to do with her daughter was to arrange family photographs. It's so heart breaking, but the reality is that those photographs will help to preserve the memory of her mom and provide her with memories that she can cherish throughout her life.

I have always wanted to use my photography to give back and make a difference (even if it's just a drop in the ocean of life). Since all of this has happened I realized I can provide a very important service to people affected by serious illnesses. The calling to preserve these particular souls is one I can't escape. Nor do I want to.

I would like to offer a complimentary session and album for people who are diagnosed with a terminal or severe illness. It may be a child dealing with leukemia, a mother who is dealing with breast cancer knowing she may lose her hair due to chemo, or a father dealing with a debilitating illness. I want to help them capture memories with their family. I am not doing this for any other purpose than my desire to help by using the gift that I have been blessed with. When you begin to understand something changes. Hearts open. Empathy flourishes.

I want my work to connect you to your loved ones, but also allow you to share their lives with others in a way that honors their memory and feeds our souls. Those connections create a bond that transcends the moment of when the photograph is taken and in some ways fills the void created by their passing.

Because I am only one person and I have a family to support and spend time with, I can only offer this on a limited basis. If this situation pertains to your family or a family that you know of in the San Diego area and you are interested in more information please send me an email at dorota@lifewondersphotography.com. I would love to talk with you!

"Nothing is ever wholly lost. That which is excellent remains forever part of the universe." - Ralph Waldo Emerson