I recently shared with a friend of mine who is a pastor a vision I have for bringing portrait photography into their ministry as an innovative way of reaching out to our community.
My background and calling is full-time ministry. Right now, it’s hard to make that happen. Most churches are having just as tough of a time making ends meet as individuals are. Personally, I was one of the pastors who due to financial cuts suffered the brunt of a churches financial crises. Since I enjoyed photography, I looked for a job doing photography. If I had had the monetary support and a place to work, I would probably own my own studio at this point and be doing photography on my own. I currently work for Olan Mills and volunteer at my church.
My recent vision for combining photography and ministry was a bit of a surprise even to me. I have customers come in each and every day at Olan Mills with Newborns, or 1 year olds. I even once had an elderly lady come in and buy one portrait just so that her family could have something to display at her funeral.
Photography is one of those things where we see a large number of people come in with very open hearts and minds to what God might be saying to them. They are celebrating a birth, or their family, or just a memory… leaving a legacy.
At a commercial photography studio it’s often hard to witness when you know that at the end of the session, you are going to be trying to sell them a package, even if they can’t afford it. Serve God or money, right?
But the church has a huge opportunity here. I’ve pitched it to my church and have some support for making it happen, now I just need the means to get the equipment to make it a reality.
image credit – Becca and Me with our little one, Aidan
William – Congratulations to you and Rebecca on the birth of Aidan. I arrived here via twitter (@thrufire). My wife and I have done professional photography since 2001, and people repeatedly said it was more of a ministry. You have my interest piqued with what you’re working on.
Chris
Welcome Chris, It’s great to have new readers ’round here. I think you are my first new reader via twitter.
This vision is far from being fulfilled at the moment. I will be starting from scratch to build this studio. Camera, Lighting, Backgrounds, Props. Obviously since the studio will be free or donation basis only, I would like to supplement it through event, print and stock photography on the side. Whatever happens, I want it to glorify God.