giving back.
“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.”
My life is greatly shaped by the community around me . . . those that inspire me to seek out beautiful things, the loving hands on my shoulder in times of sadness or despair and the personalities which color each day with joy and learning. Having received so much from others over my lifetime, it is important for me to give back to others where I am able.
Following are a few of the amazing organizations with whom I work regularly to provide free photography services. To learn about these groups, simply click on their logo. I also welcome inquiries for special needs and private donation requests. To learn more, simply email me at christie@christierachelle.com.
womens march minnesota
political & SOCIAL activisim
I have served as the official photographer of Women’s March Minnesota annual marches and conferences in 2017, 2018, and 2019. This commitment to activism is vital to amplify the voices within our diverse communities. I have recruited other photographers to this effort and have had witnessed my images published in books, blogs, and national archives.
In our current political climate, I am eager to shine a light on those who are working so hard to create transformative social change through education, protest, collaboration, compassion, and legislative change. If your group or organization is seeking to record your efforts and the stories of those you serve, I am happy to help!
To learn more about Women’s March Minnesota, visit their website!
VOCALPOINT CHORUS
SOCIAL ACTIVISM
I have served as the official photographer of VocalPoint Chorus for several years, documenting their benefit concerts annually.
VocalPoint uses the power of people, art, and collaboration to tell the stories of organizations doing life-changing work, shininge a spotlight on important issues such as youth homelessness, the immigrant experience, sex trafficking and more. Through a series of benefit concerts and events, coupled with partnering artists, VocalPoint raises funds for Twin Cities non-profit organizations to strengthen their work in the community.
To learn more about VocalPoint, visit their website!
Found Families
adoptive Families
As a Found Families photographer, I will do free family portrait sessions within one year of a finalized adoption, homecoming sessions at the airport upon arrival home and/or birth photography sessions to capture the birth of the adoptive child. Found Families (formerly Red Thread Sessions) will also offer you the opportunity to purchase one special image direct through them.
For more information, go to www.foundfamilies.com.
Welcome Them Home
Military Families
Welcome Them Home is a network of photographers who donate their time and skills to soldiers and their families as a thank you for the sacrifices that are being made for our country. Each photographer in the network has agreed to photograph your soldiers homecoming, free of charge. Your session includes a minimum of 30 minutes of photography time, plus a printed 8x10 portrait.
As a personal contribution, my Welcome Them Home sessions also receive a disc of high resolution images at no charge.
For more information, go to www.welcomethemhome.org.
theater arts education
youth enrichment
For more than 15 years, I have donated time as a photographer and graphic designer to area arts and education programs which offer music, theater and dance education. This includes public school systems at primary and secondary grade levels, community programming and non-profit organizations. Groups I have worked with include:
Burnsville High School Theatre Guild
Mraz Center for the Performing Arts
Second Stage Theatre Company
Burnsville Civic Light Opera
Envision Academy of the Arts
Blaine High School Theater Department
Nicollet Junior High School Drama Program
Eagle Ridge Junior High School Drama Program
Metcalf Junior High Drama Program
Soar Regional Arts
If you work with an arts program benefiting youth and our community and wish to have photography or design work to support it, drop me a line!
Operation: Love Reunited
Military Families & Couples
Operation: Love Reunited is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides free professional photography sessions and photo gifts to our military families dealing with a deployment.
Their mission is to boost the morale of deployed service members through photography. The organization helps those long months go by a little faster by capturing the moments from deployment to homecoming that you will long remember and always treasure.
Couples and families will receive a disc of high resolution images that are yours to keep, print and post online at no charge.
To learn more, go to www.oplove.org.
Backing the Blue Line
police families
Backing the Blue Line is a non-profit organization in Minnesota dedicated to supporting law enforcement families. This group offers a forum for law enforcement wives to find and provide hope and support for each other through friendships, networking, discussion, service, and faith.
Donating time as their official photographer with discounted portrait rates for families, my services included photographing rose preparation for police funerals, community appearances, fundraising events and the annual ball. While my official work with BtBL has concluded, I continue to offer 50% off discounts for portrait services for any law enforcement families seeking to capture personal events and family portraits.
For more information, go to www.backingtheblueline.org
Yellow Ribbon Photographers
Military Families
Yellow Ribbon Photographers is a non-profit organization of professional photographers donating their time and talent to photographing service men and women in all branches of the American military.
Their goal is to provide professional images to soldiers who are about to deploy, so they may bring a small piece of home with them or for their families, keep a piece of their loved one at home.
Families will receive a disc of high resolution images that are yours to print and post online as you like at no charge.
To learn more, go to www.yellowribbonphotographers.org.
Beyond the
Yellow Ribbon
Military Families
The Military Family Care Initiative is a network program designed to help military families during times of deployment and active service. The Initiative unites community organizations and businesses with military families to provide volunteer and discounted services to the families of military personnel during times of separation from their loved-one.
Families and couples will receive a disc of high resolution images that are yours to print and post online as you like at no charge.
For more information, go to www.beyondtheyellowribbon.org.
Red Thread Sessions
Adoptive Families
"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." - Ancient Chinese Proverb
The Ancient Chinese Proverb is a commonly-used saying within the adoption community. It symbolizes the bond that all adoptive children have with their adoptive parents, even before they meet. An invisible “red thread” connects them to the people they are destined to meet. Red Thread sessions not only capture family portraits of new families, it also capture the precious, happy, confusing, exciting, exhausting, traumatic, life-changing time that is so often brief and fleeting in the life of an adoptive family.
As a Red Thread photographer, I will do free family portrait sessions within the first 3 months of a finalized adoption, homecoming sessions at the airport upon arrival home and birth photography sessions to capture the birth of the adoptive child in an open adoption.
To learn more about this organization, go to www.redthreadsessions.com.
Celebrate Family
Adoption fundraising
When you are blessed with a family, there is no more profound joy. Through this initiative, we want to help you celebrate your family, while helping other families come together. If you are looking to adopt and want help with fundraising through a campaign like this, just drop me a message.
How it works - People donate $150-250 direct to YOU and I offer a free family portrait session to them that they can use in the next year! (No additional money is collected by me.) It is a win-win!
2014 :: THE CORMICANS
Celebrate Family began to help family friends Tony & Tara Cormican raise funds for the very costly process of adoption. It was wonderfully successful and with other fundraising efforts by this wonderful couple they soon brought their son home from Uganda!
2016 :: THE HAUGENS
After meeting and photographing this wonderful family during the Cormican campaign, I was delighted to learn of Chad and Kim's plans to welcome a new adopted daughter into their family. Their Celebrate Family campaign has since come to an end and now they have their beautiful daughter Lexi home from Africa!
Hearts Apart
Military Families
HeartsApart.org was created to keep families connected while our military men and women are serving abroad. Through national collaboration, HeartsApart provides our soon to be deployed servicemen and women with pictures of their spouses and children. The photographs are printed on waterproof and durable bi-folded cards, which fit securely in their uniform pocket. We believe that our military personnel deserve and need the memory of their families to carry them through the difficult times that lie ahead.
Wish of a Lifetime
senior citizens
Wish of a Lifetime is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to shift the way society views and values our oldest generations by fulfilling seniors’ dreams and sharing their stories to inspire those of all ages. Seniors are nominated by others and then a team at WOAL go to work to make it happen!
My work with this organization has been to capture and document the wish as it unfolds - both for the recipient and the organization's media affairs. See my recent session with WOAL when Ford Lund saw his wish come true to see the Minnesota Vikings play. (Little did he know that he was being flown in from Montana for more than just a game!) See this wish here.
To learn more about this great organization, visit their website!
Hero K-9
Law Enforcement
Hero K9 was founded to resolve challenges faced by public safety agencies — law enforcement, search and rescue, and fire departments — across our nation by providing K9s, training, and equipment so they are better able to make a positive difference in our communities.
It is their mission to ensure that all public safety agencies have access to working dogs and the highest quality equipment and training so they may more effectively serve their community. This effort includes:
+ Door Pop & Heat Alarm Systems
+ In-squad Kennels
+ Ballistic and Multi-threat Vests
My work with this organization has been to photograph their flagship event and annual benefit - including a live demonstration.
To learn more about this organization, visit their website!
Inspiration
Through Art
Children and Families
Facing Major Illness
Inspiration Through Art (formerly The Littlest Heroes Project) is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering people to give back, and make a difference through the beauty of art. Their mission is to provide and capture memories for families with a child facing serious illness or a life altering disability.
Each family is unique, and sessions are catered to fit and honor each child and family. Photographers travel to homes, hospitals, clinics, fundraisers and benefits to help capture each child’s journey in a "Day in the Life" sort of style and work personally one on one with your child and entire family to get those special family photos and moments that you can cherish for years to come.
To learn more about this organization, go to www.inspirationthroughart.org.
Update: This organization has disbanded. However, the gift offered to those who meet this need will still be honored by me upon direct request.
To see a recent ITA session,
read about Olive on my blog.