How a School Photography Fundraiser Turned Into Community Impact
Soul-Aligned Giving: How a Simple Photography Fundraiser Made Big Waves
Five years ago, I said yes to an idea that felt small at the time: offering ten-minute mini sessions to raise money for my kids’ public school.
I’ve always been a big believer in public education. I went to grad school for education, became a public school teacher, loved my job, and poured my soul into it. But when I got pregnant, I realized it wasn’t going to be sustainable to cover the cost of childcare on a teacher’s salary. So I stepped away.
Fast forward to my kids entering kindergarten — I was ready to be the biggest supporter of our school and our teachers. Naturally, I joined the PTA. But after a year of trying to squish myself into a role that didn’t fit, I quit, determined to find a way to support the school that also fed my soul.
Then another parent mentioned they were looking for photographers for a fundraiser, and it clicked: I could support the thing I cared most about with my favorite tool — my camera.
THE TINY IDEA THAT SPARKED IT
We opened up two midweek afternoons, offering about twenty ten-minute sessions on a sliding scale for McKinley families, with all proceeds going straight to the school.
I thought it would be sweet and helpful. What I didn’t expect? That it would fill my cup and guide my business in ways I never imagined.
THE IMPACT
Impact for the School
Over two days, we’ve raised about $5,000 each year.
Thanks to matching donors, that’s turned into real support for programs and teachers.
Impact for Families
Sliding-scale family photos meant families who might never have booked me could have beautiful, story-driven images.
It created connections I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Impact for My Business
Showing up this way — rooted in my values and using my craft — became quiet, authentic marketing.
When you create from a place of service that’s true to you, it’s like a beacon. People see who you are and say, “Oh, I want to work with her.”
WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT GIVING
If giving drains you, it’s not sustainable.
I could show up for one weekend of photography with my whole heart in a way I couldn’t on the PTA. (Deep love to the people who thrive on committees and Google Docs — my partner in this fundraiser, Diane, is one of those awesome humans. Me? Not so much.) But give me a camera and a good cause? I’m all in.
That’s what I mean by soul-aligned giving. There’s power in finding the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, and what matters to you — and putting your energy there. It feeds your spirit instead of depleting it. And it creates ripples: families feel seen, schools get supported, communities grow, and your work attracts the people it’s meant to.
And here’s something else I’ve learned: soul-aligned giving doesn’t mean doing it all alone. Some of the most powerful impact comes when you partner with people whose strengths complement yours. Diane is incredible with systems, money tracking, and emails — things that would drain me but light her up. When each person is working in their own zone of genius, the whole project gets stronger, more sustainable, and more joyful.
A TRADITION THAT GREW
This little experiment that started with us begging people to sign up has become a tradition I look forward to every year — one that now sells out in minutes.
It’s a reminder: you don’t have to join the committee or bake the cupcakes if that’s not you. But don’t give up. Find your way to give.
Because let’s be honest — the United States is in a dark phase. So let’s be the light. Let’s support the causes that matter most to us in ways that feel aligned with who we are and what we bring. When we all show up in ways that light us up, we don’t just help one cause — we make waves.
