| Want a creative way to boost your photography | | | | proceeds you need to send them.6. Advertise |
| business while helping out the community? | | | | your event. A great way to do this is to |
| Organize a charity portrait event!What is it? | | | | submit a press release to your local |
| | | | television stations and newspapers. |
| A charity portrait event is where you | | | | Hopefully you will receive free press |
| schedule portrait sessions and donate a | | | | coverage by doing this. If you don't want to |
| portion of the proceeds to the charity of | | | | write the press release yourself, consider |
| your choice.How to do it | | | | hiring someone to do it for you. There are |
| | | | many online companies who offer this service. |
| 1. Choose your charity.2. Contact the | | | | You might also consider doing a postcard |
| charity and describe your proposal.3. If the | | | | mailing or placing an ad in local |
| charity accepts your offer, ask them to send | | | | publications.7. When your event officially |
| you a letter stating that your portrait event | | | | ends, send a check to the charity. Make sure |
| is official.4. Set the dates for the | | | | to get a receipt for accounting and tax |
| portrait event (as little as one day to a | | | | purposes (and also to prove you sent the |
| month or more - you decide!)5. Decide on | | | | funds to the charity as promised). |
| pricing and what will be included. An | | | | |
| example would be a half hour session and one | | | | 8. Send another press release after the |
| 8x10 for $100. You can decide on what will | | | | event stating how much you raised for your |
| work best for you. You also need to decide | | | | charity. Mention any upcoming charity |
| on how much the charity will receive (25%, | | | | portrait events, too.Cindy Bracken is the |
| 50% or more). You could even donate the | | | | founder of an online community for |
| entire $100, since most of your money will be | | | | photographers of all levels. Stop by to |
| made with print reorders. Keep good records | | | | create a free blog, enter the photo contest, |
| on how many sessions you did for the charity | | | | join in the discussion forums and more! |
| so that you will know how much of the | | | | |