It’s funny really. The way things happen. The way God’s timing can be absolutely incredible and make you sit and be thankful for things that probably do not matter to anyone else.
The timing of this is a little bittersweet. A photographer in our local community is battling cancer for a 2nd time. She is a mom and wife, first and foremost, but also a well respected woman in our local community. God speed and prayers for a healthy journey.
Several years ago… when I was still fine tuning my shooting style and jumped into a big ol’ world of business and all that THAT word means… I met a group of ladies. A group of people that have always believed in me and have nudged me along the way. While the original intent of that group fell apart, the purpose of it and what they stood for, has never left me.
Because of this group of women I met a beautiful woman. A woman that was a cancer survivor and wanted to feel beautiful after multiple surgeries and an ugly disease, left her physically, mentally and emotionally scarred. 
It was during this session, that something in me changed. My direction, my purpose for my photography… something in my soul. I knew that I wanted my photography to do something that mattered. I wanted to create images that affected someone and made a difference in their life.
I knew that I either wanted to work with children and or I wanted to work with cancer patients and survivors. There are several organizations that do work in both of these areas in regards to photography. I became a part of one several years ago called Inspiration Through Art. Sadly, this group is no longer in existence.
I’ve kept my eye on a few others and have waited until I felt the timing was right – and that the group truly believed in something I could stand behind.
Today, I am happy to announce, that I have joined the Magic Hour group. http://magichour.org
“Magic Hour’s roots run all the way back to 2007. Photographers Alysa and Alan had received a call from a church member, Ted, who had been sick with an unknown ailment for over a year. His daughter was offering to sell her car so they could afford to pay for a family portrait session. Alysa and Alan told her to keep the car, and did the photo shoot for free. Ted passed away ten days later, and when they attended the memorial, they were surprised to see their images everywhere. That session changed their notion of the power of the camera.
They decided to start the Magic Hour Foundation, named specifically after the yellow light that highlights the morning and evening of everyday. By providing free photo shoots, they would be able to capture the beauty and triumph of more courageous people… and Ted’s light would go on glowing.”
If you have ever talked with me, you know that I believe that everyone should invest in photography. Maybe it is not something you do every year, but you have probably heard me speak to the importance of being present in this moment, no matter your age, size, or whatever else it is that you are worried about. Our photographs are all we have left after we are gone or can no longer tell our story.
I am honored to be a part of a group that is doing amazing things for those affected by cancer. I have no idea how involved I will be with this group. What I do know, if it allows me to connect with one person, and make a difference in their life, and give them something they might not have been able to have… It will all be worth it.
I still have big dreams about my photography and how I can make a difference… but today… this is a step in the right direction.
All my love
Brooke
brooke@beautifulevolutions.com