CHARITY EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHY

In the last two months I have photographed three special events for charities. This is in addition to the location work I regularly do to support Salvation Army appeals.

I do not charge my full commercial rate for charity photography. Like poets and musicians, I want to use my camera to support art and society. I photograph charity events at a lower rate, and from time to time have offered photoshoots as raffle prizes, so as to assist more directly in fund raising.

My old friend Anood Al-Samerai contacted me earlier in the year regarding photographic support for a Southwark Health Ambassadors event in Bermondsey. It was my first photoshoot after moving to Bromley, and I enjoyed being back in Sunny Southwark.

I have worked at Cherry Garden Hall before – for tea after the local Bermondsey War Memorial Remembrance Service a few years back. Images include the wonderful Rachel Bentley – local Councillor and next Lib Dem MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark.

It was also Anood who roped me in to photograph the Southwark Stars Awards night at the Tate Modern. Community Southwark is the umbrella body which networks, supports and honours the diverse range of local charities in the Borough.

There are more interesting spaces at the Tate Modern than I had realised! A superb location with amazing views, ample space, and lovely food provided by the Electric Elephant Cafe and Peruvian sounds from Kausary.

For me, this is the big one. The Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd is the company that runs the Salvation Army’s charity shops and clothing recycling. Every year, SATCOL has a conference to honour, inform, build team spirit and entertain managers, staff and volunteers within the charity shop and recycling divisions.

This is my second year photographing the event. The work is a typical large-scale event – very busy and full-on, with a mix of formal set-pieces and informal “getting the atmosphere” shots. The people are fun, the event is superbly organised and the overall cause is good. So happy to be involved!

Heather Poxon giving one of the main addresses

The main theme of this year’s conference was care for the environment. Keynote speaker Mike Berners-Lee gave us a tour-de-force on the ecological disaster the planet is facing. It was fantastic to hear a proper, serious, lengthy talk from a scientist who really is in the front rank on these issues.

An awards ceremony is at the heart of the conference – but there was an earlier award to be given too. SATCOL has won the Charity Retailer of the Year. One of the pillars of that award is excellence in the care for staff. In all my conversations with members of SATCOL staff, I only heard positive, even glowing, comments on what it is like to work for the organisation.

Another highlight of the conference was Belongings, a musical about life in a. Salvation Army Charity shop, written by Stephanie Lamplough (seen here – lyrics) and Paul Sharman (music.)

The production was superb – music and acting carrying an authentic message in a. very relatable way. Tears all over the audience. Thoroughly enjoyed by all. 

Another highlight of this year’s SATCOL conference was a choir recording – two sessions, half the conference each time, with a music video as the result. “I’d like to teach the world to sing” – I will post the video once it is available. The Marketplace area was also particularly good, and very well attended with a  good atmosphere.

I love shooting for charities. As a photography working for the charity sector, you come into contact with a very positive part of the community, with a fantastic energy and vibe. I am happy to be paid less for my work when I know that my camera is contributing to something worthwhile.

If you are involved in publicity, events or social media for a charity, please contact me and let’s talk about how my photography can help your work.

Images shown here on the basis of my regular publication policy. If your picture appears and you would rather it didn’t, please contact me and I will take the image down.