Mia and Becca are best friends…Becca lives far away and was visiting so I was lucky enough to have double fun with them. When I was a their age I had a best friend who lived down the street and we played kickball, hopscotch and king of the mountain. We are still in touch til this day and I still love looking at old photos of us. Mia and Becca have their own games yet with each game they bring their own personality. Becca is more of a tomboy and Mia loves all things girlies. They are hilarious together and I had a great time with them.
Olympio
Olympio loves soccer so what better way to photograph him then doing what he loves. The huge smile on his face was after scoring a goal.
Mikayla, Lily, Alexa, Jessica and Alan
These girls adore each other!!! What a fun time.
Back in Ecuador-Orphanages
I am back in Ecuador trying to help the kids in the many orphanages that we have formed relationships with. If you have seen past blogs you have a sense of what these kids are facing. Dental issues are a huge problem. This one boy is one of many who needs so much help. We brought toothbrushes for each kid but that can only go so far.
One orphanage was only for children of parents in jail. These kids have had it rough…really rough. It shows on their face, in their walk. We played with them and bought them rice, eggs, pajamas and grains. This hardly makes a dent but it is something.
We are seeing leaking roofs, broken chairs, not enough cribs for new babies that come in, new bathrooms built but without doors. I had a discussion with the director at one of the places. How much to pay for a teacher I wondered. They handed me the spreadsheet of the teachers payroll..It is about 350.00 per month. A new minivan to take the kids to school. 25K. Oh by the way…it is a 15 passenger van that would take about 30 kids..
Today we went shopping for paint, cribs, mattresses, lice shampoo, face cream.
Do you feel better sponcering a child? Do you feel better buying them a mattress? Do you feel better knowing the roof is fixed or a vehicle is going to get them to school? Do you focus on education and want to pay for the salary of one teacher which is about 350 per month.
Are you a foodie and want kids to eat well. Whatever feels the most satisfying…I and they would be so grateful if you donate to the right of this post in the “chip in” link. Thank you so much…in advance.. Go to Facebook for more http://www.facebook.com/rachelelkindphoto
Back to Ecuador Nov 9-16 Please help…
I was in Ecuador earlier this year with the Dando Amor group and was blown away by the generosity of my fellow volunteers and the needs of the kids that are there. I wrote about it on the blog here: past blog post. I am going back because there is more need. Through the money that was initially raised so much was done; beds and food and utensils bought, roofs repaired, walls and sewage systems built, toys given, portraits taken and laminated and given to each kid. There was also time to play with the kids and time to hold the babies. Every step of the way we were met with gratitude as well as the need for more then we could give then. More money has been raised in the past months and I am going back to check on projects, photograph the progress, figure out the best way to spend current funds, find other orphanages that have not been given help and visit with the staff and volunteers that do so much every day to care for the kids. Can you donate here on the link to the right of this blog “Chip In”
Halloween 2011
Halloween was a blast. Every year I set up in front of Flying Squirrel kids clothing store to photograph all the kids in their adorable costumes The photos, all done on a black fabric don’t reflect the atmosphere around so I thought I would add a few to show how crazy it was there. You can see the before and after.
Dennis, Jeri Ann and Chloe’s 1st Birthday
A love celebrating a first birthday… or any birthday for that matter. The areas around the studio have alot of graffiti and Dennis had a fun spot in mind. I have had a lot of rain this year and lucky every one was a great sport and let me photograph in a warehouse we stubbled upon while trying to get out of the rain. Those are my favorite images!
Parker
When Parker was born she was lucky enough to have a relative who knows how to knit. I adore this lovely little outfit she is wearing. She has had 2 little dogs that adore her.
Baby Sarah
Yoshie’s parents were in from Japan for Sarah’s special day. She was 100 days old which is a very special moment in the life of a Japanese baby or any baby for that matter.. Yoshie wanted to have photos of the baby with her parents to celebrate..100 days.. This was also a special day as it was the fist time her father held Sarah and I got to photograph it. It was one of those times that I feel especially grateful to be a family photographer as I get to be around people during especially meaningful moments.
Logan’s Bar Mitzvah
A Bar Mitzvah may be a coming of age, a turning point in maturity and growth….but it is also something else. A great excuse for the parents to throw a happening, go all out party for friends and family. Brad and Hope know how to do it right. I didn’t know where to turn..a magician, the photo booth,the painting table, the costumes. I would say the dancers…the hired dancers who got anyone who was or was not going to dance….to DANCE. It started at the temple with all the normal rituals and ended with everyone sliding out the reception door, after a sweaty, smiling, dancing workout..