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