Relief Portraits

As most of you know my wife and I moved to New York only 3 months ago from Alabama. I was born and raised in Alabama and had lived there for 24 years. For 23 of those 24 years my time was spent in Tuscaloosa. I’m assuming you all have heard of the tornadoes that swept through Alabama destroying everything in sight and killing many. My wife and I sat at my computer in NYC for hours watching the live streaming broadcast of our state and hometown being destroyed. It was hard to say the least. Sitting in our comfortable apartment in NYC, while in the meantime chaos and destruction was erupting where I was born and raised. I still have not been able to make it home yet, but that’s all going to change tomorrow when my wife and I fly home for the first time.

We’ve been racking our brains on how we can make an impact for the 7 days that we will be home. I’ve thought about just getting down and dirty and doing some manual labor like removing trees, debris, etc. But, I’ve heard multiple people from the state say if you want to help come do what YOU do. I’ve been thinking about that and my only answer was to take photographs. I thought of all the people that have lost their homes and everything inside of them. I thought about the family photos that were lost or torn to pieces in the destruction. I want to replace those photos. I have to replace those photos. So with the help of a community, other photographers, and volunteers that’s what WE’RE going to do.

On Saturday, May 28, we will be holding an event in a local high school gym where myself and other photographers will be taking free family portraits for individuals and families that lost everything. There’s a lot more information on our facebook page where you can get specific details. I’m only able to do this event in Tuscaloosa, but if you’re a photographer reading this and you want to contribute there are plenty of other destroyed areas in Alabama. If you want to get involved please email jana@millermobley.com. We have been working the past 24 hours on getting everything coordinated and we already have some people that are going to be doing hair and makeup for the women in need and also a photo printing company that will be providing free 8×10 prints.

I know to some of you that this may seem like a lame way to give back, but there are so many families out there that have nothing to show anymore. They have no home, no car, no money, they may have even lost a loved one. So I’m going to do what I know how to do and provide these people with something, just a small little something, but hopefully these photographs will be something that they can cherish forever.

Again, if you would like to get involved please join our Facebook page or email jana@millermobley.com

Thank you