(ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX – April 15, 2020) With social distancing in place due to COVID-19, local photographer Destiny Wanamaker has found a creative way to help some of the most vulnerable members of our community while virtually connecting friends and neighbors through photos.
Wanamaker is offering five-minute family portrait sessions of residents on their front porches, and donating one hundred percent of the proceeds to Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County. Beginning in her own neighborhood of Heath Crossing, Destiny has shot dozens of photos and raised more than $2,000 to help feed seniors whose usual daily meal deliveries were interrupted due to the pandemic.
“As a photographer, I typically spend hours every week capturing images of families in times of joy: babies on the way, newborns, siblings, families, seniors and more.l Those moments of joy are still happening in homes right now. But I can’t be there to capture them,” Wanamaker writes on her website, destinywanamakerphotography.com.
She explains that The Front Steps Project was created to “bring us together virtually when we might feel isolated. We aim to highlight the faces of our community during a time when we might not see them in passing at the grocery store, coffee shop, local restaurants or at the gym. Participating in this project is also an opportunity to step up to help those who need it most right now in Heath and Rockwall.”
Families can schedule an appointment online here. “When the time comes, just step outside your door and we will shoot a few quick portraits with your family. I will shoot from the curb or street (thanks to long lenses!) and have no physical contact,” she said. “But I will smile and laugh with you – and don’t we all need a little bit of that right now?”
After the session, participants receive a link to a gallery with their digital file to download. Images are posted on Instagram using the hashtag #thefrontstepsproject and #thefrontstepsprojectheath. Find them at @destinywanamakerphotographytx.
As you can see from these examples, this is not a typical get-dressed-up-and-pose-for-the-photographer session. Instead, Wanamaker says, “Feel free to dress up if you want to show off those Easter clothes! Want to stand outside in your pajamas and slippers? Sounds good to us. Kids in mismatched clothes but you’re thrilled they got dressed? Fantastic. Wearing your running outfit because you’re headed off to jog in the nice weather? Love it!”
Destiny Wanamaker has a studio in downtown Rockwall but will soon be moving the studio to Heath. She and her husband have a three year old daughter.
“We think this is an excellent way during this time to give back to those in need and as a mother myself, I understand the importance of a village and hope this fundraising effort will provide some relief to families who have been physically cut off from their village,” she said.
Wanamaker gives special thanks to @carasoulia for starting this project in Needham, MA and for graciously sharing a template to make this project happen.
By Dawn Redig, Blue Ribbon News. Photos by Destiny Wanamaker Photography. Visit her facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/destinywanamakerphotographytx/.
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