Positive focus as Moray photographers boost MFR Cash For Kids
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A HOST of photographers have been capturing lockdown family memories in Moray to boost the MFR Cash For Kids appeal.
With many photographers' job bookings wiped out for months ahead due to coronavirus, MFR's Stay at Home Heroes fundraiser has offered local snappers a way to keep up a job they love and play a role in documenting history, all for a good cause.
Some 15 photographers from Brora to Keith are raising cash for MFR Cash For Kids – many as part of the wider #FrontStepsProject. This movement has seen photographers all over the world taking socially-distanced doorstep portraits for donations to charity.
The trend took off from Boston, in the US, in March, forming a global record of people at home during the pandemic.
Collectively the local photographers have raised more than £8000 so far.
Mosstodloch photographer Jo Miller was inspired by the movement, joining in mid-May as a positive way to use her time after her wedding and studio bookings for the year disappeared overnight.
The former nurse has been taking outdoor portraits of families in the Fochabers and Mosstodloch areas while out on daily exercise, notching up 39 miles on foot. She plans to widen her reach as restrictions are eased to take in Lhanbryde, Garmouth, Kingston and Spey Bay.
Jo takes the portrait bookings via her Facebook page, Jo Miller Photography, and plans her daily walk routes around these.
The subjects of the portraits donate to the appeal and are given digital downloads to keep.
She said: "It's been lovely to get out, do something positive and get to know people in the local villages over garden fences.
"Another great thing about this is linking up with other local photographers as it tends to be such a solitary profession."
Jo's eight-year-old daughter, Molly, has been helping out on portrait sessions by holding up placards reading "smile".
She added: "It's just great to see that spirit of people looking out for each other and finding good in a negative situation."
Keith photographer Morag Martin, of Ceamara Photography, has been out and about in the town and in Dufftown where she is employed as a key worker. She will widen her range to Drummuir, Grange, Aultmore, Mulben and Cairnie as lockdown eases.
North title-holder of Scottish Wedding Photographer of the Year 2020, Morag said: "We can't really work but we can do a bit to help people less fortunate.
"MFR Cash For Kids is such a good cause and come Christmas time it'll help a lot of people who have maybe lost jobs or are left struggling."
Lyndsay Rose, MFR Cash For Kids charity manager, said: "These donations will give children in our community a brighter future and right now they need us more than ever. Coronavirus has shaken our whole 2020 like we could never have imagined.
"Families with children who are unwell, living with a disability or additional needs still need our help. The support they were looking for before hasn’t gone away.
"It’s been so heart-warming to see all the photos and smiling faces. It’s so important to have something positive to focus on throughout this time and the #FrontStepsProject has been all about that."
For more information on participating photographers click here.
