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Category Archives: volunteer

The winners of the photo sessions to help Wrenn!

I’m excited to finally announce the winners of the 2 photo sessions. We put the names in a hat of those who donated to help Wrenn’s family and the kids picked the winners randomly. Rather than spoiling the surprise I’ll let you all check out the impromptu video the kids and I have made to...

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Help me help Wrenn + FREE photo sessions!

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
— John Wesley
I’m totally in awe with the overwhelming response since sharing photos of Wrenn earlier this week. As her...

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May 20, 2010 - 7:53 pm Lisa Holmes - Yay for Amanda!! Looks like I'll be blogging again tonight :) Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity! LisaH

Yes, giving IS awesome.

“Don’t wait for people to be kind. Show them how.” — Author Unknown
Some of you may recall before the holidays I posted that I was participating in the “giving is awesome” effort that hundreds of other photographers across the country were doing as a way of giving back to those in need. I was excited...

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April 13, 2010 - 12:01 am Wendy K Johnson - Thank you, thank you, thank you. Yvette was so thrilled. There aren't many things that she can look forward too... this was one of them. Thank you Amanda.

April 13, 2010 - 2:35 pm Sandi Vidal - Yvette is truly a blessing and your pictures are amazing. She has worked very hard to give back to Christian HELP and we just love her all the more for it. Thank you for sharing.

April 15, 2010 - 8:27 pm Stacy Fernandez - Thank you so much for doing this, you could not have picked a better person! I have known Yvette for over 9 years now, my son and her son attended pre-school together and have been wonderful friends ever since. What amazes me daily is Yvette's continued positive spirit amidst all that has happened to her! I know times have been tough, and she has endured a lot, but somehow, because of her positive spirit and strong faith in God, she will come out on top off all of this a winner!

April 21, 2010 - 9:59 pm Lisa Mountcastle - Amanda, you are a very talented photographer! I have to agree with the other posts in that you could have not picked a better person to give to than Yvette. Yvette is a true blessing and inspiration to me and am so greatful to have her in my life!

May 6, 2010 - 11:43 am Angela King - Amanda I want to compliment you on your blessings to others and for also choosing Yvette. Yvette is my cousin and is joy to be around. I am encouraged by her faith in God how she never gives up no matter what the challenge that is presented before her. Thanks again for blessing them and may God continue to bless you in all you do for other.

Moving NILMDTS moments

“To ease another’s heartache is to ease one’s own.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
I’ve been volunteering as a photographer with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) since this past December and today I was called out to do my 8th session with a little one who was taken from this world far too soon. I’ve...

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April 9, 2010 - 12:21 pm Scott Taylor - God Bless You Amanda. Your words are inspirational and so heartfelt. I am so lucky to be a part of NILMDTS when there are people like you. My warmest and most thankful regards, Scott

April 9, 2010 - 10:53 pm Connie Bristow - Amanda, thank you for sharing such tender and personal thoughts. What a wonderful service NILMDTS does and it is so admirable that you and other photographers with such caring hearts give the families such a beautiful gift. As always, I am so proud of you and thank God for bringing you to my nephew and to our family.

Two little angels

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon
In just under a week I’ve stepped in to help the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep organization to fulfill the need for three photoshoots for little ones who have passed away or...

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December 22, 2009 - 8:27 am Ginger - Wow. I don't know what to say. What a great thing you are doing for these families. You are helping them heal from these tragic losses. Many prayers for these families and also prayers for you to be strong and prayers of thanks for your efforts.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

This past week I finally heard back from Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and was officially approved to serve as a volunteer photographer for the organization. For those that are unaware, the organization serves to families who have lost a baby due to various reason before or after birth. The Now I Lay...

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December 16, 2009 - 7:09 pm Tanya - I will pray for them! I am proud you were able to be there to offer them this during their time of need, they will cherish this for the coming years I am sure and it will give them great help in healing. Love you!

December 18, 2009 - 5:15 am Mark - I love your work Amanda. I also know how hard it is to photograph sensitive material. None of my experience is anywhere close to losing a newborn, but I know it is hard. I always think the families will cherish those images and I am glad you are so good to make them even more special. It is the meaning behind taking those heartfelt photographs that strive for me to become an even better photographer, so our images may touch the hearts of the viewers on an unspeakable level. Your work is an inspiration. God Bless.

Behind the scenes at Help Portrait Orlando

Today I took part in Help-Portrait here in Orlando, Florida. For those of you who might not be aware, this is a photography event where well over 7,000 photographers worldwide have volunteered to take photos this holiday season with one goal: to find someone in need and take their photo. There are so many people...

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December 14, 2009 - 10:08 pm Daissy - WOW… It's amazing that you guys helped with this cause :D Way to go making a real difference this holiday season!!!

December 13, 2009 - 10:15 am Help-Portrait Event « Erin McLain - [...] won’t post the rest of the behind-the-scenes pictures as you can find them on Amanda Kern’s blog about the event, including pictures of me at the [...]

Giving is Awesome

“You should never take more than you give.” -Elton John (Circle of Life)
That’s right, giving is awesome. Those who know me, know that I love to give. In fact, some may tell you that I’ve given so much more than necessary in these two years building my photography portfolio. I now have the opportunity more...

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December 2, 2009 - 9:50 pm joleen - thats awesome amanda i love you!

December 3, 2009 - 2:41 am Erica Reynoso Montalvo - Amanda, can I be like you when I grow up? Ok, I have a couple of nominees. The Valencia Chapter of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) has adopted three families to love and help this holiday season. The families are taking care of children who would other wise be in foster care. For example, grandparents living on a fixed income taking care of their grandchildren so that those kiddos can be together instead of in foster care. Another family is taking care of a little 4 yr. old girl who was found wandering around in a parking lot, with no idea of where she was or where her Mom and Dad were. Because the caretakers are related to these children, they do not receive the benefits that other non-related foster families receive, and these families are struggling. Joanna Branham on East Campus has more info. Her office is over by the mailroom. Thank you for considering these fams. **HUGS** You're such a total babe on so many levels. really love, admire, and respect you.

December 3, 2009 - 5:24 am Amanda Kern - thanks...Erica - be sure you guys nominate the families by emailing me. I definitely want to consider everyone you guys nominate on Christmas eve.

Help-Portrait Orlando

I thought I’d share with you an event I am volunteering with 10 days from now in hopes that you might be able to help me out. Help-Portrait is a movement of photographers, coming together in every major city, to use their photography skills to give back to the community. On December 12th, I will...

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December 19, 2009 - 7:29 pm Donna Erlandson - Dear Amanda, I had such JOY looking at the newborn photos that you took recently. My second child, Kevin, was born December 23 and it took me back to those days of coming home with a new baby and getting used to him. I will certainly be praying for the little girls father while he is fighting in the war for us. You are a GREAT photographer. I wish you were in my area........I would ask you to take my photos. You see the good in a persons body and face.......just like the peach fuzz on the back of the little baby girl. You try and get all the things that "normal" people would NOT see but that YOU do see. YOU ARE AWESOME, keep up your good work Amanda. I wish YOU and YOURS a very, very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Warmly, Donna Erlandson