PhotoArtGraphy believes some of the most meaningful photographs are created when a community comes together.
As part of our commitment to giving back, PhotoArtGraphy makes a limited number of complimentary professional event photography and videography opportunities available to local schools, churches, nonprofit organizations, and community organizations throughout the year.
These services are offered on a pro bono basis for qualifying events, subject to photographer or videographer availability.
Giving Back to the Community We Call Home
Community involvement isn’t something new for us.
For approximately 20 years, PhotoArtGraphy’s parent company, Sozo Firm Inc., has been directly involved with and supportive of a variety of nonprofit, charitable, church, and community organizations.
Through PhotoArtGraphy, we now have another way to give back: using photography and videography to help local organizations document the people, activities, and moments that make their work meaningful.
Professional event photographs can help an organization preserve memories, thank volunteers, recognize participants, communicate its mission, promote future events, support fundraising efforts, and share its story with the wider community.
Who May Submit a Request?
This program is primarily intended for:
- Nonprofit and charitable organizations
- Schools and educational organizations
- Churches and ministries
- Community and civic organizations
- Local volunteer organizations
- Community events and charitable initiatives
The program is intended to support organizations and events that serve the community. It is generally not intended for private parties, weddings, family celebrations, commercial events, or other events primarily benefiting an individual or for-profit business.
Our Local Community Comes First
PhotoArtGraphy is based in New Freedom, Pennsylvania, and priority for complimentary event coverage is given to organizations and events in our immediate local community.
Our highest priority areas include:
New Freedom, Shrewsbury, Glen Rock, and Railroad, Pennsylvania, as well as Maryland Line and Freeland, Maryland.
We may also consider requests on a case-by-case basis from organizations elsewhere in York County, Pennsylvania and portions of northern Harford County, northern Baltimore County, and northern Carroll County, Maryland.
Because this is a community giving program, proximity to PhotoArtGraphy is one of the factors we may consider when reviewing requests.
To see examples of PhotoArtGraphy’s local community event photography: View New Freedom Community Event Photography →
What Types of Events May Qualify?
There isn’t one specific type of event that qualifies. We’re interested in opportunities where professional photography or videography could provide meaningful value to a local organization or the people it serves.
Examples might include school events, community celebrations, nonprofit fundraisers, charity events, church and ministry activities, volunteer events, youth programs, community races, performances, outreach events, and other special gatherings.
If you’re uncertain whether your event would be a good fit, you’re welcome to submit a request.
What Does Donated Event Coverage Include?
Depending upon the event and our availability, PhotoArtGraphy may donate either event photography or event videography services.
Photography coverage would generally include one photographer documenting the event and professionally selecting and editing a collection of images afterward. The specific digital files and usage rights provided directly to the participating organization will be established as part of the event arrangements. Depending upon the event, PhotoArtGraphy may also create an online gallery where attendees and members of the community can view photographs from the event.
Videography coverage would generally include one videographer capturing selected portions of the event, with the specific scope and final video deliverables determined before the event.
Because PhotoArtGraphy is a small, boutique operation, complimentary coverage generally consists of either one photographer or one videographer rather than simultaneous photography and videography.
Please indicate on the Donation Request Form whether you are requesting photography or videography and tell us how you hope to use the resulting images or video.
What Does Complimentary Photography Mean?
When PhotoArtGraphy accepts an event for donated photography coverage, there is no photography fee charged to the qualifying organization for the agreed-upon event coverage. PhotoArtGraphy donates the photographer’s time at the event as well as the time required to professionally select and edit the finished photographs.
The specific photographs, digital files, and usage rights provided directly to the participating organization will be established as part of the event arrangements.
When a public event gallery is created for attendees and members of the community, social-media-resolution digital downloads may be made available free of charge. These complimentary files are intended for sharing online and enjoying on digital devices.
Gallery visitors may also have the option to purchase full-size print-resolution digital downloads as well as professionally produced photographic prints, canvas, metal prints, and other available photo products.
No purchase is required to view a public gallery or to download any complimentary social-media-resolution images offered through that gallery. Purchases of high-resolution files, prints, and photo products are entirely optional.
How Are Donation Requests Selected?
We wish we could say yes to every worthwhile organization. Unfortunately, the number of events we can photograph or film on a complimentary basis is limited.
Each request is considered individually. Factors may include the nature and purpose of the organization, the type of event, location, scheduling, the amount of coverage requested, how photography or video would benefit the organization, and PhotoArtGraphy’s existing client and project calendar.
Submitting a request does not guarantee that complimentary services will be available.
There is also no predetermined number of events that PhotoArtGraphy promises to cover each month or year. Availability will vary depending upon our professional photography schedule and other commitments.
Please Submit Your Request Early
The earlier you contact us, the better.
Paid client assignments and previously scheduled commitments naturally take priority on our calendar. An early request gives us a much better opportunity to consider your event before the date becomes unavailable.
If your organization holds an annual event, you are welcome to submit your request well in advance rather than waiting until the final weeks before the event.
What Happens After I Submit a Request?
Once we receive your Donation Request Form, we’ll review the information you provide along with our availability for the requested date.
If the event appears to be a potential fit, we may contact you for additional information about the organization, schedule, venue, anticipated attendance, photography or videography needs, and how the resulting content will be used.
We’ll then let you know whether we’re able to provide complimentary coverage.
A Community Partnership
When PhotoArtGraphy donates event coverage, our hope is to create something genuinely useful for the organization and the community it serves.
That might mean preserving an important community event. It might mean providing photographs that help tell the story of a nonprofit’s work. It could mean giving a school images that celebrate its students and families, helping a church document a community outreach effort, or providing a local organization with visual content it can use to promote next year’s event.
When appropriate, a public event gallery can also give participants, families, volunteers, performers, and other members of the community an opportunity to enjoy photographs from the event. Complimentary social-media-resolution downloads may be offered through these galleries, while full-resolution digital files and professionally produced photographic products may be available for optional purchase.
We especially appreciate opportunities to work with organizations that value the photographs or video as part of a continuing relationship and are comfortable recognizing PhotoArtGraphy when appropriate.
Professional Coverage, Even When We’re Donating It
The fact that PhotoArtGraphy is donating the event coverage doesn’t mean that we approach your event differently.
Our goal remains the same as it is with our paid event photography assignments: to capture authentic moments, genuine interactions, important details, and the overall atmosphere of the event in a natural and unobtrusive way.
We want the resulting photographs or video to help people remember not simply what happened, but what it felt like to be there.
Request Complimentary Event Photography or Videography
If your school, church, nonprofit, or community organization is planning an upcoming event in New Freedom, Shrewsbury, Railroad, Maryland Line, or the surrounding region, we invite you to tell us about it.
Please complete the PhotoArtGraphy Community Donation Request Form with as much information as possible. We’ll review your request and let you know whether we’re able to help.
We can’t participate in every event, but we’re grateful for opportunities to use what we do to support the communities around us.