It’s very simple—parents want a nice photo of their kids for their holiday card and less-fortunate children need coats to keep them warm through the Winter. So, every Fall some of Boston’s top wardrobe stylists and groomers join me in a holiday card fundraiser—one day, eight professional photo shoots. The week leading up to the shoot parents bid on one of the eight time slots. A studio space is donated, lighting equipment is donated, volunteers and assistants offer up their day. A photography community comes together for a great cause.

One cool part is that the stylists find out in advance who the families are, they see photographs of the kids, get their sizes, and then go shopping for clothes to fit those children specifically. It’s so great! All we try to do is have fun and make the kids feel like rock stars! Every penny donated goes to a wonderful children’s organization, Cradles to Crayons. So parents get a great holiday card, their kids get a little “star treatment” and a less-fortunate child gets warm clothes for Winter. Two birds, one stone.

What one parent said: “We take so so many pictures of our little ones. Volumes of wobbly walks, and greenpea-covered faces, and early soccer games and dance recitals. Babies become toddlers, enter the school-age shuffle and then adolescence. We document less, the proms and big games for sure, but not the day to day oohs and ahhs anymore. I took my 1st grader and his BIG brother and sister—heck, one was officially a 19 year old adult!—to the Two Birds fundraiser. At the time I thought they were perhaps “too old” for a holiday portrait. Two out of three of them certainly thought so. I almost didn’t bid.

In front of Kim’s lens 19 year old Luke, 14 year old Sydney and 6 year old Rio’s genuine love for each other was palpable. Kim brought out and captured all their pure unadulterated silliness, their joy in brotherhood and sisterhood. A young man with a boyish grin and adult chin, a big sister in the “I’m so beautiful and have no idea” phase, plus a little brother reveling in the attention of his two idols. If I had known then what I know now I would have bid $10,000.

“I lost my big beautiful son to an accident a few months ago. Those photos are now an immense immeasurable family treasure.”

WHAT YOU GIVE:
• A much-needed, much-appreciated donation to a wonderful kids charity. $150 will give winter clothes, boots, books and toys to six kids. 6 kids! Click on the Boston Cradles to Crayons link.

WHAT YOU GET:
• A photoshoot for your children on Saturday, November 3rd, with Kim Lowe, a commercial-editorial photographer specializing in kids.
http://kimlowe.com/
• Star treatment from Boston’s top wardrobe stylists and hair-makeup artists.
• A warm tickley feeling in your belly knowing you’ve done something wonderful for those who need it most this holiday season.

WHAT TO DO NEXT:
• Bidding begins Oct. 15th so please check back here or email Kim at kim@kimlowe.com with questions. More information to come in October.

Follow this link to see a behind the scenes video from 2010 + 2011’s fundraiser.

Place your bid here starting on October 15, 2012.

Check out Cradles to Crayons website to donate coats here.

View more of Photographer Kim Lowe’s work on her Website and Altpick page.