The Australian Community of Child Photographers ACOCP Announces the 2010 Heartfelt Exhibition – Melbourne June 1-14 2010.

Please support this wonderful cause by sharing this image and spreading the word.

Unfortunately due to family circumstances I can’t make it this year although I went to the opening in Sydney last year but I hope there are those that are able to go, honestly it’s such a worthwhile cause to be able to offer these families a gift during such a difficult time.

For those that don’t know the Australian Community of Child Photographers  has recently been formed and I am very happy to volunteer my time and energy to this valuable cause.

The ACOCP is a volunteer organisation of child photographers from all over Australia who have come together to form an organisation dedicated to giving the gift of photographic memories to families that have experienced stillbirths, premature and ill infants and children in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of their local hospitals, as well as children with serious and terminal illnesses.

In difficult times parents do not always consider the importance of documenting their little moments and closeness of family until those moments have passed. The ACOCP is dedicated to providing this gift to your families in a caring, compassionate and heartfelt manner.

For more information please visit: http://www.acocp.org.au/

Today’s session was with dear little Cooper who is about to make a big trip to Melbourne to have heart surgery. He has such spirit and a gorgeou grin and just look at those big blue eyes of his!

Bronny and Stephen I hope you enjoy your sneak peek and I wish Cooper all the best for his operation!

Media release as follows:

15 October 2009 –  on International Baby Loss Day, The Australian Community of Child Photographers (ACOCP) is urging people to recognise the many families that go through the tragic loss of a child, rather than risk isolating them by neglecting to acknowledge their loss.

International Baby Loss Awareness Day is 15 October. Across the world, memorial services, balloon releases and candle lighting at 7pm take place in honour and as a sign of remembrance for lost children.

Said Jessie Broome, president and co-founder of ACOCP, “The grief that follows the loss of a child is so engulfing but it can also be very isolating. We encourage people to take the time to honour this grief; to realise that by avoiding the subject does not make it go away and by simply acknowledging the child can help the family immensely.”

ACOCP is an entirely not-for-profit Australian organisation that gives the gift of photographic memories to families who have had a stillbirth, premature baby, infant in the NICU or child with serious or terminal illnesses. Participating photographers – some of whom have previously experienced their own loss – are on call 24/7 to go to hospitals or homes and are often present during the families’ most tragic hours.

Jessie continued, “The wider community finds the loss of a child very difficult. We find it difficult to know what to say or what to do, so often tend to stay away – particularly after the funeral. The process goes on for a long time and support is needed over the long haul and not just the first weeks.

“Listening is the key. Parents often want to tell you the stories of their children. You don’t have to say much. Alternatively, some people find practical measures easier, such as helping out with cooking meals, child care services or housework.

“It’s understandable that people feel at a loss of what to say or do – for a long time, death has been a taboo subject in our society. It’s not something people discuss, but I think we must.”

The Role of Photography in the Grieving Process
Jessie explains the important role the ACOCP plays, “The most heartbreaking thing in the world is losing a child. As a parent, we look forward to watching our child grow, finding out who they are and watching them develop. We fill boxes with drawings and paintings and reports and photos. When you lose a baby, you also lose a lifetime of memories.

“In some situations, when facing the death of a child, parents are encouraged to take time with their little one. They are given a fleeting opportunity to try to create a lifetime of memories within a small space of time. They are encouraged to bond with their child, to hold them, to sing to them. To take their footprints, a lock of their hair and as many photos as possible. This is where the ACOCP comes in. We capture many beautiful, professional-quality, images in the most loving and sensitive way, so that parents has something that they can share with family and friends, something to treasure and remember always.”

More Stories

Martine Oglethorpe is an ACOCP member who also lost her baby daughter, Ava at five months:
“Nothing will ever take away the pain of losing a child but having photos is so important not only for comfort but to help keep their memory alive, particularly for other siblings who would otherwise not remember.

“It is hard for people to know what to say but I know for myself that I much prefer people to continue to acknowledge her and include her as part of our family. I have a canvas photo of her beautiful smiling face hanging on our wall and I too was wary of how people would react but mostly they just smile back at her and comment on how gorgeous it is.”

Said Mel Bright, ACOCP photographer:
“Recently I was chatting with a mum whose baby had passed away at 12 hours old. I took his portraits after he died. The part of our conversation that struck me the most was that she didn’t have clear memories of the time she had with her baby.  She ended up having a caesarean, which I believe is often very common in these circumstances. For her, this cloudy time was the only time she got to spend with her son.

“The photographs clearly showing what her baby looked like have been ever so meaningful for her. When I prepared an album for her, I did all the pictures black and white. This meant so much to her as she was able to comfortably share her pictures with family and friends. Just as any proud parent would like to.”

About ACOCP
ACOCP is an entirely not-for-profit Australian community organisation giving the gift of photographic memories to children in need and their families. ACOCP works with families who have had a stillbirth, premature baby, infant in the NICU or child with serious or terminal illnesses. Participating photographers are on call 24/7 to go to hospitals or homes all over Australia. The service is entirely free. There is no charge for the photography, prints, beautiful presentation, tasteful packaging or delivery.

For more Information

ACOCP
http://www.acocp.org.au/
The Official Site of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (USA) http://www.october15th.com/
Baby Loss Awareness Campaign (UK)
http://www.babyloss-awareness.org/

Today I did a session for the ACOCP today with 8 year old Bryce and his family. Bryce has  Batten disease which is a rare, fatal autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder.

Bryce and his family had just welcomed his new little sister into the world three weeks earlier so thought it would be nice to get some photos of them all together.

We couldn’t do much in the way of different shots due to Bryce not being able to move at all but we got him comfy in my beanbag which I had brought along to do some shots of his sister afterwards but am so glad I brought it along as it did make this slightly more relaxing. Anyway here are some shots from the session.

Lorraine I hope you like the photos and I will be in touch with you shortly, it was really an honour to meet you and your family today!

Doesn’t Bryce have the most gorgeous eyes!

Bryce with his new little sister

As you probably know I volunteer for the The Australian Community of Child Photographers, the ACOCP is an entirely-volunteer service that provides family portraits of children that have been stillborn; died neo-natally; are terminally ill; or have been born very early. Members of ACOCP’s nationwide network of photographers go on location at any time of the day and night to various hospitals to do the shoots. They also supply prints and albums to the families free of charge.

Well this week the ACOCP is putting on an exhibition called…

Heartfelt

An exhibition by The Australian Community of Child Photographers

On Monday 22 June 2009, ACOCP will open its Heartfelt Exhibition which will run for two weeks at MLC Gallery in Ultimo, Sydney, N.S.W.  Free to the public, the showing features 20-30 images of the best of 153 pictures submitted by proud ACOCP photographers with the blessings of the children’s families.

This exhibition draws together family portraits, which display the emotional sensitivity and awareness of these highly skilled and proficient photographers. The images, often taken under difficult circumstances, both technical and personal are warm, beautifully detailed accounts of family love.

Photographers are careful to balance the importance of representing the events these families are enduring, whilst minimising the many interventions and difficulties these children are facing.

Cristina Garduño Freeman, curator of the exhibition and an EB (Essential Baby) member  herself, urged people to support the exhibition by taking the time to visit. “These photographs are more than just images, each one tells the story of a young life, at times tragically short, at times endured, but always loved. These photographs are not documentaries, but rather tangible memories that help families both grieve and delight in their children. These photographs show the significant role that photography plays in creating a sense of family for all of us.”

“The ACOCP exhibition is a chance for those who appreciate photography; who want to see pictures of precious children; or who are interested in finding out more about ACOCP services. I hope the community will visit the exhibition and support us,” ACOCP president, Jessie Broome said.

There will be a silent auction and celebration event auctioning custom portrait sessions from some of the leading lifestyle and custom portrait photographers in Sydney, and press night on Thursday, 25 June at 6pm. ACOCP members and photographers will be available to meet and chat with visitors to the exhibition.

The exhibition is open to the general public on:

June 22nd to 4th July 2009
Monday to Friday 11am to 6pm; Saturday 12 to 4pm
Location: MLC Gallery, 449 Harris Street, Ultimo 2007
(go to Heartfelt website for map).

For more information
www.Heartfelt.org.au
or www.acocp.org.au
I hope to see you there if you can make it!