For the third year in a row, Empty Arms is proud to partner with Erin Long Photography for our fall family photo fundraiser. Erin is the mother of Birdie Amiina Ruby Newman-Long, who was born still on March 3, 2008. She has been a cherished member of our community since the beginning of Empty Arms’ existence, and we’re so grateful that she is generously supporting Empty Arms again with a mini photo shoot opportunity. Photos will be delivered to you well in time for holiday presents and cards.

Mini-Shoot Fundraiser Details

DATE: Saturday, October 17, 2015

TIME: A 10-minute slot between 9am and 4pm.
(Email bethpellettieri@gmail.com with a 1-hour time block during which you’d be available.)

WHERE: 85 Easthampton Road in Westhampton (backyard of Carol McMurrich, Empty Arms’ founder)

COST: $75 (which includes a significant donation by Erin to Empty Arms)

The Photo Shoot – What to Expect

During your mini photo shoot, Erin will work with you to find a spot with perfect light and a great background for your family. There are rustic wooden outbuildings and wooded backgrounds, as well as green lawns and plantings. You are welcome to bring pets or other things that feel important for your family photograph. (Here’s some family photo inspiration.)

**Please note that there will likely be babies and young children in attendance throughout the day. If you’d like to reserve a child-free time, we will do our very best to accommodate this. Please let us know when signing up.

At the shoot, you will be tempted by an amazing bake sale, hot coffee and tea, cider and cider donuts. You can bribe your kids and stay for a while and chat. The event is always a lovely day for participants, and we certainly hope for equally great weather. If the forecast is uncertain the week leading up to the photo shoot, we will email a lengthy contingency plan.

The Photos – What to Expect

Erin will transform your family’s 10-minute shoot into five beautiful, highly edited final images that you will cherish forever. Erin’s work is truly a labor of love: We can’t say enough about the care that she puts into her craft, and the final products are breathtaking. The families who have participated throughout the years have been thrilled with the results.

Ten days after the photo shoot, your images will be available for you to view at an online gallery. There, you will be able to do several things:

• Purchase professional, archival-quality prints: These are of much higher quality than something you’d print online or at a kiosk. When you purchase professional prints, Erin will kick back another cut to Empty Arms from all the prints ordered.

• Order discounted press-printed cards: You can choose from 4 different styles and customize your own message. These cards can be used as invitations, announcements, and much more, and include your choice of white or parchment envelopes. Erin will offer yet another donation to our organization with each card order. (Thanks, Erin!!)

• Download the images to work with yourself: If you’ve had photos printed professionally, you understand the difference in quality between them and those offered via discount printing sites. While it’s Erin’s hope that folks will take advantage of her excellent pricing and further donations towards Empty Arms, she also knows that this option makes it possible for people to share and work with images down the road.

Sign Up!

To participate, please email board president Beth at bethpellettieri@gmail.com and indicate a 1-hour time block during which you’d be available. We will do our best to sign you up for a 10 minute shoot within that block, and will get back to you with a final time for your family’s shoot.

Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you on the 17th!

Carol, Erin, Lexi and Beth