The Backstory:
We are The Giving Lens. We’ve got a vision to bring together three things we really love: photography, travel, and giving back. What that means is we connect with a Non Profit Organization in a developing country, bring together a team of volunteers, and go lend a hand. Then, when not volunteering, we host a number of workshops throughout the trip; real, serious, cutting edge photography workshops designed to send our teammates home better photographers than when they started. The majority of the profits from the team’s fees are then donated to the organization – meaning they get a team of willing hands, and financial support to boot. Sometimes the volunteer work has to do with photography, and sometimes it doesn’t’ – but all the time, the organizations are amazing, the work is needed, and no one comes home the same.
The Giving Lens was started by Professional Photographer Colby Brown. Colby took off for Asia about ten years ago, and never stopped traveling. During his travels all over the globe, he witnessed many things that made him realize change requires action. Over the next eight years, he tried to figure out a way to use his photography to help bring change about. He formed Lespwa Haiti – to connect photographers with non-profits in Haiti that needed photos – and then landed on the idea of The Giving Lens.
We really believe people are good. We believe people want to help. Artists, all of us, including photographers, seem to see the world differently. And many of us feel so blessed and incredibly fortunate, and desire to share our amazing luck of pursuing the art that we love – for us, photography. The Giving Lens is just the place to bring it all together.
Want to Get Involved?
A photographer looking to get involved can do lots! For one, they can share our name on their social networks, to help get our name out. They can also sign up for our newsletter and participate in contests and fundraisers throughout the year – the money raised goes to the Non Profits or to sponsor photographers who cannot afford to join a team, for example. Lastly, they can, of course, sign up for a team! We have five trips for 2012, and another ten or twelve in the works for 2013.
If a photographer joins a team, they can anticipate newsletters loaded with information, google + chats with the whole team, lots of pre-trip preparation, transportation, hotels, and meals all covered once we hit the ground. From there they can expect to have the adventure of a lifetime while doing real, honest good work for a non-profit. We will learn all about the cause, the problems, the work that’s being done, the help that’s needed, and why it’s important. Finally, they can expect to expand their photographic horizons with our amazing workshops, which are flexible to suit all skill levels, and come home with incredible images for their portfolio – not to mention better techniques, skills, and knowledge of photography!
Be open to adventure. Be open to seeing new cultures, new places, and meeting new people. Learn about our causes, our partners, and the enormous needs that most people have around the world. Appreciate all that you have, and know that if you want to, you can make a difference. Every moment counts. Every small action counts. Every photo counts.
Find The Giving Lens online: Website | Facebook | Twitter




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