Last year, DCC asked Throwing Light to help them improve their communications strategies by creating a more sophisticated web presence. Among other things, we introduced them to Facebook, creating and maintaining a group where friends of DCC could get updates and share information. While many view Facebook as nothing more than a time-waster, the social media platform that automatically updates you on the most mundane details of your friends’ lives can also serve as a gathering place for people interested in supporting relief and development work around the world, allowing them to receive up-to-the-minute news and photos from the organizations facilitating these services.

In the wake of the Haiti earthquake tragedy, DCC found Facebook to be a critical communication tool as they worked tirelessly to coordinate a grassroots relief effort to bring much-needed supplies and aid to the places that had not yet received help.

In addition to facilitating personal interactions between DCC staff and supporters, the group served an important role in directing group members to the DCC website. As a result, their website traffic increased and the organization raised a significant amount of money towards relief efforts. Our recent work with DCC is just one example of the many ways that our expanded communications services help our clients tell their stories.

We have so much to share with you. But before we start jabbering about current projects, artistic contemplations, and other informative tid-bits, we thought we’d take a look back at some of the highlights of 2009.

One of the things we have always loved about our work is that it allows us to build relationships with such a wide variety of people and organizations. 2009 was no exception. From homeless people in New York City trying to get back on their feet, to the Mayor of Philadelphia honoring the work of a local nonprofit, to a sixty-year-old woman who will ride her bike across the country for charity, our photographic projects were full of inspiring people, each with a compelling story to tell.

Speaking of storytelling, another exciting element of 2009 was that we officially expanded our services, evolving from a photographic agency to a full-service communications firm. In addition to providing topnotch development photography, we now offer a range of services including video production, writing and managing web content, designing websites and email campaigns, developing brochures and other marketing collateral, and helping nonprofits to develop effective communication strategies. Although most of the clients we serve are based in the Philadelphia and New York City region, our work has taken us all over the U.S., as well as to more than 15 international locations.

We look forward to another amazing year of working with great people and inspiring organizations!

Our job was to help Musicopia build a stock of photos that capture those qualities so that they can more effectively communicate that work through their website, presentations, videos, brochures, year-end reports, and other marketing materials.

As many schools move to cut the budgets of their music programs, it’s reassuring to know that an organization like Musicopia is working in those schools to advocate for and build enthusiasm about music, to offer music classes, convene assemblies, and organize concerts.

This is a video I put together of some sights and sounds from Philadelphia. I took the train into the city yesterday for some photography on my day off. Enjoy!

So we really enjoyed helping them build their new website! Our friends at Whiteboard Media did an amazing job with the design and construction of the site, while Leah and I focused on the photography and content management.

Not only have we helped FPCG build their website, but we put together a photo directory, too. The previous directory of members was just a list with names and numbers. But so many people in the community complained of not being able to put faces to the names. So we got to work photographing almost every member of the church — two hundred active or semi-active families!

We work with several churches in addition to FPCG to offer professional photography, content management, and newsletter (including e-newsletter) publication. Please see an example of one of our e-newsletters by clicking here. And please visit our Church Congregation album to see more examples of the photos we’ve taken for churches.

We have the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic every once in a while to photograph some of these churches at work in their communities. The common denominator among these churches is that each one is concerned about both the spiritual needs of the community and the physical/emotional needs. These churches are taking active roles in childhood education, community medical care, work with the homeless, and advocating for those whose voices are not often heard.

See more of our Dominican Republic photos here.

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Our job was to capture in photographs their current production of “Bee-luther-hatchee,” a drama that explores the interweaving issues of race, art, memory and grief.

Leah and I enjoy working with art organizations not only because we believe in what they do, and we want to be a part of their success, but also because it’s always fun to see how our work can complement the work of other artists.

The play was written by Thomas Gibbons, and directed by Daniel Student (pictured below as he watches the dress rehearsal).

VCFA is a low-residency college that offers a wide variety of degree programs. I have been attending now for a year and a half, and absolutely love their MFA in Creative Writing program. Since it’s a low-residency program, I can continue to work from home with Leah on the photography business. We can still travel and work and live, as long as I carve out a few hours each day for my school work.

This past residency, I had the privilege of taking photos for VCFA. My goal was to capture the social, academic, and artistic life of the school. The residencies are packed with great readings, workshops, lectures and informal discussions about writing. Capturing all of this in photographs will help VCFA communicate to prospective students the type of nurturing and professional environment they can expect to enter.

So if you’re considering an MFA in Creative Writing, feel free to contact me about my experience with VCFA. It has been great, and I would highly recommend the program to anyone who would like to grow as a writer.

We’ll arrive back in Philly on Monday evening.