Last Friday I had an opportunity to hang with members of the Accessium Group and photograph the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Wine Festival for Breast Cancer. The Sabres Alumni are very active in the community as they help organizations raise money for very good causes.

The even was fantastic and had a turn out of over 1000-people. A conservative estimate puts the amount of money raised at $60,000. Not bad. The wonderful folks at the Accessium Group. They volunteered their computer genius and were able to keep track of the auction winners.

I just had to add this photo of Danny with Rob Ray.

Buffalo Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff with Ken Tirohn, COO of the Accessium Group.

Next week is Thanksgiving and I’m hoping everyone is thinking about what they have in their lives for which they are thankful. Next week we’ll post a little something about Thanksgiving.

Thanks again everyone for reading.

Chris

I’ve added some of my favorite photos from this years gala. The gala is difficult for me to explain. It’s something which really needs to be seen. It is a “creative black tie.” The theme every year is “Reach for the Stars.” The idea behind the theme is we are all stars. We all have the power to make change in our own lives and the lives of others. Most of us are lucky individuals and have no idea how lucky we are. We live in the wealthiest country in the world where opportunities are at every turn. It is up to us to identify them and to take them. I am one of those lucky individuals. I have a beautiful wife who supports me as well as two great kids. I have super family and friends who also are supportive of me and push me to be better. Of course I can’s forget the fantastic brides and grooms who trust me with their memories. I am privileged to have such a wonderful job. To all of you, I say “Thank you.”

This has to be my favorite photo from all of the portraits which I took. 1-minute with Sarah and you realized why you were at the gala. If Rob looks familiar it’s because I photographed Meagan and Rob’s wedding on January 9, 2010. You can see photos from the couple’s engagement and wedding here.

Ken and his team starred in “Revenge of the Nerds.” Ken is the COO of the Accessium Group and Secretary of the Western New York Chapter of Make-A-Wish. Ken is also the individual who has helped me to become involved with Make-A-Wish.

Grrrrr! This is the fun booth and the spirit of the annual gala. Have fun and support a great organization.

Dallas Pace and her friends. Dallas was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma. A rare form of bone cancer that affects 3-4 children in the US every year. You can go here to see a video interview with Dallas.

Dallas recorded a 3-song CD titled “Right Now.” Dallas recorded the CD in the same studio in Buffalo, NY where the Goo Goo Dolls had recorded their most recent studio album. I had been asked to photograph Dallas for her CD but was forced to cancel due to an appointment conflict.

Sarah and Ken.

I just had to have my photo taken with Sarah. Thanks Ken for snapping this shot. Sarah is a true inspiration. She smiles all the time and her smiles just make you want to smile.

As per usual the event was awesomely powerful. It makes me feel so good to be able to give something back to others who are less fortunate than I. When I have an opportunity to use my photography to capture smiling faces…well that’s just the icing on the cake.

So…in my last post I had said I was going to share an idea I had to become more involved with Make-A-Wish. As I have also said before more time is not an option. I’ve taken a page from Yvonne Chouinard’s company, Patagonia. I will donate a minimum of 1% from every wedding I book back to Make-A-Wish.

As always, thanks to my readers for your constant support. Please think about making a donation to you local Make-A-Wish chapter.

Chris

Megan told me how much she enjoys Fall and Winter. Megan came up with a wonderful idea for her ring shot. I love the brilliant colors in this shot. It’s these colors that also bring the warmth of Fall closer to my heart.

This shot was taken in the lot of one of the newer schools in Niagara Falls. I had previously driven by this schoolyard and fell in love with these sculptures. They mean many things to me but enough for now. The rest of the post will be up early next week. Check back next week and see more photos from this fun photo session.

I hope everyone has enjoyed my posts. I know some of you were struggling to see football related posts on a wedding photography blog but for me photography and football go together. Football is my son’s passion and photography is mine. It is wonderful when I have an opportunity to mix both passions and reward my son with memories he will cherish forever. I write football posts in the same fashion as I write posts related to weddings and engagements, with a high degree of passion and the goal being telling a story through my photography. 

It’s important for me to reach out and say ’Thank you” to those clients who have hired me throughout the year. Without all of you my ability to follow my passion and work toward turning it into full-time employment would be much more difficult. Thank you!

As most of my readers are aware, I have and continue to spend a significant amount of time giving back to my community. Giving back is not so much a part of me as who I am. 

It’s myvolunteer work especially with Make-A-Wish which helps me to remain grounded and focused. I enjoy sharing my photography with others and especially enjoy seeing the smiling faces of family’s who now have photographs to adorn the walls within their homes. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to do something that I truly love and to give back.

To say “Thank you” I’ll be giving away a family portrait session to one lucky family. What I would like my readers to do is nominate one family who you believe to be deserving of such a gift. The one thing I ask is that you nominate a family who for whatever reason cannot afford the cost of a portrait session. From those submissions I will pick a winner. There is one important qualifier: The family must reside in Western New York. The nomination process will close by December 1, 2009 so I have an opportunity to photograph the family so they can receive their prints before Christmas.

If you know of someone who would love to have a free photo session completed, please send your nomination to me at christopherkijowskiphotography@gmail.com.

A few weeks ago what was only an idea in a photographers heart quickly became a reality as Kristen Weaver created the Images for a Cure national fundraising event.

Images for a Cure is a one day event where hundreds of participating photographers will be shooting portrait sessions for a discounted session fee of $100.  All the session fees from the event will be donated directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.  This day in age it seems virtually impossible to find someone who has not been touched by breast or other forms of cancer.  A few  years ago Bradford’s aunt was quickly taken by the disease in a matter of months.  We are so honored to take part in such an incredible event that allows us to use our talents and bring something beautiful to an ugly disease.  Join us on October 11, 2009 as photographers across the country will be shooting portraits to help raise funding to further breast cancer research.  Christopher Kijowski Photography is proud to be offering mini sessions on Sunday the 11th for $100 each.  Our mini sessions are perfect for family photos, holiday photos for Christmas cards, or just because.  Please contact us at christopherkijowskiphotography@gmail.com or go directly to our website at www.christopherkijowskiphotography.com if you are interested in booking your session.  Book soon as only a limited number of sessions are available.

*Session fee does not include prints or a disc of images.  All products can be purchased separately.

I think this is my favorite shot. Andrea’s sister Sarah came up with idea for a contest for door prizes. Baby diapers with a spot of melted chocolate. The guests had to smell and visualize the type of “diaper filler”. The correct answer won a door prize. I just couldn’t participate and I more than likely won’t ever look at chocolate the same way again! I can’t wait for the “real” shower in October.

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Unfortunately, this was not the first time Carly was touched by cancer. She lost both of her biological parents–Tony and Judie Cottone–to cancer during the first seven years of her life. But Carly faced her own battle with cancer with amazing courage and optimism. After all, she had goals and dreams–to go to a Backstreet Boys concert and grow up to become an interior decorator. Nothing was going to slow down this little girl who had so much living to do.

Throughout her fight, Carly was very appreciative of the support she received from her family members and friends. As a way of showing her appreciation, she decided early on in her treatment that she wanted to help other kids who were also battling cancer. Thus, Carly’s Club was born. With the love and support of her adoptive parents, Chuck and Carole Ann Collard, Carly was able to fulfill her dream of helping other families touched by the disease.

Sadly, Carly lost her hard-fought struggle with the disease in August of 2002. Little did she know the positive impact that Carly’s Club would have on the lives of the thousands of children diagnosed with cancer each year.

Carly created a beautiful legacy – and you can help us continue it for all children diagnosed with cancer, and to offer support to families across Western New York. Thank you for your generosity to help find cures and save lives!

Many thanks to the hundreds of swimmers, volunteers and supporters who made Carly’s Crossing 2009 another successful year! More than 300 swimmers turned out to Gallagher Beach on Sunday, August 16, to dive in and show their support for pediatric cancer research and patient care at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Special thanks to Olympic swimmer Kara Lynn Joyce, who swam in the 600-yard course with our top fundraisers, cheered on our swimmers and made the day extra special! Read more about Carly’s Crossing 2009 in this article from The Buffalo News.

I never thought of myself as an event photographer but a dinner, a catillion, a gala, whatever label you’d like to use is really like a wedding; it’s just missing the bride, groom and wedding party. Dinner was excellent and the menu consisted of Braised Beef Short Rib, Frenched Chicken Breast with Citrus Herb Butter [my favorite], Chevre & Chive Smashed Potato, Julienne Vegetables with bread, rolls and butter. Dessert was a tastypiece of Tipsy Zebra Cake. Oh, and let’s not forget the coffee. The catillion took place on the grounds of the Buffalo Zoo under a beautiful tent.

Funds raised at the Catillion benefit the Zoological Society of Buffalo Foundation. The growing strength of this endowment will in turn ensure a very strong future for the Buffalo Zoo.

The Accessium Group minus Ken. I’m not sure where he went because he’s not camera shy.

Ryan and Tara Erwin. Ryan is the CEO of the Accessium Group. Ryan and Tara decided to recreate a shot made famous by Ryan at the recent Make-A-Wish Gala.

Ken and Samantha. Ken is the COO of the Accessium Group.

Silly Samantha. Sam always has a smile on her only this time it’s not her own.

We want to give back; so we are having a contest! We want to give a free family photo session to a deserving family! Send us your family’s story or the story of a family you know that has gone through a lot or given a lot and, if possible, a photo of the family.

The session inlcudes immediate family members, one 8×10 and two 5×7s and it must take place in the Western New York area so the family must be from that area.

Email the story, and possible picture, to christopherkijowskiphotography@gmail.com by June 15, 2009. The winner will be announced on the blog!

Buffalo MAW 2009 Gala Promo from Clear Star Media on Vimeo.

REACH FOR THE STARS GALA 2009!

Last year's SOLD OUT event raised over $571,000 for our local Chapter.

Be sure to reserve your sponsorship NOW for our REACH FOR THE STARS Creative Black Tie Gala Presented by Counsel Financial Saturday, April 4, 2009 Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, USA.

"Welcome to Wish.org, the online home of the nation’s largest wish-granting organization. Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® has given hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. From our humble beginnings with one boy’s wish to be a police officer, we’ve evolved into an organization that grants a child’s wish in the U.S. every 40 minutes."

As a Western New York based wedding photographer I am proud to be associated with Make-A-Wish. I am honored by their request to photograph their upcoming gala. Several months ago I was introduced to Make-A-Wish by a friend. I truly enjoyed working with the organization and love their mission. Recently I was asked to photograph their 2009 "Reach for the Stars" Gala on April 4, 2009. There was no thought necessary. I look forward to donating my time and documenting this wonderful event and sharing it with the world.

Please make a donation to this wonderful organization and help Make-A-Wish make a wish come true!