Survivor Saturday w/ Erica Campbell - Maryland Photographer

Hi everyone!  I had the pleasure of connecting with Ms. Erica Campbell for an amazing survivor photo shoot last weekend.  We had an amazing time and she came ready to get her photos taken!  I am so glad we were able to link up and I could provide this service to her!  Please read Erica's story and help her raise awareness of blood cancers.

Erica was diagnosed with potentially fatal Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma on March 28, 2013. Her journey to survive her battle with cancer was very trying but after overcoming her obstacles, Erica is very passionate about inspiring people to have the d’zire to survive any challenges that they may face in their lives. Erica’s fight to survive lymphoma had its highs and its lows, however she didn’t give up even when at times her battle seemed like it wasn’t getting any easier. Through her unwavering faith and trust in God as well as exuding a positive attitude, she knew she could get through it all. Erica is working to build her nonprofit foundation “Dzire2Survive” with a mission to improve the quality of life of patients and their families touched by the lymphoma disease, by providing education and up to date information. Erica wants to inspire patients with peer to peer comfort to help them continue to fight and overcome their battle with blood cancers. Erica is an ambassador with “The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society” and “The Lymphoma Research Foundation” where her story is featured this month on their Adolescent and Young Adult stories of hope page (https://www.lymphoma.org) with a host of other features such as the Houston Style Magazine, Cancer Today Magazine, CURE Magazine and LRF lymphoma awareness campaign videos (Erase Lymphoma, Impacting Lives-Youtube) sharing her amazing life changing survival story. She has raised over $5K in funds and cancer awareness over the last three years with her team “Dzire2Survive” and impacted so many lives at the Light the Night Walk with LLS and the Lymphoma 5k Walk with LRF.

In September 2015, Erica launched her “Dzire2Survive Inspirational Journal” line. She created these journals to give individuals like herself an outlet to write about life changing events. Her journals will help inspire one to not only write about their journey, but to also show their artistic side by drawing or using photos as one of their many memories. As a survivor of cancer, Erica has a very inspirational journey that she enjoys sharing with others and in her personal Dzire2Survive journal, so she wanted to create something special for others as well. In Erica’s spare time she loves to sing, shop, workout, travel and most of all spend time with her family and close friends. She loves the Lord and through Him, she enjoys helping others affected by cancer by sharing her empowering story. Erica’s motto that she lives by and share with other survivors is, “Never give up on your fight and continue to survive with your beautiful smile…Dzire2Survive”.

If you know a survivor in the DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia area please have them contact me to help them share their story and get the photo session of their life!

Survivor Saturday w/ Jennifer - Maryland Photographer

Hello everyone!  Survivor Saturday is something I have had on my heart to do as a photographer for awhile.  I have wanted to highlight women that have survived by having a glam day for the individuals.  It is a little girls day out type session where hair and makeup is provided and I shoot them in a contemporary glamour session! it is time to celebrate the women that have survived all cancers and tell their stories so that it might help others.  Please meet the first survivor of the series....Jennifer!

Jennifer was diagnosed in early 2015 with adenoid cystic carcinoma. It's a rare salivary gland cancer (primarily) but can be found in several different glands in the body.  She didn't have any symptoms other than she discovered the lump in her neck by accident. She was initially misdiagnosed but after surgery to remove my gland, they did another test and that's when it was discovered that it was malignant. For Jennifer, it was a trying time to manage and find her own care. It took her 9 months to find doctors to assist her and finally determine radiation treatment was needed. Jennifer spent 6 weeks (33 sessions) receiving radiation to my head and neck. Jennifer is in the Air Force and was medical TDY about four hrs from where she lived to a German hospital. She was able to receive a type of radiation that is only available in Germany and Japan. The treatment itself was not painful, but the side effects from radiation to her neck area were rather painful.

Jennifer states that she is blessed that not to have any significant lingering side effects so far.  Jennifer says. "This journey has not been easy. It has had great impact on my personal life and relationships. I joke sometimes that I didn't receive my "Congratulations! You have cancer..." handbook because no one can prepare you for how to deal with it. In the military, we learn to push a lot of stuff down and move forward because we have a mission to do. I tried to handle cancer in the same manner and it did not work. It's something that I still struggle with at times. I am ok most of the time. As soon as it is time for a scan (every three months) or a cancer-related appointment, the reality of "oh wow...I have cancer..." is back to the forefront. Since it is still relatively new to me, I am still learning to "live with cancer". I'm still trying to figure out what is my purpose in this. For now, I feel as though I can do things like this to share my story and hopefully provide someone else hope as they fight their battle with cancer."

If you know a deserving woman that would love to have a session please send contact information to info@catherineraephotography.com.

Ms. Veteran America 2016 - Maryland Photographer

In early October, I had the honor of capturing the Ms. Veteran America award celebration.  These ladies are amazing and have proudly or are currently serving in the military.  These women as part of the competition take on the platform of raising money and awareness for homeless female veterans and their families.  For this campaign the women raised $80K towards the initiative and the organization of Final Salute Inc. 
This competition is far from a beauty pageant!  These ladies not only compete in talent, questions and stage presentation; but they also competed in a push up competition right on the stage in front of the spectators.  It was great to see those that dropped cheer on their comrades in this section of the night.  From 25 it went to the Top 10 and then the Final 3 and then the final question.  Congrats to Captain Molly Mae Porter who was crowned Ms. Veteran America 2016!
 

Prom Promenade 2016

I was linked up with Syreeta C Fashion in April and she was gracious enough to ask me to become a part of her prom giveaway.  I thought it would be a great experience to give back to a local teen in the DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia area and document the journey through photographs.  Prom Promenade is open to all high school seniors in the DMV area and they must fill out an application with a short essay on why they deserve to win.  We also take into account the GPA and any future goals that the individual may have.

Once we received the applications this year our winner was clear and it was Miss Kailah.  Kailah had an amazing story along with the GPA and future goals and had already accepted the college she would attend to study Nursing.  Once we selected Kailah we met with her and her mother and had the initial concept meeting for the dress.  This included the sketch, color selection and fabric choice.  It was awesome to be apart of this initial meeting and help push her out of her comfort zone.  Heck...it is not ever day you get a custom gown, hair and makeup package, stylist and photography!  The next meeting was the first fitting with a rough example of the gown to get the fit as close as possible.  From there, Syreeta began to construct the gown and then we had the fitting with the actual gown.  We had one more fitting that happened at the hair salon with Tei from The Tei Touch.  The stylist Kasha Reavis, sent some amazing shoes, jewelry and a killer handbags for Kailah's big prom night!

Finally, it was prom night and we all came together with Kailah's family to help her get ready.  Her mother cooked for us and we had music and fun!  They were so welcoming to us!  We got her hair and makeup finished, got her dressed and sent her on her way with he two closest friends.

Prom Promenade was such as awesome experience and I can't wait until we get going for Prom 2017!