Last Day to Nominate Deserving Waukee Family for Free Portrait Session

Family portraits a moment preserved -- maybe parents looking young and vital, perhaps the kids missing teeth or sporting a do-it-yourself haircut.

Waukee photo studio owner Kristi Stephens ofBella K Photography wants to give one deserving family in Waukee or the Des Moines metro a free portrait session and $350 credit toward prints. She's taking nominations on her studio's Facebook page until the end of today, Jan. 15.

She heard about another photographer, who wishes to remain anonymous, offering a free session in the aftermath of the Newtown, CT, school shootings. The idea was a way to carry on the Olivia Act, named after one of the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Stephens said on her Facebook page: "Olivia’s family had family pictures taken a short time before she was killed. Those pictures are precious and now priceless to them. Upon hearing this, this photographer was moved to give away a 30-minute family photo shoot and has challenged other photographers to do the same. We go about our daily lives and sometimes we don’t take the time or have the resources to have family photos taken.

"I believe that all family photos are precious, they capture a moment in time that you can never get back," Stephens added. "I think we should all be able to have beautiful family portraits to treasure, therefore I would like to offer my time, as offered by the Olivia Act."

Send your nomination to Stephens via private message on her studio's Facebook page or email her at:kristi@bellakphotography.com. Be sure to include the family's name, contact information and a brief summary of why you chose them, and write "THE OLIVIA ACT NOMINATION" in the subject line. The chosen family will be contacted via email or phone call, so include that information also.

Do not post their information on Bella K's Facebook wall, she adds. 

"I honestly wasn't looking for a way to give back to Newtown, but when I saw the post I thought it was a great thing to do," Stephens said. "After loosing a family member, all you have left is the portraits."

Other Stories on the Newtown School Shootings:

How to Help Families Affected by Newtown School Shooting

Iowa State Psychologist: How To Talk to Your Kids About Connecticut Shooting