New Bern photographer trains lens on local charitable nonprofits
A New Bern photography business is hoping to help solve a problem faced by many local nonprofit charitable organizations - how to get the word out about services that are essential to the community but often receive little exposure.
Bob Mackowski, owner of Open Aperture Photography, has pledged his time and marketing know-how to a yearlong project to help spread the news about New Bern’s nonprofits. Throughout 2022, Mackowski will be donating a free marketing photo shoot to one local charity every month. As part of the project, he’ll also create a video focused on each charity that will be shared on Facebook and Instagram.
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Mackowski said his goal is to raise awareness of the important work done by local nonprofit organizations and assist their work.
“Even someone like Religious Community Services, who a lot of people are familiar with, there are still plenty of people moving to the area who have never heard of them and all of the good work that they do,” he noted. “So I’m trying to give them the tools that they need to accomplish their goals, whether that is raising more money or finding more volunteers, these projects will be able to help them do that.”
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Mackowski’s first shoot was with the staff of MERCI Clinic on Jan. 14. In operation since 1966, the nonprofit provides medical services to low income, uninsured residents of Craven, Jones, and Pamlico counties.
Daphne Ellison, MERCI Clinic dental coordinator, said the staff was thankful for any help that will allow them to reach more residents with their services.
“I think it’s pretty awesome. Anything we can do to get the word out,” Ellison commented.
Mackowski said he currently has two more photo shoots scheduled this month, including one with Backpack Blessings, which works to feed hungry children across eastern North Carolina.
“They’ll all debut online once a month but in order to get ahead I’ve taken on three at the same time to start the year,” he explained. “These are 12 separate, very large projects. It’s kind of like I’m taking on 12 brand new clients, for free.”
Shining a light on "amazing work"
Mackowski, a Pennsylvania native who moved to New Bern in 2008, began Open Aperture Photography in 2012 after working several years as the chief photographer at WCTI Channel 12. Though he initially focused on wedding photography, in 2018 he switched to primarily commercial work, including headshots and company branding.
Since then, Open Aperture Photography has worked with international companies like PepsiCo, local landmarks like Tryon Palace and Beary Merry Christmas, and a number of small businesses.
Mackowski said he has done multiple large charitable community projects in the past, such as working with Operation Marry Me Military and doing free marketing work for Saint Paul Catholic School. He said he had just wrapped up a project in December 2021 and was looking for a new way to help.
“I don't necessarily have a nonprofit of preference and they’re so many good ones. So that got me to thinking, with the new year rolling around and not having one nonprofit specifically that I wanted to help that I could help several,” he recalled.
The photo shoots will vary depending on the needs of the nonprofit, Mackowski explained.
“For example, with Backpack Blessings I’ll shoot photos and video there. With MERCI Clinic that will be multiple shoots just because of scheduling and people being in certain places at certain times,” he noted.
Mackowski said his post-shoot work will also be different for each job.
“The shoot might be anywhere from an hour to four hours and then on photo and video editing I might spend from one to four hours. It can vary pretty greatly depending on what the final product is that we’re aiming for,” he said.
His biggest challenge, Mackowski said, will be choosing only 12 nonprofits to work with.
“There are so many really good ones that help our community,” he commented, “it’s pretty amazing all the work they do.”
To contact Open Aperture Photography about working with a New Bern nonprofit, fill out the contact form on their website at https://www.openapphoto.com/contact or email bob@openapphoto.com.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Bern photographer pledges time to local charitable nonprofits
