I’d like everyone to meet one of the most adorable and vivacious little boys I’ve ever had the honor to photograph. This is Raffi and I just met him for the first time last week when we got together for a fantastic photo session that was all about him! I met Raffi because I recently volunteered to help out a very special organization here in Massachusetts. MARE is the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange and is probably best known for their Heart Gallery. The Heart Gallery is a wonderful exhibit of children who are awaiting adoption right here in Massachusetts. The goal of the Heart Gallery is raise awareness about the many wonderful children who are looking for a family to call their own. The exhibit actually travels across the state all year long and there’s also a permanent gallery in every Jordan’s Furniture store. It was actually at the Jordan’s Furniture in Reading where Rene and I first walked through the Heart Gallery last summer and when I first vowed to volunteer as a Heart Gallery photographer.
I knew that I wanted to do anything I possibly could to help these fantastic kids find a home so I asked MARE to put me to work doing whatever it is that they needed. And this was how I got to meet Raffi! We met up right after school one day last week and I experienced an instant role reversal for the first time in my career. Instead of ME trying to make Raffi feel comfortable and relaxed, he did all the work! As soon as I arrived he let me meet his beloved pets - an adorable little puppy and also his gorgeous little bird. He also took me on a tour around the yard and was able to point out all of the great backgrounds that he had already scoped out for me. I’m telling you, I think I’ve found my next assistant! But beyond that, I was so completely blown away by how friendly and fun Raffi is. He’s the perfect conversationalist - he’s the one that would show up in a room and within 5 minutes get everyone talking to each other even if they had never met before. It was great! And needless to say it made for a very fun photo session!! There are so many great images of him but here are a couple of our favorites including some that feature Raffi’s pet bird!
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Don’t you just love those dimples??? He has the best little laugh and when his dimples appear with it you just can’t help to smile right back at him!
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So I just want to take a second to ask everyone to please keep an eye out for the Heart Gallery when it makes a visit to a town near you soon. Or even better, take just a moment to visit the permanent Heart Gallery in any Jordan’s Furniture store. You’ll see Raffi’s photo there beginning in February and you’ll also get to see all of the other gorgeous kids just waiting for a family of their own. If you’re interested in more information about the Heart Gallery or about MARE just click on their website here: http://www.mareinc.org/ or you can just get in touch with Rene and I and we’d be happy to help with more information as well!