“I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction.” -Rachel Scott
Congratulations Kamille and Ted! You Have Won The Just For Nice People, Kick Ass, Free Wedding Photography Giveaway
The funny thing is, I really feel like I won too.
It’s hard for me to describe to you how incredible this experience has been for me, and how little I expected that. This photography giveaway became so much more than I expected, in so many ways.
From the first day it was overwhelmingly wonderful. Reading through the entries, alternating between laughing and crying, tears streaming down my face, I learned that humanity isn’t lost after all, despite what you hear on the evening news. And though I didn’t know it when I first had the idea to have this contest, I really needed these last few weeks. This experience has brought me so much joy. If I could figure out how, I would do all of the weddings for free.
But it wasn’t just me that felt this way. So many people have told me in the past few weeks how much it meant to them to read about these couples and cheer for them. In fact, more than a few people logged in just to vote for someone different every day… choosing their couple by who had the fewest votes, or alphabetically, or by closing their eyes and clicking.
What you don’t know is that this giveaway almost didn’t happen. I spent a long couple of weeks of solid work trying to resolve all of the details and logistics of making it happen, and that included more than a few sleepless nights. Two days before the contest, I still wasn’t sure if it was going to happen at all, or if it was even worth the insane level of effort it was demanding.
I’m so glad I finished it.
Here’s some of the things I have learned in the past few weeks:
1. There are some really amazing people out there living among us.
3. Kindness is a gift that can often benefit the giver more than the receiver, but both are winners. It’s cheesy, but it’s true. In fact, you can test that theory for free right now.
Go visit Kiva and give away some free money to some people you will never meet. The next 7,000 people who join Kiva can make their first loan for free. And once you make one loan, you’re hooked. It’s that awesome.
4. People really respond to even the smallest act of kindness. I lost track of how many emails I got from people who just wanted to give me encouragement for having this giveaway. How cool is that?
5. Answering 50 emails in one day is a lot of work. Details blur together. I apologize if I sent you a bizarro email about bouncing monkeys or anything like that.
6. Spreadsheets are very helpful, but they still kinda suck.
7. The
A Practical Wedding community is huge and amazing, and this wouldn’t have happened without them.
8. Nice people totally kick ass.
Everyone deserves a ginormous thank you for helping.
And finally, I really want to thank everyone who entered the giveaway, or emailed me, or passed on a link to help one of these couples. You all made this an amazing success. You made it so much more than a silly promotion. I hope you understand that you are wonderful, and I hope that you are inspired and will continue to spread kindness.
Let’s keep this going.
Spread kindness like the plague!
Be evangelists for compassion to others!
Bring joy to everyone!
Ok, I’m done now. But you get the point. Being nice doesn’t hurt. It’s kind of fun. Especially if they don’t expect it. And these days, sadly, most people don’t.
Wait, here’s my favorite quote about being nice:
“Nice guys finish first. If you don’t know that, then you don’t know where the finish line is.” – Garry Shandling
M’kay. Now I’m done. Congratulations to Kamille and Ted. I’m ridiculously excited to be photographing your awesome wedding!
PS: About that quote up top:
Rachel Joy Scott was the first victim of the Columbine High School massacre. She was posthumously awarded the 2001 National Kindness Award for Student of the Year by the Acts of Kindness Association. Her family created an organization in her memory to inspire people to create a chain reaction of kindness and compassion because it was Rachel’s life mission to show kindness and compassion to everyone. Their organization is called Rachel’s Challenge.
Hello. My name is Amanda. I make neat pictures of nice people, drink coffee and whiskey (sometimes at the same time), and travel. The only thing I love more than coffee is traveling. I've also got a pretty serious landscape photography habit to support.
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