Say cheese for charity

Photos courtesy of Mimika Cooney
South African photographer Mimika Cooney, who creates fantasy photos of children, said she was overwhelmed with dozens of entrants to her casting call for a charity calendar to benefit Charlotte nonprofit Mothering Across Continents. Rick Crider/MMHW photosCooney, owner of Photo Lyrical in Waxhaw, moved here from England. She has a background in marketing and public relations, but she’s always loved photography and decided to go into the business when she arrived in America. Since 2007, she’s put her talent to work by shooting a calendar to benefit charity.This year, the beneficiary is Mothering Across Continents, a Charlotte nonprofit that funds health and education programs for orphans and other at-risk African children. Growing up in South Africa, she’s witnessed poverty firsthand.“I’ve seen people living in abject poverty without even the most basic of necessities,” she said.The calendar features two themes: “Tasty Treats” and “Movie Stars.” Children from Mecklenburg and Union counties were invited to pose for the calendar, and Cooney planned an online vote to determine who’d appear in the finished product. And while there was a winner – 1-year-old Siana McBean of Charlotte, who netted her mom a $350 photo bag – Cooney decided to feature all 62 children, scrapbook style.Babies were photographed as strawberry parfaits, banana splits and lemon sherbet. Older kids dressed up as film icons such as Elvis Presley, Audrey Hepburn and Peter Pan. Madison and Sophia Gordillo, 5-month-old twins from Matthews, posed as Tweedledee and Tweedledum from “Alice in Wonderland,” complete with tutus and propeller caps. The girls, now 8 months old, took all the fuss of the photo shoot in stride, mother Sidra Wall said. There were no tears, no whimpers about wearing the unfamiliar costumes. “I was surprised at how well they did. They were very calm and very aware of their surroundings,” Wall said. A new mom, Wall said she was introduced to Cooney’s work through a local mother’s Web site while she was pregnant and subscribed to her e-mail list. Matthews twins Sophia and Madison Gordillo at 5 months old
Matthews kids among brightest smiles for 2010 calendar
November 6, 2009
Laura Johannesen

What’s cuter than a picture of a dressed-up baby, and what’s more meaningful than giving to the world’s less fortunate?

Local photographer Mimika Cooney seems to have found the answers by linking the two for her 2010 charity calendar project.

“Cooney does such beautiful pictures and when I saw the event and saw it was for a good cause I thought why not?” Wall said.

Matthews’ Ava Garcia was “a little hesitant” about the photo shoot, said her mother, April, but when the 4-year-old saw the “cool costumes and the absolutely gorgeous dress,” her inner princess took over.

“She did great. She absolutely loved it,” April Garcia said.

The owner of Kids ‘R’ Kids preschool in Matthews, Garcia said she met Cooney when she hired her to take photos of the school’s mother-son and father-daughter dances for Valentine’s Day.

The Garcias plan to stock up on the calendars for friends and family, of course – happily supporting Mothering Across Continents.

“We definitely want to help out with that,” Garcia said.

“It’s really cool that (Cooney) donated her time and put this really cool project together.”

Cooney’s goal was to raise $8,000, and she’s “tremendously pleased” that thanks to sitting-fee donations, $4,500 already has been given to Mothering Across Continents, which recently piloted a meal program for high school students and helped fund the construction of a play center for children. Cooney is hoping calendar sales will raise the additional money to reach her goal.

She’s grateful she can use her talent to help. “I have been given gifts that I can use to help others. I love to capture special moments with my camera. It’s a way of documenting memories that can last a lifetime – the only way to remember an innocent smile, a feeling, a beautiful scene or emotional moment,” she said.

It isn’t always easy to work with youngsters, but it’s worth it, she said. “Kids have such a short attention span, and they get wired up and want to go home, but we get through it,” Cooney said.

“I keep things moving very quickly by talking, singing and, most importantly, candy bribes, which always work as a treat. I don’t mind being called the ‘Lollipop Lady’ if it works.’’

Cooney provides most of the costumes, props and materials. Tina Parker of T.I.P. Finishes provides heirloom furniture as props, and is also the project’s main sponsor, underwriting the calendar’s printing cost. Ashlyn Lafone of Cole Baby Tutus provides the fluffy accessory.

Cooney’s excited about her latest project and grateful to the many entrants. She says it’s all about reaching out to others.

“It is our duty to help others, is it not?” she said.

Want a calendar?
The calendar should be available by Nov. 15. To buy one, visit www.photolyrical.com/charity.htm. All proceeds will be donated to Mothering Across Continents.