How to open a NICU Photography Program with Capturing Hopes
If you are at this page on our website, then you have either experienced a Capturing Hopes NICU program or have seen the beautiful work that our photographers produce for families on a monthly basis, and you know the importance of capturing every moment for premature babies.
Why are Capturing Hopes Programs important for all NICUs?
As you know, babies grow quickly and even the littlest of them will reach milestones weekly and sometimes daily that give us all reason to celebrate and do our best to capture those important milestones, no matter how small.
We always encourage families to use their own cameras or cell phones to photograph and video as much as possible, and with monthly Capturing Hopes sessions they can also receive professional photography through the lenses of generous photographers who want to blur out some of the hard stuff and focus in on the little details. We like to find the humanity and beauty through our professional lenses. This is truly art.
Who is eligible for NICU photography?
Capturing Hopes is a family support program that is available to any family going through a hospital stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Whether the baby is one pound or 8 pounds, all babies are eligible to receive a photo session once a month, always free of charge. Through the gift of progress photos, our photographers bring a sense of normalcy and excitement for the families as they see their baby captured through their entire stay in the hospital.
Capturing Hopes does not discriminate against race, color, gender, or religion.
How can I get a program started in my local NICU?
Whether you are a medical staff member or a community advocate who is interested in working towards the goal of opening a local program, we can work with you on reaching that goal. The first step is to send us an email outlining your interest in a program for your area and what part you would like to play in the program management. This could be managed by a photographer, a medical staff member, a previous NICU parent, or another member of the community that has a heart for local NICU families and would like to give back. Please send us an email to get started! capturinghopesdirectors@gmail.com
The second step in this process will be setting up a phone call to talk through all of the details of what opening a program looks like. During this step, we will walk you through how to approach the hospital, who you should be meeting with or talking with, how to work on building your local volunteer base, how to work on fundraising for the program, and what month you will be ready to begin. This takes a little bit of work, but it is also a lot of fun as the excitement of opening this new program grows in your community.
What is the cost of opening a NICU photography program?
While the program itself is a free program provided to the families always as a free service, there is an initial cost to get the program opened in your area. The cost covers a Capturing Hopes trainer traveling to your area for a 3 day training with the hospital and volunteers as you launch your very first NICU photo event. The cost varies according to location with the base fee being $2500. While fundraising can sound like a hurtle, with the aid of social media, friends and family, and local community grants, the cost to open the program can be raised quickly. Once the program is setup, there are no required fees to continue monthly for years to come.
*Program fees do not need to be paid for by a hospital, but all programs will need to be approved by the hospital NICU unit prior to program implementation and training.
Who are ideal candidates for managing a Capturing Hopes Program?
- Medical Staff in the NICU
- Child Life Specialist
- Previous NICU parent
- Professional Photographer
Will I be paid to run the Program?
All of our program managers are volunteers and do not receive compensation for managing a program. Capturing Hopes is a free support program for families going through a NICU stay with their premature baby.
If you would like to get the checklist on how to open a Capturing Hopes Program, please send us an email at capturinghopesdirectors@gmail.com today and we would love to start this conversation with you!