Grass to ‘shoot for a cure’
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — A local photographer has been selected to join an organization, Shoots for a Cure, whose goal is to raise awareness and help find a cure for various forms of cancer.
The program enlists photographers from the U.S., Canada and internationally to volunteer their services, providing photos for cancer patients at no charge.
“I received an e-mail from Shoots for a Cure which I applied to a couple months ago. Shoots for a Cure does family photos for ‘any individual that has been diagnosed with cancer or completed treatment within the past 12 months qualifies for a Shoots for a Cure session,’” said photographer Jason Grass, of Mystic Photo Studios.
Grass said sessions are available to document the patient’s fight before treatment, during treatment or to celebrate the victory when treatment is completed.
“Those that participate are given the sitting fee and 10 prints sized 5×7 at no cost to them. This translates to a package valued at about $225 being offered to them at no cost,” said Grass.
“If an individual wishes to have anything above and beyond this package, our studio will provide them with a 25 percent discount of any additional prints or specialty items. However, they’re never obligated to buy anything from the studio,” explained Grass.
A portion of any sales made will in turn be donated toward cancer research.
“If the family does order any reduced-priced items, then a portion of the proceeds will be sent to the American Cancer Society as a donation,” said Grass.
Grass said he’s excited and honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization.
“Shoots for a Cure has a rather extensive evaluation process in which they weigh the applicant’s qualifications, experience, portfolio and any professional affiliations, such as Professional Photographers of America — which I have been a member of since August 2009. We are the only studio located north of Bangor to be affiliated with Shoots for a Cure,” he said.
Those interested can have their photos taken at the studio or arrangements can be made to meet elsewhere.
“I’m willing to travel to their home where they would be more comfortable or we can do them in the studio or a location of their choice,” said Grass.
Grass said this was a wonderful way to kick off the New Year.
“Imagine me getting notification just before bed on the last day of the year. I am surprised I fell asleep at all,” said Grass.
For more information, mail: Mystic Photo Studios, 25 Fort Hill Street, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742; call 473-7347 (studio) or 227-9653 (mobile), e-mail Shoots@jasongrass.com or visit mysticphotostudios.com. You can also visit www.shootsforacure.com or visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/shootsforacure.
“I am so excited to be helping such a great organization. Jenny (Jason’s wife) and I have spent a decade helping the American Cancer Society with their fight on cancer and now we get to push that fight even stronger and harder,” said Grass.
