Houston Photographer Cindy Crofford is one of several hundred PPA-member photographers throughout the U.S. and in Australia who have launched fund-raising campaigns in support of Operation Smile. Cindy, who is a longstanding participant in Family Portrait Month, and who was one of the first PPA studios to become a PPA Charities Operation Smile Studio, recently experienced a tangible reminder of the importance of the mission supported by Operation Smile.

Not long ago Cindy photographed a portrait session for a very special mom and daughter. Michelle has been a mom to her adopted two-year-old daughter Lily for only a few months when they came for the portrait session, but she and her husband have been in Lily’s life since the day she came to live in the Chinese orphanage where the family had registered for adoption. The abandoned baby girl had been born with a cleft lip/palate, and Michelle and her husband Brandon provided financial support for corrective surgery for the baby, who has blossomed into a beautiful toddler who will enjoy a normal life because of the gift of surgery.

“Seeing Lily, and knowing how different her life would have been without the support of her new family,” said Cindy, “really drove home how important it is to support an organization such as Operation Smile.”

This year Cindy advertised Family Portrait Month through a post card sent to her clients, the front of which is pictured above. The back copy side of the card is shown below.

Cindy recently produced a 12-page 6”x9” family portrait booklet that includes this page devoted to the studio’s support of Operation Smile:

A page on Cindy’s website also advertises Family Portrait Month to site visitors.

Thanks to Cindy and to all those who are raising funds for Operation Smile through PPA Charities!