TEARS are the best test for photographer Margherita Gregory when she decides how successful her latest family portrait shoot has been.
“Quite often when people see their portraits they will cry,” she said.
“It’s their reaction to seeing the love between each family member captured forever.
“That’s when I know I’ve succeeded.
“I’m always so happy to have brought such joy – my deepest satisfaction is to give them something that makes their hearts melt.”
Margherita’s been developing her craft since she received her first camera as a childhood gift from her mother.
It’s a talent that has led her to capture some familiar faces such as Camilla, from the B105 Morning Show; Wes, from Channel 10’s Totally Wild; and even the Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
She has already raised thousands of dollars for many charities such as, The Bonnie Babes Foundation, Operation Smile, The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Camp Quality and the Girl Guides.
Now she’s donating money raised in designer family portraits to help disadvantaged Third World families.
Her goal is to raise $10,000 for Caritas – and, since she started earlier this year, she’s raised $2310.
“It’s a win-win situation in that families get $455 worth of professional portraiture on archive quality paper which will last for 150 years,” Margherita said.
“Families pay only $70, all of which is donated to Caritas.”
Margherita said daughter Jasmin inspired her to help Caritas, a Catholic aid agency.
“I was impressed by the way Jasmin would set aside her lunch money in a Project Compassion box each Lent,” she said.
“She would tell me how she was doing something to help disadvantaged people in the world, like buying goats and chickens for a village.
“A couple of times she actually said: ‘Mum, why don’t you support Caritas somehow too?’
“That’s when I got the idea to start taking family portraits – something I love – and donate a portion of the proceeds to Caritas.
“I mentioned this to Patricia Ryan, who is (Brisbane) diocesan director for Caritas Australia, and she jumped at the opportunity.”
Margherita’s travels through places like Egypt, Bali and parts of Europe, had also made her aware of the less fortunate and of the privileged life Australians lead.
“My mother also always taught me to look out for people in need … and that our lives are short and we should look to make a difference in the brief time we have here,” she said.
Margherita was also part of a large loving Italian family in NSW’s Northern Rivers region “with lots of sharing, talking, eating and Christmas gatherings”.
“So I’ve always had this love of families,” she said.
Margherita’s passion for photography was born when her mother gave her a camera as a child.
“I was struck by how incredible it was that I could make something that would last forever,” she said.
“I could stop time and give people the gift of themselves at a particular special moment.”
This enthusiasm continued into school, particularly at Trinity College in Lismore where she came under the tuition of legendary Northern Rivers drama teacher and photographer Peter Derrett.
“Peter gave me the keys to the darkroom and I found myself there after school every day,” Margherita said with a still eager smile.
“I topped photography in Year 11 and 12 and continued on to the Queensland College of Art, graduating in 1987.
“Since then I’ve done portraits all over the world from Rome to London and Germany.”
Margherita and husband Michael started a photography business eight years ago.
She will continue to roll out her Caritas portrait program through Brisbane and the regions for the remainder of 2010 as she seeks to reach her goal.
She has allocated a limited number of designer portrait packages to interested schools.
Margherita can be contacted on 0403 448 078.
