A Lasting Legacy: Developing a Photo Managers Scholarship That Supports End-of-Life Clients
by Cathi Nelson
In a recent encounter, I stumbled upon a best-selling book titled Stuffocation: Memories Live Longer Than Things. The book emphasizes the profound idea that “experiences lead to stories, which lead to connections, which lead to relationships, which lead to happiness.” As the founder of The Photo Managers, I’ve come to appreciate this concept in a slightly different way. We capture and document our experiences through photos and videos, thus creating a personal narrative. This becomes our story, which creates connections, builds relationships, and ultimately leaves behind a lasting legacy. In essence, we take photos to tell the stories of our lives.
The significance of this truth became strikingly clear this past summer when I received an email from Sharon Wunder, a professional photo manager and member of our community. She shared that she was dying, and she wanted to create a scholarship for a professional photo manager to attend our annual educational conference. The purpose of the scholarship is to reward a member of The Photo Members who can demonstrate a passion for creating a legacy project for a client who has suffered a serious loss or chronic illness.
In a recent encounter, I stumbled upon a best-selling book titled Stuffocation: Memories Live Longer Than Things. The book emphasizes the profound idea that “experiences lead to stories, which lead to connections, which lead to relationships, which lead to happiness.” As the founder of The Photo Managers, I’ve come to appreciate this concept in a slightly different way. We capture and document our experiences through photos and videos, thus creating a personal narrative. This becomes our story, which creates connections, builds relationships, and ultimately leaves behind a lasting legacy. In essence, we take photos to tell the stories of our lives.
The significance of this truth became strikingly clear this past summer when I received an email from Sharon Wunder, a professional photo manager and member of our community. She shared that she was dying, and she wanted to create a scholarship for a professional photo manager to attend our annual educational conference. The purpose of the scholarship is to reward a member of The Photo Members who can demonstrate a passion for creating a legacy project for a client who has suffered a serious loss or chronic illness.
Sharon’s introduction to The Photo Managers came through her college friend Lucy Easley. Lucy had been raving about her growing career offering photo organizing services, insisting that Sharon would find it enjoyable and the people welcoming. This opportunity came when Sharon was seeking a change from her roles as a portrait photographer and interior design consultant.
In January of 2021, Sharon launched her career, filled with excitement and aspirations for success. However, in June, life took an unexpected turn when Sharon received a devastating diagnosis: stage 4 “incurable” glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of terminal brain cancer. Despite the tears and fears, Sharon mustered her strength and became her own project manager for her health, assembling a supportive team for emotional, mental, and physical assistance. Eighteen months passed, marked by a celebration of life.
As she began to plan for the future, Sharon learned that her recent MRIs revealed tumor growth, and she found herself with limited treatment options. In her quest for quality time with her family, she made the courageous decision to forgo further treatments, choosing not to live in a hospital but rather to embrace the good days she had left at home.
She wrote, “I want to leave something for The Photo Managers, something with the availability to grow and bloom into something magical. Something that gives back and can keep on giving. I’m so grateful to have my legacy photo library set up for my children so they can hear my voice and know the messages I’d share as they progress through their lives. I have even created my ‘celebration of life slideshow’ to help my kids remember the good times I was there for them in their childhood.”
Sharon’s email to offer $3000 of her own money left us in awe, and we moved swiftly to establish a scholarship review committee and application process with the intention of giving Sharon the chance to review the applications herself. Within just three weeks, we received applications from 11 professional photo managers, and we proudly awarded our inaugural scholarship to Teresa Townsend. Teresa, who owns Tapestry Life Stories, is a personal historian and photo organizer who holds certifications in Reminiscence and Life Story Work, as well as being a certified Guided Autobiography instructor.
The heartwarming email from Sharon didn’t merely culminate in a scholarship; it marked the commencement of something even more significant. The Photo Managers are actively in the process of developing a Legacy Advocate Training program. This program aims to educate and provide support to professionals who have a vested interest in assisting families dealing with end-of-life challenges or loss, enabling them to craft their own legacy stories. Our goal is to demystify the notion that only famous people have a legacy and to inspire everyone to recognize that through photos, videos, and keepsake objects, everyone has a story to share.
I am sharing this story with the INELDA community, as we have seen more doulas lately engaging with our community. There is a natural synergy between the work that we all do. I invite you to explore and consider partnering with some of the managers within our network. Together we can ensure these stories continue. If you’d like to learn more, feel free to reach out to [email protected].
Author Bio
Cathi Nelson is a CEO, author, and speaker, but most importantly, she’s passionate about helping people organize their photos so they can share their photo legacy. In 2009 she founded The Photo Managers, the leading organization serving entrepreneurs through training, a professional certification program, best practices, and a code of ethics that sets high standards for the rapidly growing photo management industry. She’s been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Real Simple, and The Wall Street Journal about organizing and preserving your family heritage’s legacy through photos.
Hear more about Sharon Wunder and her journey on episode 4 of the Inside Photo Organizing podcast.