The Sligo Champion

Kathy will turn up at your door and snap!

- By CATHAL MULLANEY

They say a picture says a thousand words - and an effort to capture family life in the midst of a global pandemic is the ser vice being offered by one local photograph­er in aid of charity.

Kathy Burke, who runs Kathy Burke Photograph­y, now based out of Millennium House Courtyard on Stephen Street in Sligo, has been exceptiona­lly busy with her initiative called ‘Portraits on Your Doorstep’ with a charity being the beneficiar y.

The popular initiative, which involves, as the title suggests, taking portraits of families outside their front door, has taken Kathy all around Sligo as families look for their photo to be taken.

Having launched a fortnight ago, the fundraiser has accumulate­d over €1,000 with all funds going towards the Friends of Sligo University Hospital.

Kathy explained: “I’m missing photograph­ing and with everybody being locked down you have the time to get a portrait on your doorstep, there’s a lot of kids that aren’ t going to remember, so it can show them.

“It’s not a dressing up affair, it ’s how we were when it was happening.”

The response to this introducti­on of the ‘ Portraits on Your Doorstep’ has been fantastic, and has even had other photograph­ers contacting Kathy in an attempt to replicate the idea in other areas.

“I’ ve been flat out!,” Kathy says.

“I did go to the Guards in Sligo and made sure that it was OK. Social distancing and that is OK because I have a camera, and I’m emailing a copy to them after wards so there’s actually no physical contact at all. It just works.

“A couple of my customers who come to me for photos regularly said it to me.

“I think it ’s a bit of an American thing that’s been done. I think there is another guy in Dublin doing it but I actually have had another photograph­er contact me since, asking do I mind them copying my idea, they’re in Clare. I said not at all, if it ’s for charity it ’s great.”

The initiative runs until the end of the month, with further details available on the Kathy Burke Photograph­y Facebook page.

As for her studio in Sligo, with her Riverstown studio closed, Kathy envisages a return in August or September, to more traditiona­l markings depending on government plans.

Graduation­s have gone online, there’s been no First Communion or Confirmati­ons and weddings are not due to begin again until July 20.

In the meantime, ‘Portraits on Your Doorstep’ will certainly fill the photograph­y void.

 ??  ?? Families are delighted to take part and donate to a worthy cause.
Families are delighted to take part and donate to a worthy cause.
 ??  ?? ‘Portraits on Your Doorstep’ have proven to be very popular.
‘Portraits on Your Doorstep’ have proven to be very popular.
 ??  ?? One of the dozens of family portraits snapped by Kathy as a keepsake of the Covid-19 period.
One of the dozens of family portraits snapped by Kathy as a keepsake of the Covid-19 period.
 ??  ?? Photograph­er Kathy Burke.
Photograph­er Kathy Burke.
 ??  ?? The initiative will run until the end of the month.
The initiative will run until the end of the month.
 ??  ?? Family portrait by Kathy Burke.
Family portrait by Kathy Burke.
 ??  ?? All smiles on the doorstep
All smiles on the doorstep

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