“Swirling, twirling fun.” That’s how Julie Floyd, owner of Classic Kids Photography, describes the photography studios’ 5th annual fundraising project, Rock Your Tutu, which will run the entire month of May. You can book an appointment for your children (adults are welcome too) at any of the Classic Kids Photography studios for a fun and fluff-filled photo shoot in tutus. One hundred percent of the $150 sitting fee will go toward their fundraising partner’s foundation, The Carey Foundation.
For the past five years, Rock Your Tutu has donated their funds to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. This year Floyd decided the studios would donate their Rock Your Tutu funds to an organization that also appreciates the power of a tutu: The Tutu Project and its partner foundation, The Carey Foundation. The Tutu Project started when professional photographer Bob Carey wanted to cheer up his wife, Linda, who was suffering from stage IV breast cancer. He decided he would cheer her up with photos of him donning nothing but a pink, fluffy tutu out in New York City’s subway stations, amusement parks and parking lots.
When Bob saw the joy and laughter these photos brought his wife, he decided to take the idea and turn it into a vehicle to raise awareness and support for breast cancer patients. In 2012, Bob and Linda self-published a collection of all Bob’s tutu photos, called “Ballerina.” All of the proceeds from the book went directly to The Carey Foundation, which the couple started to provide financial support to individuals suffering with breast cancer, survivors of breast cancer and their families.
Floyd, whose older sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, read the Carey’s story and decided they would be a perfect fit for the 2015 Rock Your Tutu project.
“We’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars for St. Jude’s in the past, so we’re hoping to do the same for the Carey Foundation this year,” Floyd says. “It’s just a real happy, fun event.”
Classic Kids Photography has three studios in Chicagoland (Winnetka, Hinsdale and downtown Chicago), as well as studios in New York and California; all of the studios will be participating.
Floyd says the easiest way to book your photo shoot appointment is to call the nearest location of Classic Kids.
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