Today was the best of days and the worst of days. I got to shoot a wedding today for the best couple ever Hailey and Nic. Over the past few months we have become so close we are like family so today I was so excited for their wedding. A fellow photographer and instant friend Heidi Walker of Heidi J Photography was kind enough and so excited to come and second shoot for me today. We instantly hit it off and she is just the sweetest photographer i’ve met and we joked back and forth together all afternoon. Well as many of you have heard, there have been many camera thefts around the temple from LOW LIFES that will follow the photographers from the temple, and if they stop at a store with their gear in the car, the slimeballs will rush in and steal all of the photographers gear. Thanks SO much news media for advertising to the world how much our gear is worth so the thieves now know to target us. 
Anyways, Long story short, Heidi got all of her gear stolen and it makes my heart ache. Read all about it on her BLOG. This was her passion and she lost everything, she invested so much more than the $20,000 in gear that was stolen. She invested time, invested money into numerous workshops, into education and learning editing skills, program skills. Then some D-Bag comes and takes it all away from her. Her gear was not insured. She used that gear to support her family in an honest way and as much as I wish I could catch this thief and give him the beat down of a life time, the only other thing I can do is to jump in and call out for help.
I would like for anyone willing and able to help Heidi out and show her that there is still good in this world. It broke my heart to hear her in tears all day and worse than the gear being robbed, I think they stole her heart and trust with it. I feel dead inside as well and I wasn’t even the victim.
I am going to start a donation fund for Heidi to help out with replacing equipment, renting equipment for shoots until her gear is replaced or recovered, etc. I am going to personally donate $200 of my own money to get the ball rolling. Also, any sales made from my album templates for the next two weeks will all go to Heidi’s donation fund. Also, any one on one mentoring sessions that anyone signs up for during the next two weeks will also be fully donated to Heidi. For any brides out there that have been thinking about booking me, the very next wedding that books, I will donate all of your wedding package (minus the cost of any product) to Heidi to help her get back on her feet and help restore her hope. Also if you would like to just donate a dollar or two or three to my paypal account dustin@dustinizatt.com and just put For Heidi in the notes, I promise every penny of the donations will be given to Heidi.
Please join in and help out in any way you can. Please spread the word to everyone you know and if you are able to chip in, I know Heidi would greatly appreciate it. I know times are tight for everyone and I am no exception, if I had more I would give more, but every little bit helps and if we can get a lot of little bits, it will help out more than you could ever know. Thank you so much for hearing me out 
P.S. If you gear is not insured, please get in contact with Hill and Usher to get a policy going. It is fairly inexpensive and the coverage is awesome. Also, please try to be more careful about leaving your gear in your cars, let’s not give anymore of our honest money and equipment to these scumsuckers.
by dustinizatt
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