OCDEL Invites Families to Participate in Free Professional Photo Session

The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) Team at the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) invites pregnant and parenting families of children birth to age six to participate in a free professional photo session.

Each participating family will receive a stipend of $150 and associated travel/mileage reimbursement for completing the approximately one-hour photoshoot. Families will also receive copies of their photos.

About Photo Sessions

Why is OCDEL providing this opportunity?

Photos of Pennsylvania children and their families play an instrumental role in conveying the importance of high-quality maternal and early childhood services in Pennsylvania. Additionally, they aid in outreach to families, professionals, legislators, business leaders, and other partners throughout the state.

By capturing photos of Pennsylvania families, OCDEL can better serve and advocate for them and the care of their children.

How will OCDEL use the photos?

OCDEL may use the photos for:

  • advertising (i.e. television, online, billboard, and print)

  • social media

  • printed displays and materials, such as annual reports, PowerPoint presentations, etc.

In using the photos, OCDEL will never share the names and locations of the families included in them.

Who can participate in the photo sessions?

All Pennsylvania families with children age six and younger are invited to participate, including those who reflect the diversity of Pennsylvania’s population. OCDEL would like to represent differences in identity such as:

  • race

  • ethnicity

  • gender

  • gender identity

  • sexual orientation

  • age

  • disability

  • geographic location across the Commonwealth

Siblings and grandparents are welcome and highly encouraged to participate, too.

Why should families participate?

Each participating family will receive electronic access to the professionally produced photos of their family taken during the photo session. They will be able to:

  • download and save the photos

  • print them

  • share them on their social media accounts (i.e. Facebook or Instagram)

  • email them to family and friends

Additionally, each participating family will receive a stipend of $150 for completing the approximately 1-hour photoshoot. Also, mileage reimbursement will be provided at a rate of 65.5 cents per mile.

ECCS is also able to reimburse other modes of transportation utilized to get to the photo session location, such as public transportation, Uber, or Lyft with receipts. ECCS will also reimburse tolls with receipts.

Where will photo sessions be held?

The ECCS team will host photo sessions:

  • June 27 in King of Prussia, Montgomery County

  • July 17 in Cranberry Township, Butler County

  • July 19 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County

  • July 25 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County

How can families sign-up to participate?

If you would like to participate, please complete the online registration form no later than June 15.

There is no cost to participate with the ECCS photo session. However, space is limited and registration is required.

Learn More

To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania's Promise for Children website.

For questions, please contact Sadia Batool at c-sabatool@pa.gov.

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