Launched in 2006 by Canadian photographer Robert Kent and Getty Images, the annual Summer Solstice Shoot took place on June 21. It united 100 top photographers in raising cash for
Compassionate Eye Foundation's educational projects in Guatemala and South Africa.
Eleven photographers and their crews donated the images shot during the first solstice event to CEF/Getty Images. In a year, the project has raised over $100,000 by licensing these images through Getty. CEF used the money to build classrooms at a Guatemala school, educating over 60 children, and to fund a South African school that runs a fine art and photography program.
According to Kent, stock photography offers a highly sustainable method of donating to charity. "An image can have a life span of up to seven years, earning anything between $100 to $5,000 and more," he explained. "We were completely won over by his idea of using our normal business model to fund CEF's good works and we amplify their efforts by inviting more Getty Images contributors to shoot for the charity," added Andrew Saunders, Getty Images' vice president of creative imagery.
The CEF gallery on gettyimages.com currently offers over 900 images, Spanning all license models, the photos are produced by well-known names, including Al Bello, Siri Stafford, OJO and Blend.