Back Member and professional photographer, Joe Hendricks, gives back to families affected by floods in Nashville
August 27th, 2010
For the past 17 years, Joe Hendricks, a Brentwood Baptist member and professional photographer, has taken photos that have been published in newspapers and magazines around the world. His work has even been featured in Newsweek magazine. He's well-known in the Nashville area for his creative shots and unique ability to capture memories behind the camera.
Being his full-time job, he stays busy most of the time. But, over the past month, Joe and Rhonda, his wife and business partner, have made it their ministry to bless the lives of several families who were affected by the devastation of the Nashville floods in May. And he recently posted a series on his blog of the families they've encountered and taken photos of.
Below are the entries he posted:
Flood Family #1: Greevys
It’s been almost four months since we had the flood here in Nashville, and it will amaze you how much work still needs to be done. Some people had two inches of water; others lost everything thing in their house. No matter what their situation, they all still need our help.
As a photographer, I e-mailed many families right after the flood to offer my services, if there was a need for photography. The families were grateful, but they needed more time to get things together. Three and a half months later, I figured it was time to e-mail all of them again and see how they were doing.
I was amazed at the response I got, as families definitely wanted to have pictures taken. Most of them are still recovering from the flood and are beginning to rebuild their lives. Their houses are looking like they used to and they can see results from all the hard work they have put into their recovery.
This is the time that we, as photographers, need to step up. I know a lot of photographers helped out immediately after the flood, but now we have an opportunity to capture the joy of rebuilding their lives rather than the devastation they experienced from the flood.
You can’t believe how many families lost all their pictures. Some lost wedding albums, others lost the pictures of their kids growing up. I personally can’t imagine losing some of those pictures, but they did, and we have a gift that can help give back by creating new memories for them.
So here is the first family I shot last week. They are the Greevy [family] and they had a son two weeks before the flood hit. The waters flooded the entire first floor of their house and they lost a lot.
Fortunately, Bess has an amazing Dad (Joe) who dropped everything and has been here rebuilding the house since day one. Everything, from the floor, stairs, kitchen, windows, and drywall, has been replaced by this man and his grandson. All of them together have done so much to get their lives back together, and it amazes me how great their attitudes are now.
So, for this photo shoot, I told them we can do anything they wanted! We just had the best time laughing and being in the moment and they got to be a family, taking a break from the hard work.
Flood Family #2: Lonis
When Nashville was devastated by the flood in May, many families had to come together like never before to rebuild their lives. As the school year ended, many of the teenagers grew up fast in order to handle a situation they had never dealt with before. Young men and women became leaders in an effort to clean out their houses.
The flood caused so much damage, that people worked day and night to save what little they had left. The Loni family gave me a new perspective on the flood. After taking pictures of them, we sat down and they told me what happened after the flood. I was shocked.
I heard stories of people being taken advantage of. Some had to foreclose on their homes. Others couldn’t find help to clean up the trash left behind. Some had to lock down their generators, because people needed power and a generator was the only way to get it. Then, if you needed something from Walgreens (five blocks away), it was going to be a 2-hour trip there and back, because there was so much traffic, so much damage, and water everywhere.
The list goes on, but there’s also the flip side. Many contractors came in with outrageous prices, but there are some unsung heroes like Bill, in the second to last picture below, that went above and beyond to be there every day for a family.
As I walked into their house, I heard the family laughing and excited that they had a backsplash in their kitchen. It was just a little thing, but people like Bill have been there every day making a difference for many of these families. There are so many people who have helped out and my heart goes out to every one of them, because it takes an amazing person to give up their time and work to lend a hand for so long.
Some families have really pushed forward and are already moving back into their houses, but there are still many who don’t even know where to start. Please, remember that they still need our help and that we can still make a difference. Flood recovery didn’t stop a month after it hit. Some will be recovering the rest of their lives.
Flood Family #3: Wilsons
Last week, I went out to the Factory at Franklin to take pictures of another very nice family who lost everything in the flood. Tim (the father) was telling me how a group of military men came into the house, asked if they needed any help, and started working right away!
Every once in a while, the officer in charge would tell the men to “hydrate,” and they would drink water while working, never taking a break until the task was done! I love hearing stories like this, because it makes me proud, being a former Navy Enlisted Photographer. There's nothing like people coming together to make a difference for others.
Joe and Rhonda continue to search for families whom they can give back to through the memory of photos. If you're a photographer looking for a way to contribute or you know of a family who would be blessed by their ministry, click here to e-mail Joe.