Shooting for a Cure
Sonoma teenager Cristian Isbrandtsen is a photographer with a cause. He recently started his own nonprofit business, snapping pictures of people visiting wine country and local special events. He donates 100% of his revenue to charitable causes and one of them is Breakthrough T1D! After attending the Pixar Monsters University Gala, benefiting Breakthrough T1D, last summer Cristian was inspired to use his photography talents to raising money for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. We caught up with Cristian and talked with him about his efforts:
Breakthrough T1D Bay Area: What was your experience like at the Pixar Gala?
Cristian: My experience at the Pixar Gala back in June last year was a very memorable one! I have not really been to many charity events and I was very impressed by the outpour of love and support that people gave to the children and adults who are affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D). I had a lot of fun seeing the Monsters University movie and having a tour of the Pixar Studio’s, it was so cool!
Breakthrough T1D Bay Area: How did you find your passion for photography?
Cristian: I found my passion for photography through my mom. I grew up watching her take photos on vacations, for my schools and for her own business and I saw how creative it was and how much fun she had doing it.
Breakthrough T1D Bay Area: How did you come up with the idea to take pictures at wineries?
Cristain: I came up with the idea of taking photos at wineries because it seemed that nobody was doing that at any of the wineries here in Sonoma or Napa and I thought it was a good opportunity to start my non profit photography business. I live right here in the middle of the wine country and it seemed like visitors were always taking photos of one another, but not as a group. I experienced this kind of a photo opportunity on ski mountains and various tourist attractions, so I thought it was a good idea.
Breakthrough T1D Bay Area: What is the response like when people find out that you are raising money for Breakthrough T1D?
Cristian: The response I always get when people hear that I am raising money for Breakthrough T1D is usually the question ‘Do you have diabetes?’ I tell them no I don’t, but after seeing first-hand how young lives are affected by this disease it made me want to help out in some way and through my photography I can do this.
Breakthrough T1D Bay Area: How much money have you raised?
Cristian: Since I started my business late last summer I have raised for Breakthrough T1D a total of $550.00, but I actually have raised $1,100.00 in total. At most of my events, I agreed to split with their charity, for example the Sonoma International Film Festival, and the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. My old middle school, the Presentation school was willing to donate 100% of my earnings to Breakthrough T1D, which I thought was very generous of them. My goal for this year is to continue my efforts, with expanding to other events with a hope to be able to continue my fundraising success.
Thank you Cristian! You make a difference!
