Training Photographers in Arts and Media

As part of our three-year Daring Faith campaign, Saddleback is training 25% of our members to be global leaders in the church and ministry, in business and the community, and in the arts and media.

To help reach this goal, our PICS ministry (Photographers In Christ’s Service), recently launched a Mentoring Program to train volunteer photographers who have a passion for photography and a heart to serve God and our church.

After a soft launch in early 2018, the Mentoring Program officially went into full swing this April. Not only does the training offer budding photographers the resources and tools to advance, but it also invites them to join the larger PICS community. In turn, existing PICS members have a channel to serve as mentors by offering advice and one-on-one feedback.

“The Mentoring Program is a way to help connect our members to the PICS ministry and guide them toward becoming successful in photography,” explains PICS Team Leader, Joe Hernandez. “We encourage every PICS member to have a mentor, be a mentor, or both. The idea is to get connected each month with someone in PICS who can help them grow.”

As just one of three training levels that PICS provides, the Mentoring Program is part of the overarching vision to offer: Skills Training (seminars, classes, photo walks, to advance in a Christian environment), Team Training (equipping in campus, baptism, ministry, families, or support) and the latest venture — Mentoring Program (personal instruction, support, and advice). 

This three-part training helps funnel volunteers into other training avenues within the ministry.  Once at the mentoring level, volunteers can discuss skills such as framing, image processing, Photoshop, and on-site assistance. However the greatest takeaway is the encouragement and community they’ll find through the Mentoring Program.

“Our mentors are not expected to know everything or have it all figured out,” says Joe. “Instead, they can offer advice and even help figure things out together. Most of the time, our mentors connect with members informally and talk over coffee about ongoing projects or challenges.”

These connections allow for volunteers to reach out to mentors for help, or simply be pointed toward additional resources.

As one of the oldest ministries at Saddleback, PICS launched in the early 80s with just a small group of photographers. Today it’s made up of about 300 members who document special events across all 19 campuses. Upon request, they also provide photographs for sermons, advertising, website support, ministry promotion, community outreach, and church events.

For Joe, one of the most rewarding events to capture is baptism. “We provide a photographer for almost every baptism at Saddleback,” he says. “Our team also partners with other Saddleback ministries to serve the community.

On behalf of the Military Ministry, PICS volunteers are often on location to capture soldiers returning home or being deployed. In addition to hosting seminars, the PICS team is also on hand to photograph worship services and special events — often with family portrait opportunities at Easter, Mothers, Day, and Christmas. 

To be part of this powerful ministry, and learn how PICS is impacting the community, visit saddleback.com/pics.