Taking snapshots for charity

Photo shoot to benefit Jamesburg Cupboard

By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
   For shoppers searching out that one-of-a-kind Christmas picture to grace their mantels, they need look no farther than the historic Holmes-Tallman House at the corner of routes 535 and 522.
   The resident and owner of this national and state-registered historical site, Susan Schneider-Baker, has opened the mansion’s doors to the public for photo sessions to help support construction of the Presbyterian Church Deacons Food Cupboard in Jamesburg.
   The wedding cake mansion has a picturesque Victorian parlor trimmed with garlands and holly that is an ideal location for holiday photos, Ms. Schneider said.
   ”This is an opportunity not only to peek inside the house but to have your picture taken inside next to the Christmas tree, fireplace or on the antique chairs,” Ms. Schneider-Baker said in a press release.
   Local photographer, Bernie Long, who also is a freelance photographer for The Cranbury Press, will be on hand to take pictures and for a minimal fee, an 8- by10-inch colored picture will be available for patrons on location in a matter of minutes.
   The shoot requires a $25 sitting fee, and an additional $10 per person or per pet fee, which will go toward the cupboard’s construction.
   ”(It) would benefit the construction of the Deacons Food Cupboard’s new building and can be used as a tax write-off,” says Bea Davison, moderator of the deacons, in a press release.
   The 30-or-so families registered as cupboard recipients in 2002 have since grown to 125, prompting church officials to plan for a 30- by 60-foot freestanding building at the rear of the property.
   The photo session fundraiser has already brought in about $1,000 for the building, but Ms. Schneider-Baker said they still have a long way to go to meet their $35,000 goal. She said it’s also very important for the public to get a sneak peek at the mansion now as it is up for sale and may be hidden away from prying eyes in the very near future.
   ”Off and on we open up the house for the benefit of a charity,” said Ms. Schneider-Baker. “It’s a very rare occasion for us to do it.”
   For more information or to make appointments contact Ms. Schneider-Baker at 732-672-2790.
   Additional photos, various styles of photography and an outdoor photo session are available upon request and for an additional fee.