A SWINDON snapper is taking festive family pictures with a difference to raise money for charity and bring some seasonal joy as the country battles against the Covid pandemic.

Vadym Gurevych from Old Town took pictures of families, couples and babies back in the summer to raise money for Prospect Hospice and to document people during lockdown.

Smashing his target of £1,500, he ended up raising £1,800 after taking pictures of more than 20 families.

This time he’s doing it for Cancer Research. “The cause is very close to my heart because I’ve had family and friends diagnosed with cancer several times,” he explained.

“This Christmas is going to be very different after everything that has happened and I want to give people something to hold on to, something that is traditionally good.

“Christmas is about family, being festive and cheerful and it’s something normal and I want to bring a bit of normal to people’s lives again.

“It’s so important to support these charities, especially after everything that happened. Cancer Research is a hopeful charity which is working to help save lives, to help find a cure, I want to help the millions of people affected by this disease.”

The 42-year-old keen amateur, a member of our Swindon and Wiltshire Camera Club, usually takes pictures of wildlife and his family.

But he told the Adver: “I felt the need to do something during lockdown, I saw someone doing it in Surrey and I thought it was great.

“I chose Prospect Hospice as the first charity because they looked after my friend who had cancer.

“It was very well received by the people who live in Old Town, Liden and other areas around Swindon. So I’ve decided to do it again and I’ve been taking photographs of people in parks.”

Vadym has already taken portraits of a family, Eva Grace, Cristina and Serghei Sirghii, in the Town Gardens.

And he did another shoot with Olya Lambourne wearing a wreath on her head.

“People won’t be going to have a photoshoot done for Christmas like they normally would,” he said.

“I want to give them that opportunity to dress up in festive jumpers, wearing reindeer antlers and getting to be captured during this time, whether that’s on their doorstep or in a park.”

The sessions cost £35 with £10 going to the charity.

To book a photograph and support the fundraiser visit preciousmoments.photo