Ken Demery Photography · Triangle, North Carolina

Honor the people
who make a
difference.

A legacy portrait partnership for the people whose leadership, generosity, and service deserve to be remembered.

Apply for a partnership ↗Explore the partnership

A smiling NC Arts in Action honoree, photographed by Ken Demery — NC Arts in Action · Honoree portraits2026 / 01

Recognition, made permanent.A selective partnership for nonprofit organizations

Partnership story

NC Arts in Action

2026 honoree portraits created before the organization’s recognition event.

View the case study →

The need

NC Arts in Action was preparing to recognize people whose leadership and support helped advance the organization’s mission.

The partnership

Ken Demery Photography created a coordinated series of portraits of the organization’s honorees before the event.

The result

The organization received a consistent collection for its event communications, while honorees received something personal and lasting.

01 / The purpose

Personally created.
Thoughtfully preserved.

Some contributions deserve
more than a moment
of recognition.

Every year, nonprofit organizations gather to recognize founders, volunteers, philanthropists, educators, advocates, business leaders, and community builders. Their accomplishments are announced—and then the evening ends.

The Honoree Portrait Partnership makes that recognition more permanent. Professionally guided portraits help organizations tell honorees’ stories before, during, and after the event while creating something enduring for the people being celebrated.

How the partnership works

Four intentional stages.

Select the people whose contributions deserve recognition.

We begin with your organization, event, and honorees—then align on portrait use, number of participants, and creative direction.

Create a professionally guided portrait experience.

Ken personally photographs each participant in a relaxed, intentional session. Honorees simply arrive; Ken takes care of the rest.

Celebrate with consistent visual storytelling.

Selected finished portraits may support your recognition and promotional communications.

Gala programsSocial mediaPressPresentationsDonor communications

Preserve the recognition beyond the gala.

Honorees may receive a professionally produced gift portrait—something personal that can be held, displayed, shared, and passed down.

03 / The offering

The gala is one moment in a much larger story.

Event photography documents what happened that evening. The Honoree Portrait Partnership celebrates the people who made the evening necessary.

Portraits are typically created before the event, giving the organization finished imagery for the storytelling leading up to the celebration.

Portrait from the NC Arts in Action honoree collection — From the honoree collectionKen Demery Photography

Partnership scope

What may be included.

Pre-event planning and creative consultation
Coordination with the development or gala team
Portrait scheduling and professionally guided sessions
Individual, couple, and group portraits when appropriate
Professional image finishing and retouching
Selected images licensed for approved nonprofit use
Professionally produced gift portraits for honorees
Coordination of final image delivery

Typical in-kind partnership value$3,500+

There is generally no photography fee charged to a nonprofit selected for an in-kind partnership. Scope and value are established before the project begins.

Who we work with

Organizations that believe recognition matters.

Designed primarily for established nonprofit and community organizations recognizing meaningful service, leadership, philanthropy, or community impact.

Organizations should generally serve Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Durham, Chapel Hill, Morrisville, or the greater Triangle region. Only a limited number are selected each year.

Meaningful recognition or fundraising events
Identifiable honorees, donors, or community leaders
An active development program
A commitment to donor stewardship
Communications that can put the portraits to work
Galas, awards, lifetime achievement, or volunteer recognition programs

Beyond the gala

The people behind your mission have stories worth preserving.

Ken also creates portraits and visual stories around donors, volunteers, leadership, community partners, and the people whose lives have been impacted by an organization’s work.

About Ken Demery

Portraits meant to live beyond the moment.

Ken is a Triangle-based portrait photographer whose print-first work preserves not simply what someone looks like, but who they are and why they matter.

Learn more about Ken ↗

A word from the photographer

“Important photographs deserve
a life beyond a screen.”

Ken Demery · Founder, Ken Demery Photography

Frequently asked questions

Questions, answered.

Is there a cost to participate?

There is generally no photography fee for a nonprofit selected for an in-kind partnership. The project scope and in-kind value are agreed upon before work begins.

Does every organization that applies receive a partnership?

No. Because each partnership requires significant planning and production, only a limited number of qualifying organizations are selected each year.

Do you photograph the gala itself?

The partnership is distinct from traditional event coverage and centers on intentionally created honoree portraits. Event photography can be discussed separately if needed.

When are the portraits created?

Portraits are typically made before the event so finished images can support communications leading up to the celebration.

Where are the portraits created?

Location is planned with each organization based on the honorees, creative direction, scheduling, and intended use.

Who owns the photographs?

Ken Demery Photography retains copyright. Selected finished images may be licensed for agreed nonprofit recognition and promotional uses.

Apply for a partnership

Tell us who deserves to be recognized.

A limited number of in-kind Honoree Portrait Partnerships are offered each year to nonprofit and community organizations throughout the Triangle.

An application begins a conversation; it does not obligate your organization or guarantee selection. Applications are personally reviewed by Ken Demery Photography.

Begin your application ↗

Prepare your application

Complete your application details below and download a copy for your records.

Your contact

First name *

Last name *

Email *

Phone *

Title / role *

Organization

Organization name *

Organization website *

Organization city *

501(c)(3) nonprofit? *

Briefly describe your organization’s mission. *

Event & honorees

Event or recognition program *

Event date *

Event location *

Event website

How many people will be honored? *

Approximate guest count

Please tell us briefly about the event. *

Honoree names, if available

What are these individuals being recognized for? *

Why were they selected for recognition? *

Have the honorees already been selected? *

Partnership fit

How does your organization currently use photography to tell stories?

Why is your organization a good fit? *

Is there something about an honoree we should know?

Does your event recognize in-kind partners? *

How did you hear about the partnership?

Anything else about how the portraits would support your event or mission?

Honor the peoplewho make adifference.