Nonprofit Trains MilSpouses to Build Portable Photography Businesses

By: Allison Stevens

Gabriel A. Pabellón Morales, a government contractor serving the US Marine Corps, was recently nominated for a job-related award. There was one catch, though: To proceed, he needed to submit a professional headshot, something he hadn’t needed in his previous position with the Army’s storied 82nd Airborne Division.

For assistance, Pabellón Morales, a disabled Veteran, turned to his friend, Aidinés Medina Matheu, a member service representative at a Navy Federal Credit Union branch in Maryland. Medina Matheu arranged a complimentary photo shoot at her home studio, made possible by Portraits For Patriots®, a nonprofit that supports the military community.

In addition to providing free head shots for transitioning Servicemembers, military spouses and Gold Star family members seeking employment, the nonprofit runs an academy that trains military spouses to be professional photographers, a skill they can carry with them when permanent change of station (PCS) orders arrive. The skills they develop during the program—along with the portable equipment—help them earn an income when moving across state or national lines.

“It’s really rewarding,” says Medina Matheu, one of 10 spouses enrolled in this year’s cohort, which is sponsored by Navy Federal.

Since January, she and her colleagues have taken a series of self-paced courses in portraiture and lighting. The credit union covers the cost of in-home studio equipment, editing software and other materials and also provides expert financial guidance around entrepreneurship and business ownership. Military spouses aren’t the only beneficiaries: Veterans like Pabellón Morales walk away with a free set of professional headshots they can use in cover letters, social media sites and other job-related materials.

“The Portraits For Patriots program not only honors our stories—it helps us reconnect with our purpose,” Pabellón Morales said. “It’s a powerful initiative that brings visibility and value to the sacrifice of Veterans and Servicemembers and reminds us that our mission doesn’t end when we take off the uniform—it just takes a new form.”

Jerome Tennille, a Veteran who manages Navy Federal’s equity and corporate social responsibility programs and partnerships, echoes the sentiment. “This partnership aligns with Navy Federal’s mission to support military families and transitioning Servicemembers to find meaningful careers after service,” he said. “We are excited to celebrate this partnership this month, Military Appreciation Month, and every month.”

Supporting MilSpouse Entrepreneurship

Medina Matheu got her first formal taste of snapping pics a few years ago while earning a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Puerto Rico. On a whim, she enrolled in a wildlife photography class—and fell in love with the craft.

Capturing flora and fauna on film taught her to appreciate the beauty of everyday landscapes, like the symmetry of water and sky cut through by a wedge of forest. It taught her to be still in a busy world to capture purple-headed dragonflies resting on a plant blade. To be patient, so as to glimpse rare species like parrots and boas native to her island home.

Her parents hoped she'd become a doctor, but Medina Matheu began to dream of a life of art, not science. While still in college, she launched a business specializing in outdoor portraits and event planning. But soon after, she discovered another love: a US Marine by the name of Christopher Morales Ortíz.

The couple married, and in 2020, Medina Matheu left her budding business to accompany him to Japan, per his new station orders. She initially tried to keep her business active but, like so many military spouses, had trouble building her client base in her new home. “When we moved to Okinawa, I knew literally nobody,” she said. “I needed to earn money, so I decided to pause my business and search for work.”

“A Great Opportunity”

Fortunately, she landed a position with Navy Federal, which operates numerous branches in Japan. She kept up photography as a hobby—and continued to practice it when Ortíz received his next PCS orders, this time to Maryland.

Medina Matheu transferred to a Maryland branch of Navy Federal, which supports military spouses who face frequent moves. There, she learned about the credit union’s support for the portrait academy, which she applied for last year. “I’m a very creative person,” she said, “and this was a great opportunity to get professional training in my craft.”

After she graduates from the academy, she’ll take referrals for volunteer sessions with Veterans from Portraits For Patriots. Doing so will enable her to continue to use the equipment professionally—in Maryland and wherever she moves next.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” she said, adding that the “cherry on top” is that she’s able to use Navy Federal’s paid volunteer leave to support the Veteran photo shoots. “I’ll continue with them as long as I can,” she beams. “It’s fun, and it’s a great cause.”

Medina Metheu isn’t alone, notes Sarah Firth, director of programs at Portraits For Patriots and also a military spouse-turned-photographer. “The Portraits For Patriots® Academy™ gave me more than just skills; it helped me discover a new way to serve with purpose. Thanks to Navy Federal’s support, I’ve been able to grow into a role I love—and I’m proud to … help other military families feel seen and supported.”

Learn more about the Portraits For Patriots Academy, benefits Navy Federal provides to team members and our commitments to members of the military community.