help portrait

Dec 8, 2012 a bunch of photographers around the world woke up excited, wondering what their day would bring them: Help Portrait. I was one of them, though my role that day was not of the photographer, but of an editor.

My mom (hair & make-up specialist)

and I @ Help Portrait

What is Help Portrait?

"We don't want to take you picture. We want to give it to you, free." This is the Help Portrait slogan seen plastered on all the doors of the Hope House; where we have transformed a gymnasium into a photo studio.  It is now equipped with a hair and make-up area, two portrait sets, and editing printing and framing stations - not to mention snacks and live music for our customers. 

Members of the community who would normally not afford a portrait session; whether for a family, individual or maybe newborn, have been invite to come on this day for that very purpose and leave with a framed picture and a disc with all their images. 

Stories of the Day:
There was one family that had a brand new, one month old baby with them. The father looked like he'd once been a rock star, with his long flowing grey hair and tattooed face. The story he told was of how he had surprised his wife with this Christmas family portrait. She hadn't even known where they we headed until they walked though the door of the gym. 
There was another family of 9, all boys but the youngest. They came and filled a backdrop and when they reached my station made comments about how good each other looked in the pictures. No making fun, "only positive" comments as their mother had asked. 
Another fellow came and had his picture taken with a picture of his baby daughter. A few people even brought their dogs!

Click Here to see a 

VIDEO of the day

The next one will be Dec 7, 2013. Maybe I will see you there. HelpPortrait