“Are you a professional photographer or hair/makeup artist? Are you a hobbyist photographer or someone who simply loves playing with other people’s hair and makeup? Most importantly – are you someone who’d be willing to give up a Saturday to love on someone and offer them hope during the Christmas season? Saturday – December 10, 2011 – Help-Portrait: Anderson, SC will be in full swing and I’d love for YOU to be part of it!

Last year (2010), we were able to give approximately 130 portraits to individuals and families. But more than that, people received smiles, laughter, and hope. We believe that we’re going to see even more people come out this year (150-200) to have their portrait given to them! Also, if you know someone who you think would love to have a portrait of themselves or their family who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford one, please tell them about Help-Portrait and that we’d be honored if they’d come see us on Dec. 4. If they have computer access or transportation to get themselves to The LOT Project building, that’s great; just forward them this blog link or give them the details. If not, I’d love to see YOU show up at Help-Portrait WITH THEM. Maybe you could serve someone you know by just providing them with the transportation necessary and spending the day with them.”

Here are the details for this year’s event in Anderson, SC:

Date:  Saturday, December 10, 2011

Location:  The LOT Project - Anderson, SC

Time:  11:00am – 5:00pm (setup will begin at approximately 9:30am)

Hopefully by now you’re saying to yourself something along the lines of, “Where do I sign up?!” If so, we’d really like to have you. There will be several roles in which you can help. Obviously, photographers are needed. However, we’ll also need greeters/welcome staff, hair/makeup artists (do not have to be professional!), refreshment servers, image editors, printing station staff, and just general volunteers willing to serve in whatever capacity we need. Do you think you could fill one of those roles?? If so, or if you have any questions, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post or contact me through the “Contact” tab at the top and I’ll be in touch with you ASAP. I can honestly say that Help-Portrait the last two years has been one of the highlights of my photography career. I am so excited to be part of this again this year and I really hope you’ll join us!

Last year, we were able to give approximately 60 portraits to individuals and families.  But more than that, people received smiles, laughter, and hope.  We believe that we’re going to see even more people come out this year (100+) to have their portrait given to them!  Also, if you know someone who you think would love to have a portrait of themselves or their family who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford one, please tell them about Help-Portrait and that we’d be honored if they’d come see us on Dec. 4.  If they have computer access or transportation to get themselves to The LOT Project building, that’s great; just forward them this blog link or give them the details.  If not, I’d love to see YOU show up at Help-Portrait WITH THEM.  Maybe you could serve someone you know by just providing them with the transportation necessary and spending the day with them.  Here are the details for this year’s event in Anderson, SC:

Date:  Saturday, December 4, 2010

Location:  The LOT Project – Anderson, SC

Time:  11:00am – 5:00pm (setup will begin at approximately 9:30am)

Hopefully by now you’re saying to yourself something along the lines of, “Where do I sign up?!”  If so, we’d really like to have you.  There will be several roles in which you can help.  Obviously, photographers are needed.  However, we’ll also need greeters/welcome staff, hair/makeup artists (do not have to be professional!), refreshment servers, image editors, printing station staff, and just general volunteers willing to serve in whatever capacity we need.  Do you think you could fill one of those roles??  If so, or if you have any questions, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post or contact me through the “Contact” tab at the top and I’ll be in touch with you ASAP. I can honestly say that last year’s H-P was one of the highlights of my photography career.  I am so excited to be part of this again this year and I really hope you’ll join us!

12.12.09:  The first annual Help-Portrait event was in full swing – and a much bigger swing than probably any of us thought possible.  What is Help-Portrait?  Help-Portrait is a shift in thinking for photography, a movement really, that was conceptualized earlier this year by one of the best photographers working today and one of my biggest influences, Jeremy Cowart.  The idea?  For photographers anywhere and everywhere to use their cameras to give back to their local communities by finding people in need, taking their portrait, and then delivering a final print to them.  Period.  No money, no self-promotion – nothing.  Well, except the opportunity to make someone feel beautiful, special, and loved.

So, this past Saturday, 12.12.09, I joined up with several other photographers from the Greenville, SC-area (even some from Spartanburg and Columbia) and set up at United Ministries in downtown Greenville from 10-4 and took portraits of about 50 different people.  Men, women, children, and whole families together.  It was without a doubt the most rewarding experience I’ve had yet as a photographer.  One of the last couples to come in told us they had recently been married and they came in to have their wedding picture made.  <insert tears>…and that was just one of the stories.  Those of us that were there are already talking about how to make next year’s Help-Portrait even better, and even possibly doing one in the springtime just because.  Just knowing that you’ve been able to use your camera to love on someone and watching their faces light up when they see their new portrait is indescribable and humbling in every way.  (Just in case you’re wondering why I don’t have any of the portraits from the day, it’s because the Help-Portrait community decided to respect the privacy of those in front of the camera by not posting their portraits online.)

So like I said earlier, the first Help-Portrait was much bigger than any of us dreamed it would be.  The final stats?  Approximately 36,000 portraits given by 3,002 photographers & 4,422 volunteers in 511 locations in 41 countries.  That is UNBELIEVABLE!  If you haven’t watched the video above yet please do, and if you’d like to be involved in the next Help-Portrait here in the Greenville area just add a comment to this post or use the contact link at the top to send me a message.  Keep in mind that to be involved you don’t have to be a photographer.  You can volunteer in a number of other ways such as greeting/welcoming, doing hair/makeup, being a set of extra hands, providing or serving food, etc.  The opportunities are endless.

If you’re reading this, you have been and are incredibly blessed.  Take the time this Christmas season to let someone know they’re beautiful and loved.  You won’t regret it.