The first Saturday in December since 2008 has been Help Portrait day.  All over the world on this day photographers get together to give back to the community.  For one day a year it's not about us.  Not about our lighting systems, gear, or how many likes we can get on Instagram.  It's about giving back to the community that we live in and helping those in need with a photograph.  You may say, "How does a photograph help anyone?"  For the less fortunate this might be the only time they can have a family or self-portrait done of themselves.  They can't afford to go to a photo studio and pay the prices that we charge.  It builds self-esteem for them, because for one day they are very special to the photographers who are taking their photo.  People who may not be noticed any other time as we just pass them by.  But on this day we can give them a portrait that makes them smile at how good they look.   Maybe they will make them gifts for loved ones.  At any rate the first Saturday in December is their day.  This project was started by Jeremy Cowart in Nashville, a celebrity photographer, when he and his friends had an idea, a very simple idea.  First, find someone in need.  Then take their photo and give it to them.  That's pretty much the idea.  We as photographers do not post the final portrait on the internet, no logos or watermarks, no advertising of any kind.

My photography club does this event every year and treats it almost as a workshop, because we are amateur photographers and this is a chance to pull out our studio lights and shoot and learn.  This year we had three photo stations set up.  I was mentoring a young lady who is getting her photography degree, and she had to get some equipment for her classes but hadn't used them much.  So I helped her with setup of the lights and made sure that they were set so she would get good exposure, the nerdy stuff.  She didn't need any help with arranging the clients and taking the photos.  She was a natural at that.  Some Help Portrait locations give food, clothes, toys for the kids, and do hair and makeup.  We did not have hair and makeup this year but have in the past.  This year we supplied refreshments and I think coloring books for the kids and books to take home, I believe.  There are many jobs to be done at the Help Portrait, not just photography.  There is manning the registration desk, refreshments, editing and printing, framing of the photograph, makeup artists, runners for the photographers, and people to help the clients. All very important jobs.  My job for the last couple of years is to be the documentary photographer and photograph the event.  I set up time lapses, take photos, and do some small short videos to create a small video that we can put on our website for others to see.  So you don't need to be a photographer to do Help Portrait.

It's the holiday season.  Let's think of those less fortunate than ourselves and give back.  Next year, Help Portrait will be on the first Saturday again, so start planning now.  If there is a photo club or organization in your area, look them up and see if you can help.  Here's a link to the video that I created this year.  Please check it out.

Help Portrait 2018 GAPC Goldsboro NC