Click here or the image above to follow Help-Portrait events globally through Instagram photos tagged #HelpPortrait.
Hey guys,
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-
Heather LaBone
What about those of us that are doing an event on a different day? After the expiration date?
Heather LaBone | 14/12/2011 3:00 pm -
Dennis
Heather, i think help-portrait is to be done everyday except for the date where it is set so we could do it globally at the same day.
Dennis | 17/12/2011 4:39 am -
Johny
Heather, did you ever find a solution? I didn't get my pictures processed in time to use this coupon...
Johny | 18/12/2011 1:59 pm -
Heather LaBone
We are holding our event January 7, a great way for families and individuals to start off the New Year. We all couldn't get together for the December date, and heck I think I found the project a week before. We will work it out, was just curious about all the incentives and those who aren't doing the same day if we still get same perks. :)
Heather LaBone | 27/12/2011 12:47 pm
Dec
09
Help-Portrait Is Here!
This is it! The third annual Help-Portrait is about to begin. We can’t tell you how excited we are to see this movement grow to the size it has – thousands of you in 56 countries across the world are signed up to make a difference in people’s lives in your own communities this weekend. We’re thrilled at the level of teamwork, camaraderie, compassion and resources that will come together to allow others to feel valued, seen and heard.
As Help-Portrait 2011 begins to roll out across international timezones, we wanted to give you a few last-minute reminders.
EVENT REPORTING
Most importantly, don’t forget to track and report your numbers. We’re looking for the number of photographers, volunteers and portraits given. At the end of the event, head over to http://bit.ly/help-portrait2011 and fill in the details. This allows us to share the global impact of Help-Portrait with the public, media and potential sponsors. This helps us engage more photographers so that next year, we can do even more.
MEDIA LOVE
- We’d love to get #HelpPortrait to trend globally on Twitter Saturday so be sure to use that hashtag.
- We’ve seen that many of you have already gotten wonderful media coverage in your local papers and from local news stations. We’d love to see and keep a record of these links. Send us the details using this form http://bit.ly/HP-Press-2011 so we can share it with community.
- Create a CNN iReport for your Help-Portrait location! We’ve got a step-by-step tutorial on our blog. At your local event, capture a compelling brief video or photo(s) or so of what’s happening. Give an overview of your event and interview an organizer or participant about what the day has meant to them (don’t forget to get release forms signed).
SHARING PHOTOS
Lastly, we can’t wait to see your photos this year. Whether you upload on your personal blog, local Help-Portrait site, Facebook, Flickr or other means, please make sure to include the Help-Portrait watermark, get the proper release forms signed, and include “Help_Portrait” in the file titles so we can see the photos when doing a Google Image Search.
We’re anticipating great things this year. Let’s go!
-Jeremy & the Help-Portrait team
Nov
19
How Does Help-Portrait Help?
Artists have created self-portraits since the beginning of time. Historically, an artist’s self-portrait has been known “as a public test of the artist’s skill.” A self-portrait, in artistic circles, could prove your worth.
Not only that, but wealthiest members of society have always commissioned portraits of themselves and their family as a way to prove their social standing. Painted portraits became especially popular from the Renaissance period on, where what you had hanging on your way reflected your place in society.
While the technological development of the camera, film and then digital brought photography to the masses, professional portraiture still remains a luxury most of the world cannot afford.
So when celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart began to dream of a way he could give back to his local community, two things became obvious: He’d use his camera, and he’d invite other photographers to join him.
Help-Portrait is a global event each December when photographers, stylists and other volunteers team together to give, instead of take, photos. The name turns the phrase “self-portrait” on its head, placing the focus on helping others.
The premise is simple:
- Find someone in need.
- Take their portrait.
- Print their portrait.
- Deliver it to them.
But why photos? What about the tangible needs of these people?
Good questions.
First of all, Help-Portrait events are independently organized, but most groups often work with local nonprofits to find their subjects. When doing this, groups not only set up set up backdrops, lights and makeup stations in homeless shelters, hospitals and poverty-stricken areas to give portraits to those who would never otherwise have them, they often provide a hot meal, clothes, shoes and a safe place for kids to play for the day.
We do meet physical needs. But we also believe the photo provides the most value. At these events the portrait becomes more than a representation of a person’s likeness or a keepsake. It becomes a receipt of an exchange between individuals, and the currency is dignity, courage, love and hope.
“Poverty steals a lot of things, like your home and car and food, but it also steals something on the inside,” Annie Downs, Help-Portrait’s Events Coordinator said. “Help-Portrait feeds that something on the inside.”
For many subjects, this photograph may symbolize the start of a new life, a celebration of sobriety, the first time one has ever felt beautiful or the only family photo that now exists. Phillip Jackovich, a Help-Portrait subject, surmised, “This portrait represents where I’m going, not where I’ve been.”
For many photographers, this experience may be the most fulfilling of their career to date. They may walk away with altered perspectives and newfound friends. Cowart says the event crosses cultural borders on one side of the camera and competitive borders on the other.
When people come together to work toward the common good, something magical and tangible is produced. It may look like picture, but it’s often worth more than a thousand words.
How would you answer the question, “How does Help-Portrait help?”
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Help Portrait – 10 December 2011
[...] Find out more about how Help-Portrait helps by clicking here. [...]
Help Portrait – 10 December 2011 | 19/11/2011 6:28 pm -
Lee
I remember coming across a conservative blog last year that was critical of H-P, It said in part that how could giving a person a portrait of themselves really help with issues like drugs and mental illness that homeless deal with? One only has to witness the incredible boost in self esteem and in some cases tears of joy that come when people who struggle so much see a their portrait created by people who care.
Lee | 19/11/2011 10:00 pm -
laura bednarski
great project jeremy. Years ago I too was bothered by the fact that only the wealthy could afford good pictures of their family. So glad you started this.
laura bednarski | 28/11/2011 2:17 am -
Somai
Shirley - What a wounerfdl idea! So proud that you two are going to take part in this event. It touched me, and I’m sure it will touch all those you photo. Shirley
Somai | 06/02/2012 9:07 pm
This tutorial shows you how to use our new Help-Portrait Photoshop templates for HP Photo uploads.
Nov
10
Join Us on Google+
Help-Portrait is now on Google+ …. check it out, +1 us, add us to your circles, then share with your followers!
This is a guest post from Frank Doorhof, who helps lead Help-Portrait in the Netherlands (help-portret). This is a look at how he got involved and how the Dutch do Help-Portrait.
My name is Frank Doorhof and I’m based in the Netherlands. In “normal” life I’m a fashion photographer specializing in teaching workshops and shooting artists and models (and everything that is interesting in short).
When I joined Kelbytraining and taught my first PhotoshopWorld I got the chance to meet up with a photographer I really looked up to, Jeremy Cowart. And although we all are normal people (some more normal than others) Jeremy struck something with me, not with his photography (which I love by the way) but with the “other” work he did, one being Help-Portrait.
Now let’s make one thing very clear, I’m really busy as is Jeremy, but sometimes you just HAVE to do something, no matter what the costs, and while hanging out with Jeremy and getting to know him a little better I knew that I wanted to participate in Help-Portrait for 2011. But that is not really something I wanted to do small scale.
I knew there were some participants in the Netherlands in the previous years, but I really did not hear much in the media, or forums, magazines, etc. So I thought that it would be great if we could get all the Dutch photographers together and make a real fist towards the media, and as the saying goes over here “many hands make work lighter.”
I could not image that the responses would be so overwhelming.
We started a website with a small forum where people could join the “movement” and where could meet each other. Before we knew it there were so many people wanting to participate that I decided to assign certain regions to certain people.
After this the most difficult part started, and that’s getting the media into the project, somehow the media seems to be less than interested in the project. The main problem is that they want a “famous” person in the “picture,” so at the moment we are just doing that.
In November we will release a Dutch theme song for Help-Portrait by a female singer and we hope that this will get us the media attention we need to make it a bigger success. However even if we don’t get the media attention it will probably work out fine. At the moment our team is contacting several organizations like the Salvation Army, local authorities, nursing homes, and we’re trying to get them to include small flyers for the people to visit help portret.
For our own location we have secured a wonderful school building. We choose this location because it’s in the middle of Emmeloord but still a bit hidden, meaning people can park in the shopping center and walk to the school and enter it without people seeing them. I’m doing the Help-Portrait sessions in my hometown, and we have a smaller community meaning some people will feel a bit hesitant to enter the building if everyone can see them going in; often people are a bit proud and don’t want to admit they are in need of help. In the bigger cities this is less of a problem and I know that some region heads have secured larger buildings that are easily accessible.
We will greet the people with coffee, tea and cake (the cake will probably be made by a nearby restaurant that has a lot of mentally challenged people working for them; in exchange for the cake we’ll give them nice images of course).
In our location we will setup seven studios. Each photographer will have his/her own studio and shoot tethered to a laptop. These images will be send to a NAS in the meeting space (which is nice and large and is in the middle of the studios) with the numbers of the studios. People can go there and choose with our editors the images they like, and they will be printed by Epson printers and given to the people.
One studio will be fitted with a large white seamless and people will be asked if they’d like to leave a note on they print. One print will be given to them and one print will be shared for the Help-Portrait movement with their story.
I don’t know how the other locations will work, this is how we work, but we communicate this to the region leaders and I think in the end it will all look a bit the same.
Our running projects at the moment:
We secured one of the largest printers in the Netherlands, Oypo, to take care of ALL printing we need on locations were the photographers cannot print themselves, they will also make a special space on their harddrive for all images with 0% margin, so people can order more or make posters etc.
This week has been very hectic with interviews and press releases that have gone out to all media, plus we are contacting some artists I know to see if we can get them on board to push the media.
It’s an ongoing battle, but we are 100% confident that Help portrait will be a huge success over here, the people are working REALLY hard, we’ve seen books with hundreds of pages of plans and region leaders running it like a small movieset with setlists, press releases etc., and some people are just doing it alone.
For the people who are participating we are now in negotiations with a printer to get small door posters with the Help=Portrait logo. This is why we think the media is so important: the logo has to be recognized by people.
Helping with that for the month November we have several so called “stopper” adds in a lot of magazines that are released nationally and are well read.
One thing I would like to add:
When I started organizing this I set one goal. I wanted Help-Portrait to be the best experience for the visitors in the Netherlands, but I also realized that if we were to communicate with the media it had to be uniform, so I clearly stated that national attention had to be run through our team, the reason for this is very simple. As a photographer I don’t need the attention of the media, I want to concentrate the focus 100% on Help-Portrait. Up until now all media attention has worked this way and has gone rather flawless.
Every country will do it differently of course, and every country has people with different needs. In the Netherlands there is some need for help but we have a reasonable good social system so we are a bit more flexible with the people we will help, I know for example that in some areas there is also a focus on visiting people in care houses, hospitals and street children. In the end it all boils down to one thing.
Give a message of hope.
Let people know that they are still there, and that there are people who care.
The hidden sadness of people can be irrelevant about having just enough money but it’s a feeling of not being worth anything and being forgotten, with Help-Portrait in the Netherlands we will also aim for those people and let them know that also they are worth having a great photograph.
We wish you all a GREAT 10 December, and our hats are off to Jeremy for getting a world movement into motion.
Introducing the vision for the 2011 Help-Portrait event on 10 December 2011. Founder, Jeremy Cowart, explains how we’re doing things a little different this year.
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Sher
Help Portrait Project
Sher | 03/11/2011 6:15 pm -
Sally White
Sally, Eric and I were thinking that we could come take portraits at the DHC. See the attached video. The participants would get a copy that they could give for a holiday gift, we could post a copy at the DHC. They don't have to give one to pat on line, altho some might want to. What do you think? Let's talk more if you're interested. Julia
Sally White | 05/11/2011 5:44 pm
Oct
25
The Future of Help-Portrait
We recently announced some big changes to Help-Portrait. 1. We’re going to start showing the photos if the subjects want us to. 2. We’re going to have them draw and write on their actual photos and tell their stories. 3. We’re going to hand the cameras over and let them do some shooting.
I’m so excited to show you what this looks like, finally.
I ran a small Help-Portrait event Sunday in downtown Los Angeles at what’s known as “The toughest block in the U.S.” We were at the Union Rescue Mission at Skid Row. I’m new to LA and had no idea what to expect. But I was excited about trying all our new ideas this year: showing the photos, telling the stories ON the photos, having people sign model releases, handing the camera over, etc…
Here’s how each went:
Handing the camera over: Easy. No-brainer. They loved it. I had several people telling me about how they had wanted to be a photographer in the past but had to give up due to their situation. Their eyes lit up when I told them that they could be the photographer this time. It was a big deal and made me really excited to hand over my camera…
Showing their photos: Every single person happily signed a model release. (We’re absolutely okay if someone doesn’t want to. We will always respect and honor those wishes.) But each person was almost giddy at the idea of their photo being splashed on our website and on the Internet. In fact, some of them asked me to “promise” them it would go online. They asked for our web address and wanted to know when they could see themselves on the Internet (we’re working on a solution to that right now). Just like the photos themselves, this is also something we take for granted: having our photos online. It’s very special for someone to have a nice picture online that they can send to relatives, etc., especially in time for the holidays. This new direction was a big hit.
The stories on the photos. I printed at least two pictures of every image – one for them and one for us. For our picture, they wrote something ON the photo. I told them to write anything. Literally anything. Whatever the day meant to them, or whatever they wanted to say to the world or about themselves. This was their chance to speak their minds. I don’t have to explain how powerful this was. You can see for yourselves below.
With all these new additions, it made it very clear that this year is going to be more special than ever. I cannot WAIT to see the stories and photos that emerge from your events in a few weeks.
Til then!
Jeremy
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em
this is absolutely beautiful. so excited about this.
em | 25/10/2011 5:00 pm -
adhit
i love the idea, that's wonderful thing
adhit | 25/10/2011 5:06 pm -
Dan Falvo
Love it. !!!
Dan Falvo | 25/10/2011 5:08 pm -
Ivona
I love this...love everything about it. The mother/daughter photo got to me...
Ivona | 25/10/2011 5:09 pm -
victoria mitchell
i can not wait to see the action here in Nashville! super pumped :)
victoria mitchell | 25/10/2011 5:13 pm -
Dani
God bless you all
Dani | 25/10/2011 5:13 pm -
lise
beautiful!
lise | 25/10/2011 5:17 pm -
david
Great twist to a great project.
david | 25/10/2011 5:19 pm -
Eric
Awesome... what a great way to give back. Can't wait for this year!
Eric | 25/10/2011 5:19 pm -
Heather
What an awesome thing to do! Just made my day seeing this and the good you have done.
Heather | 25/10/2011 5:19 pm -
Jack
This is much more inspirational than thanking the photos and just giving it to them. I love it.
Jack | 25/10/2011 5:34 pm -
Erin
Amazing! How empowering.
Erin | 25/10/2011 5:34 pm -
Andre
This is awesome. Really looking forward to the big day!
Andre | 25/10/2011 5:40 pm -
Sohail Khwaja
most wonderful idea. Kudos.
Sohail Khwaja | 25/10/2011 5:42 pm -
jana
amazing. so beautiful and powerful it made me cry. keep up the good work.
jana | 25/10/2011 5:59 pm -
Kari Nichols
I don't know any of these people, yet can't wait to see the next picture & read the writings of each one of them! You do such important things, and they're all based out of the perfect place in your soul!!! I would love to be a part of this someday soon!
Kari Nichols | 25/10/2011 6:08 pm -
Tara Leigh
This is incredible. I love their faith! So encouraged by the people in these photos.
Tara Leigh | 25/10/2011 6:10 pm -
mightymission
Amen!
mightymission | 25/10/2011 6:10 pm -
Gail
The portraits tell part of the story, the messages tell more--wonderful idea!
Gail | 25/10/2011 6:34 pm -
Leroy Skalstad
With all the hardships that come from living on the streets the one thing I remember the most is the loss of individuality. Thanks Jeremy for helping raise awareness that each person is a unique soul. Leroy, Formerly homeless Vietnam veteran .
Leroy Skalstad | 25/10/2011 6:46 pm -
Jorge Ivan
I am no longer associated with the photographer who introduced me to your project. I do remember however that there was an agreement with an entity that had agreed to donate 8 X 10 prints. It might have been Wallgreens. Is that still in place? I'm considering offering my services and recruiting make up people and maybe hair stylists but can't afford the printing costs. Please advise. Thank you.
Jorge Ivan | 25/10/2011 6:49 pm -
We Could All Take A Lesson From JEREMY - Kari Nichols Photography
[...] recently read Jeremy Cowart’s post on HELP-PORTRAIT and was so incredibly inspired! Recently, Jeremy ran a Help Portrait event at Union Rescue [...]
We Could All Take A Lesson From JEREMY - Kari Nichols Photography | 25/10/2011 7:19 pm -
z. lynn
Beautiful!
z. lynn | 25/10/2011 7:44 pm -
Help Portrait 2011 « Portnoy Media Group
[...] This past Sunday Jeremy Cowart was working his magic for the next chapter of Help Portrait in 2011. In keeping with the tradition of Help Portrait from previous years they’ll be respecting the privacy of any and all who would like to have their portrait taken but this year they are asking those who are being photographed to share their story. Jeremy just posted an update with the vision for this years event – Check it here [...]
Help Portrait 2011 « Portnoy Media Group | 25/10/2011 7:57 pm -
Jen May
It was definitely an incredible event--looking forward to doing it again on Dec 10th!
Jen May | 25/10/2011 9:30 pm -
Stewart Uy
For a few years now I"ve been taking portraits of the homeless people i've come across and was able to spend some time with. I love what you're doing here and I praise God for putting into your heart reach out to those who are looked over. I wish I had the materials to allow people to write on their photograph! That idea is genius!!!
Stewart Uy | 25/10/2011 11:06 pm -
Daralynn
This is awesome!
Daralynn | 26/10/2011 12:53 am -
Branden Harvey
I love this.
Branden Harvey | 26/10/2011 1:16 am -
Ivan Boden
Awesome.
Ivan Boden | 26/10/2011 2:12 am -
Scott Huck (@scotthuckphoto)
this is fantastic! I can't wait to participate again this year!
Scott Huck (@scotthuckphoto) | 26/10/2011 2:15 am -
che roa
SUPERB! <3
che roa | 26/10/2011 2:17 am -
Kathy Fulton
The BEST!! So inspiring and honest.....beautiful!!
Kathy Fulton | 26/10/2011 3:44 am -
Holly
WOW....speachless.
Holly | 26/10/2011 4:28 am -
Richard Danter
Inspiring.
Richard Danter | 26/10/2011 9:08 am -
Teena McMichaelname*
LOVE IT !!!!! This is a wonderful idea! Whoever thought this one up deserves a medal. May this help many, mant ppl. And open the eyes of those who can help.message*
Teena McMichaelname* | 26/10/2011 12:59 pm -
Mark Bush @ Catchlight Photography
I'd love to see this done in Evansville! Count me in!
Mark Bush @ Catchlight Photography | 26/10/2011 1:10 pm -
Lilimar
WOW!!! Amazing how much a stranger can teach you if you take the time to listen to their story.
Lilimar | 26/10/2011 2:48 pm -
Connie Riley
GREAT pictures & stories of how GOD is working in their life. Thank you for sharing this. I want to help in DALLAS area, just day and time hasn't worked out. I want to take pictures. Blessings
Connie Riley | 26/10/2011 3:43 pm -
Help Portrait Hosts Pre-Event at URM | Union Rescue Mission
[...] information about Help Portrait and photos Please Click Here blog comments powered by Disqus [...]
Help Portrait Hosts Pre-Event at URM | Union Rescue Mission | 26/10/2011 3:46 pm -
Wonderful Wednesday – Skip1, Steve Jobs, Love My Dress, » Alex Beadon Photography
[...] absolutely loving where “Help Portrait” is going, and what they have achieved so [...]
Wonderful Wednesday – Skip1, Steve Jobs, Love My Dress, » Alex Beadon Photography | 26/10/2011 5:04 pm -
Thank You All Who Have Signed-Up!
[...] 1. These photos can NOT be used for your portfolio. But we can share photos with the subjects story ONLY if permission is granted by the subject. Releases will be available. Stories can be shared here, on your personal blog, the official Help-Portrait site, etc as long as it abides by release rules (don’t portray the subject in a bad light, and remember these photos are to create a sense of worth so be careful with how you present them). You can find out more here: http://help-portrait.com/2011/10/the-future-of-help-portrait-2 [...]
Thank You All Who Have Signed-Up! | 26/10/2011 6:32 pm -
Shannon McFerren
NOW I'm excited! This will touch them, but God will touch me more, I have a feeling.....
Shannon McFerren | 26/10/2011 8:28 pm -
Juli L.
This is so wonderful! Thank you to all of you for sharing. What beautiful people! :)
Juli L. | 26/10/2011 8:40 pm -
Jenny Hansen
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! You guys are truly amazing! Such an inspiration!
Jenny Hansen | 26/10/2011 9:02 pm -
Matt Carter
I loved seeing all of these photographs with each person's unique individual touch. Thank you for doing this. I know it's encouraging to not only the subjects of the photos, but also to myself and everyone who sees these images. Thank you for serving and glorifying God the way that you do through Help-Portrait!
Matt Carter | 27/10/2011 5:57 am -
Charlene Chavez
This is great to lift up their spirits and remind them they are people and that they matter no matter what their story is!
Charlene Chavez | 27/10/2011 5:28 pm -
~AR
Awesome! Love the idea! The personalization of the portraits is extremely moving! I'm going to talk this over with the other photographers that are doing the event I'm doing the H-P event with this year, and I know we're going to use some of these ideas! Great job! Do you happen to have a PDF of the release you used? Would make good resource material for the event.
~AR | 28/10/2011 7:37 pm -
Happy Monday – Fun Finds #8 « Tuuli Platner Photography
[...] Help Portrait is one of the best ways to use photography for good – and here’s the evidence. [...]
Happy Monday – Fun Finds #8 « Tuuli Platner Photography | 31/10/2011 8:59 am -
Stephanie D
All of these amazing photos made me cry. I love their stories and the new changes. Can't wait to be part of this amazing event this year!
Stephanie D | 10/11/2011 9:34 pm -
Help-Portrait: Photographers giving back through photography « The View From Here– laurensouch.ca
[...] become the photographer. The folk over at Help-Portrait did a mini event this past weekend, and the stories and photos shared on their blog are truly [...]
Help-Portrait: Photographers giving back through photography « The View From Here– laurensouch.ca | 30/12/2011 5:44 pm
where my pix?
Alma Clark | 13/12/2011 2:36 am