Nov 04

Local Donation Funds

We recently announced that we would be setting up local donation funds for those of you who are wanting to offer tax receipts for donations. We regret to report that we’ve ran into some limitations with our donor software and won’t be able to provide those until we are able to get past them. We have contacted our software vendor and are hopeful that we’ll be able to set up local donation funds for each interested event. However, until then, we can only offer receipts for general fund donations.

Stay tuned.
Kyle

Posted on Nov 04, 2010  |  Category: Updates  |  1 Comment
  • Melissa Cales Melissa Cales

    How and Where do we get receipts for these general funds? Last minute hiccups are leaving the Dayton, OH group to need funds we did not initially anticipate. We have a great network of people we plan to ask donations from, but we need to know how to make it tax deductible for them.
    Melissa Cales | 23/11/2010 7:03 pm

Oct 28

Fast Company Includes Help-Portrait!

Today (28 Oct 2010) Fast Company included a post “When Brands Win Hearts and Minds They Have Nothing to Lose” that featured the Help-Portrait video.  Check it out here!

Posted on Oct 28, 2010  |  Category: In the News, News  |  No Comments
Oct 25

We need help!

If you’re not a photographer but would like to participate in Help-Portrait, we have an opportunity for you.

We are in need of at least two highly talented marketing people to help us between now and the end of year as we get ready for Help-Portrait 2010. Assignments will range from:

  • copywriting
  • connecting people on and offline
  • finding clever ways to get the word out about H-P
  • helping to identify and meet the marketing needs of the community
  • assisting the H-P executive director/marketing guy with the overall vision and implementation
  • email newsletters/community blasts
  • coordinating sponsorships
  • coordinating support conference calls
  • developing and executing social media strategies
  • writing and/or coordinating blog posts on help-portrait.com

Experience in the following areas are a must:

  • proven, prior marketing experience (at least 2 years)
  • knowledge in Ning.com and WordPress platforms are a HUGE advantage
  • copywriting
  • social media (facebook, twitter, etc)
  • PR

Requirements include:

  • 5-15 hours a week
  • Available for weekly status calls on Friday at 12pm ET

Please note that this is not a paid position. If selected, you will be credited as a volunteer of Help-Portrait, Inc.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm on October 30, 2010.

Application

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Blog (required)

Twitter (required)

Facebook (required)

Tell us why you're the right person for the position? (required)

Anything else?

Posted on Oct 25, 2010  |  Category: News, Updates  |  No Comments
Oct 18

Press Highlights 2009

2009 Media Coverage Highlights:

A huge thanks to the media outlets around the world that shared the Help-Portrait story in December 2009.

CNN News: Worldwide photo shoot turns camera on those often overlooked. More here.

HLN Headline News – Jeremy Cowart interview that aired five times 12.13.09

ONE.org Blog: Help-Portrait exists to speak to the hearts of poverty. More here.

NYDailyNews: Help-Portrait movement to give city’s poor free glamour shots. More here.

OC Register: A holiday gift for OC needy: family portraits. More here.

CBS Evening News: Give and Take.  More here.

CBS Nashville Talk of the Town: Celebrity Photographer Starts “Help-Portrait.” Watch the video.

CBS 4 Denver: Portraits Help Boost Self-Esteem For Homeless. More here.

WIVB Buffalo, NY: Org. gives dignity to less fortunate. Movement allows for those in need to have portrait. More here.

CBS Minneapolis: World’s Homeless Get Professional Portraits

CTV Canada: Photographers zoom in on city’s less fortunate. More Here.

CTV Canada Morning News: More Here.

KTVA 11 Alaska: Help-Portrait helps people in need – one picture at a time. More here.

CBS Nashville: Worldwide Service Project Created in Nashville. More here.

Relevant Magazine: Taking Pictures Against Poverty. More here.

Sirius Satellite Radio – The Catholic Channel

The Tennessean – December 18, 2009 LIFE Cover Feature

Positive Exposure – Issue 4 Feature.  More here. (pg. 36)

State-Journal Register (Illinois): Photography student gives gift of professional portraits to families. 23-year-old who grew up in Chatham inspired by worldwide movement.  More here.

The Oregonian: Portland photographers join worldwide Help-Portrait event. More here.

Posted on Oct 18, 2010  |  Category: In the News, News  |  No Comments
Oct 13

New website = work in progress

Hi Help-Portrait friends,

We are so excited to be launching this new site. We are hoping this new design and new features will be easy for you to navigate through. It is full of beautiful videos and inspiring stories from 2009, as well as helpful tips, information, and plans for 2010.

BUT.

There is a lot more we will be adding over the next few days. So forgive us if you see a hole or a gap or a lack of information that you want to see. We didn’t want to delay the launch any longer.

Also, it gives us the chance to hear from YOU-

What would you like to see on the site that isn’t there now?

What kind of blog posts would be helpful to you?

What can we at the Help-Portrait website provide to help you feel ready for your event on 04 December 2010?

Talk to us. We are listening.

Looking forward to 04 December 2010!

Posted on Oct 13, 2010  |  Category: Updates  |  8 Comments
  • Ali Ali

    Really happy about the fact that H-P has a new and its own website!! Kudos to everyone involved... :) Just wanted to say that I feel it's odd that there isn't an option to put down your website / blog / url link on your profile... and it's really important esp. since it's all about networking.
    Ali | 13/10/2010 7:34 am

  • stacy murphy stacy murphy

    How can we get t-shirts for 2010?????
    stacy murphy | 13/10/2010 1:59 pm

  • Ron Manke Ron Manke

    Looking forward to it... I've been planning already...
    Ron Manke | 13/10/2010 3:30 pm

  • Rick Lujan Rick Lujan

    Blog what other groups are doing right now to create energy and not to re-invent the wheel. I'd like to know how other groups may synergize with others as well as me to get started!
    Rick Lujan | 13/10/2010 7:33 pm

  • jenn jenn

    I'm planning an event in Vaudreuil Soulanges, Qc Canada and have tons of questions. We found a sponsor to pay for the printing, but my group of hobbist photographers, so we are looking for sponsors to cover the costs of lighting, etc.... We are also hoping to give away blankets and toys........ what are the rules around getting sponsors? Can we thank them publicly? Also, do we print our own t-shirts, or are you going to have a place to get them ?
    jenn | 22/10/2010 12:33 am

  • Sabrina Sabrina

    Last year I worked with one photog and we printed 4x6 prints for a nursing home Alzheimer's unit. Expanding this year - need better printing set-up!! I'm not a pro and do my own printing - so I don't have great contacts. Suggestions?
    Sabrina | 24/10/2010 12:59 am

  • Marcy Marcy

    Not necessarily blog related?, but I would love a place to *easily* look up different cities so I can send photographer friends, fellow classmates to the event in their closest town. Maybe a simple list?
    Marcy | 03/11/2010 4:54 pm

  • Rudi Rudi

    debbie - Hi Nani thats funy i like the shot!you should see whats going on on my faocbeok page i posted just one picture and every one is going creazy about you!
    Rudi | 21/11/2012 5:48 am

Oct 11

Community section update

With the launch of the new site, we are still working on a full new community section which should provide a lot more ways for people to find and be found…a win for all. As you might have heard, we had plans to move everybody from our current community platform (Ning) to this new site. Because we are so late into the 2010 Help-Portrait season, we’ve decided to run both platforms simultaneously and phase out the Ning platform in 2011.

We hope you are enjoying the new site. We’ll let you know when the new community section is up and available.

Enjoy.

Posted on Oct 11, 2010  |  Category: Updates  |  No Comments
Oct 07

How do I get involved?

Help-Portrait 2012 is just around the corner! We are so excited about 08 December 2012. After an amazing turnout last year, we can only imagine how many photographers will get involved and how many portraits will be given.

If you are new to the H-P site, or if you just need a refresher, here is how you get involved:

Head to our COMMUNITY SITE. Sign up there. For the last 14 months or so, this is where photographers and volunteers have gathered and discussed the plans for individual H-P events in cities around the world.

Once you have joined the COMMUNITY SITE, look through the LOCATIONS and see if there is an event scheduled already in your area. If so, join up! (Please make sure you check the date of the communication going on in your group/location- there are some residual 2009 things hanging out in the community space, so make sure there’s a 2010 conversation going on.)

If you’ve found a location in your area and joined, start planning with the other photographers and volunteers in that group!

If you look and there is no location in your area (or the group is from 2009 and no new communication has occurred), then feel free to start your own! Start your group and watch as people join up quickly from around your area.

Another option, if you can’t find a group to connect with on our COMMUNITY SITE, hop over to the HELP-PORTRAIT FACEBOOK PAGE and see if there is anyone from your area posting there.

If you sign up and can’t find anyone in your area to join with you, check out this blog post: WHAT IF I’M THE ONLY ONE?

——

We are so grateful for each and every one of you–photographers, makeup artists, volunteers– and  we hope you are able to find people in your area who share your passion of giving to those less fortunate this holiday season.

If you have any addition questions, email info@help-portrait.com. We’ll be happy to answer them and make sure you are able to be involved this year! Also, feel free to leave a comment if you have a question that you’d like to see answered for the general public.

We’re looking forward to 08 December 2012. Hope you are too!

Posted on Oct 07, 2010  |  Category: H-P Tips  |  2 Comments
  • Debi Beauregard Debi Beauregard

    I may possibly have two Help Portrait events in the works, one in Katy, Texas and the other in Richmond. What do I need to do to make them official?
    Debi Beauregard | 03/08/2011 9:10 pm

  • Andrew Hanson Andrew Hanson

    Hi, I take pictures and would like to donate my time and talents in the future. thanks, Andrew
    Andrew Hanson | 24/02/2012 3:48 pm

Oct 06

What if I’m the only one?

We know there are some of you who have signed up at the COMMUNITY SITE, started a group for your city or town, and you are the only photographer around.

For starters, just because you are the FIRST one to sign up on the community site in your area doesn’t mean you are the only one! Recruit other photographers or friends that you know and get them to join as well. Make sure you start a group at the community site so that any other photographers who join at a later date will be able to join up with you.

But- if you really are the only one- Is it still possible to have a Help-Portrait event on 04 December 2010 (or any day) if you are alone?

Absolutely.

Here are a couple of ideas for you if you are the only one:

  • Contact a local hospital. There is probably a children’s wing, or children’s hall that you could easily photograph in a day. You could then get the photos printed quickly and return them to the nurse/contact person to have the portraits delivered.
  • Contact a community center in your area. Explain Help-Portrait and see if they would be willing for you to photograph the people in the community center on Saturday, 12.12.09.
  • Contact a local boys or girls club. Check with the contact person to see if there would need to be permission from the parents, but this could also be a cool gift for the kids to take home to their parents!
  • Feel free to recruit friends or neighbors to go along with you. Even if they aren’t a photographer, it would probably be helpful to have a second person with you to keep up with who has been photographed, etc.
  • Photograph people around you. There may be people who need portraits that live very close to you- maybe even your neighbors! So think about people that you know- helping people in your own community is great.

If you are going to do this project alone, we think that is awesome! Just make sure you are in a safe place and have a contact person that you are in communication with at the local non-profit organization.

Posted on Oct 06, 2010  |  Category: H-P Tips  |  9 Comments
  • How do I get involved? | Help-Portrait | 04 Dec 2010 How do I get involved? | Help-Portrait | 04 Dec 2010

    [...] If you sign up and can’t find anyone in your area to join with you, check out this blog post: WHAT IF I’M THE ONLY ONE? [...]
    How do I get involved? | Help-Portrait | 04 Dec 2010 | 07/10/2010 12:16 pm

  • larry greenberg larry greenberg

    If Im the only one and go to a hospital, dont I need some credentials to show the people there? They dont know me from Adam and might think Im a whacko.
    larry greenberg | 20/10/2010 8:56 pm

  • mallory elise mallory elise

    I'm the only one because i live in a countryside town in Brazil, not many photographers around but plenty of neighbors in need of everything. I'm sticking to families with kids to help narrow down the number since this is a crowded neighborhood being the poorest district in the town.
    mallory elise | 27/10/2010 8:34 pm

  • Irina Mia :) Marennikova Irina Mia :) Marennikova

    good luck to you from Brazil! ;)) i just created a new group in Moscow (Russia) and am just HOPING that i won't be alone..))) either way,going to do it,with followers or just by myself. good luck to me too! =)
    Irina Mia :) Marennikova | 15/02/2011 6:05 pm

  • Armen Armen

    I am starting a new project in Gyumri, Armenia. This has never been done in that part of the country and I am very excited to do this.
    Armen | 25/04/2011 4:42 am

  • Anthon Anthon

    I was the only one, however I changed that, I am organizing a help portrait event in Peru, big change ;)
    Anthon | 09/07/2011 12:10 am

  • Anthony Anthony

    I am the only one. Amazing how selfish fotogs are.
    Anthony | 10/04/2012 9:22 pm

  • Vicki Vicki

    I wanna do this but nothing in the UK let alone anywhere near Swindon and Anthony is right selfishness!!
    Vicki | 17/10/2012 8:59 pm

  • Ed Ed

    WE will be the change we want to see in the world. I started a Models & Photography group on facebook a year ago, and I pitched this to them. Over 2 dozen photographers in that group, and not a single reply. But, I am determined to be "an angel" for my town. I will do this, even if I have to do it by myself.
    Ed | 15/12/2012 2:27 am

Oct 02

Help-Portrait Movement Unites Communities Worldwide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact & Inquires: Lori Mahon
press@help-portrait.com / 615-579-1266

NASHVILLE, TN –December 18, 2009 — Last Saturday, December 12th, the world stood still as photographers worldwide united in a photography movement called Help-Portrait, which gave more than 40,000 individuals portraits to treasure for a lifetime. On Saturday, more than 8300 photographers and volunteers participated in 715 locations in 42 countries.

Help-Portrait was founded by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart with his vision of the photography community and individuals giving back this holiday season. This event reached a magnitude that nobody saw coming.

“On December 12th, cultural borders were crossed on one side of the camera and competitive borders on the other,” reflects Cowart. “I honestly don’t know which side of the camera was blessed more. For many of our subjects across the world, Help-Portrait provided them with their first-ever family photo. However, we’re consistently hearing from many photographers worldwide that this is the greatest thing they’ve ever done with their cameras.”

Information about Help-Portrait has spread across the globe through the Social Media phenomena– Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Blogging. Cowart used his 10,000+ Twitter followers to help share information and vision about Help-Portrait, thus snowballing into this cultural event that gave back so much more than just a portrait to those in need.

In addition this movement has nabbed the attention of local, national and international media throughout the weekend and this week. Help-Portrait stories have been featured on CNN, CNN.com, CNN International, CBS Evening News, HLN Headline News, The ONE Campaign, AOL Philanthropy Project, Sears/GNN.com, BritneySpears.com blog, New York Daily News, CTV News (Canadian), Egyptian Satellite Channel and more. Those photographed all had a story – all unique and heartbreaking in its own way.

“Poverty steals a lot of things, like your home, car and food, but it also steals something on the inside. Help-Portrait feeds that something on the inside,” states Help-Portrait Event Coordinator Annie Downs.

Moved and inspired by the response from those who participated this weekend, the Help-Portrait team is thrilled to announce the 2010 date of December 4th. It is setting the precedent of future Help-Portrait events annually on the first Saturday of December.

Inspiring quotes from those impacted by Help-Portrait:

“The portrait,” he said, “Represented where I’m going, not where I’ve been.” – Phillip Jackovich, Help-Portrait subject, OC Register story

“One of the ladies at Help-Portrait today cried the entire time I took her photo. I said ‘Are those happy tears?’ She said, ‘Yes, very happy!’” – Millie Holloman – Help-Portrait Photographer, Wilmington, NY

“Giving a photo to a stranger gives you a unique opportunity to speak a kind word of encouragement, value, beauty and truth that isn’t quite as tangible without that photo to give your words context. It’s hard to argue with art when you give it positive meaning. It was profound how encouragement, value, self-esteem and worth were given through actions, words and the foundation? A photograph.” – Joel Mills -Help-Portrait volunteer, photo editor Charlottesville, VA

“Today was the one of the best days I have had as a photographer and as a human being.” Kwame Reed – Photographer, Brentwood, California

For more information on Help-Portrait: Visit the official website (www.help-portrait.com), follow the H-P team on Twitter @help_portrait (Hashtag #helpportrait), be a friend on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/helpportrait) and watch the official YouTube videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/helpportrait). Videos from around the world can be found on the YouTube tagged page here: (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Help-Portrait&search=tag). Photos from the events posted can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/help-portrait/.

- ### -

About Help-Portrait:
The goal of Help-Portrait was simple: 1. Find someone in need 2. Take their portrait 3. Print their portrait and 4. Deliver their portrait. This movement began just over four months ago with the YouTube video launch from Cowart. Help-Portrait was formed by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart as he contemplated using his skills and expertise to give back to those who may not have the opportunity for a professional photo. The idea is that a photographer has the opportunity to help someone smile, laugh and to remember – it is a movement, a shift in photography.

About Jeremy Cowart:
Cowart began full-time photography in 2005 and has traveled to 6 continents with his talent. He’s photographed Imogen Heap, Sting, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood and more. He’s also worked with entertainment clients ABC, E!, Fox, A&E, FX, The Style Network, CMT and more. You can view his photos and learn more at: http://www.jeremycowart.com/ or read his blog: http://blog.jeremycowart.com/ and follow him on Twitter @jeremycowart .

Posted on Oct 02, 2010  |  Category: News, Press releases  |  No Comments
Oct 01

Official Press Release!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact & Inquires: Lori Mahon
press@help-portrait.com / 615-579-1266

NASHVILLE, TN –December 18, 2009 — Last Saturday, December 12th, the world stood still as photographers worldwide united in a photography movement called Help-Portrait, which gave more than 40,000 individuals portraits to treasure for a lifetime. On Saturday, more than 8300 photographers and volunteers participated in 715 locations in 42 countries.

Posted on Oct 01, 2010  |  Category: Press releases  |  No Comments

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