Hi Everyone,

I volunteered for the Help-Portrait event today at Chosen 300 in Philadelphia. It was an amazing event...I think we photographed about 125 underprivileged people & families for free just to make them smile & make their holiday season a little better.

We had about 6 or 7 indoor photo stations as well as a roaming photographer or two outside. The photographers also brought refreshments, picture frames & of course laptops & printers so we could provide instant gratification. That instant gratification was absolutely amazing...I had one guy tell me he hadn't had a picture taken of himself since grade school - now he is in his late 50's. Another asked for an extra print so he could give one to his Mother and the other to his Grandmother. My first portrait of the day was a mother and her 3 month old son; he was so cute! I had also stepped outside at one point to go get some more equipment from my vehicle and I was asked by one of our guests where the outdoor photographer was. Not hesitating I walked him across the street and took his photo in front of the old church. Once again he was very grateful and happy I created such a special moment for him.

The day went so quick we all wish it had gone longer & had more to portraits to create. Today was not about our equipment, our egos, our fees, or selling of our work. It was about one thing, giving. Giving portraits, giving love, giving hope, & giving our time to make a few people's Holiday Season a little bit better.

The gallery of photos are of the photographers, not of our subjects. I had a few minutes here and there to capture a few candids of our group of volunteers. Those volunteers all seemed to agree that we should be doing this year after year. I can only hope that Help-Portrait becomes a yearly international phenomenon for one reason. Giving during the Holidays.

Please stop back!

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