If a picture is worth a thousand words, the success of the Help Portraits Day, held Nov. 24 at the Community Living Guelph Wellington building here was worth a thousand smiles.
“The idea came from American photographer Jeremy Cower,” said Karen Brodie, who organized the local event on behalf of the Guelph Photographers Guild (GPG).
Cower, a celebrity photographer, started Help-Portrait in 2008 as a global community of photographers coming together across the world to use photography to give back to people in need who are not often able to afford traditional opportunities of family portraiture.
The local event was the fourth of its kind, the second organized by Brodie, who coordinated the event with members of the GPG, in partnership with Community Living Guelph Wellington and Christian Horizons to offer free portraits to the clients of both organizations.
“The families are really excited,” said Kim Aitken of Community Living. “It’s nice having it central so people from the north can come down.”
Aitken said between both organizations, people from Mount Forest, Ennotville, Harriston, Orangeville, Guelph and the Waterloo region joined in the day.
“We’ll probably see more than 100 people before the day ends,” Aitken said, adding that groups such as Kerry’s Place were invited to participate.
“We couldn’t have done this without our host partners,” said Brodie. “Community Living have been incredibly generous hosts, providing us with a location and handling the registration. Christian Horizons has been great too.”
Brodie is also grateful for the support of her photography community.
“The Guelph Photographers Guild donated their time and talents, their equipment, printers and ink,” said Brodie.
More than 90 people registered for the one-day event, and many more took advantage of the walk-in option, to enjoy the full range of services, including professional hair and make-up, suits and accessories provided by Sidonios of Guelph, and a professional photo shoot in one of four studio set-ups.
“It’s really all about the experience; making someone feel good, making them feel special for a day,” said Brodie.
Hairstylist Susan Rice, who works with photographers, volunteered her services for the first time at the event. She worked alongside Shaelyn Zhang and Ashley Martin, who applied make-up with careful respect for their client’s preferences.
“I thought this was a great cause and I wanted to help out,” Rice said.
Sitting in Rice’s chair, Crystal Van Ee of Mount Forest was enjoying having her hair styled.
“It’s awesome. I don’t have to do it for once,” Van Ee said. “I think this event is awesome. I was looking forward to it. I haven’t had a photo taken since high school.”
“Many of the people today came with their support workers, some with their families,” Brodie explains. “Many of these people have never had a photograph taken.”
Photographers brought along props like reindeer noses, fun hats and other accessories to encourage playful photos, or offered traditional set-ups for a formal photo.
Milton Young, an amateur photographer from Fergus, said this was his second year participating and the event is one of his favorites.
“It’s a fun day with people who enjoy taking photos and there is a reward at the end of the day when the people we photograph take away their picture,” Young said.
He also enjoys the camaraderie of working with his fellow photographers.
“I look forward to it and it’s a really great group of photographers, not just our guild members, who take part,” Young said.
Added Brodie, “After the photos are taken, the digital disk goes to the editing station, where several photographers are on hand to help the clients choose the best photo of the session. We make it a very interactive process.”
Volunteer photographer Stephen Just, of the GPG returned to support the event this year. He worked at one of three stations in the printing area.
“I love it. It’s my second time participating. I wouldn’t miss it,” Just said, as he handed a portrait to one of the Community Living clients. “That’s what the day is all about … giving them a good day.”
Each client received a CD of all the photos taken and two 5X7 prints of the best image, with a ceramic oval teddy bear frame with the words “I love you” on it, as a keepsake of their day.
“Upstairs in the art room, they take the second photo and are invited to decorate it with stickers to make it a special memory,” Brodie said. The finished, decorated image is scanned so the photographers can also have a keepsake of their efforts, before the original is returned to the client.
“I think this is an opportunity to have something a lot of us take for granted, to be photographed,” said Aitken. “It’s a chance for families to get together and get photographed. They are pretty pleased with their photos. They get something to take home.”
Photographer Nick Law, organizer of the Guelph Help Portrait Day being held on Dec. 8 at Hope House (75 Norfolk Street), said his event will include hair and make-up, but there will be differences in his event.
Taking part in the Fergus event, Law said he enjoys Help Portrait Day events because of the changes he sees in the faces of the clients.
“This actually gives them so much confidence. It’s amazing how taking a picture can do so much,” said Law.
Young agrees. “We want to give them something they’re really happy with when it sits on their mantle,” he said.
For more information on Help Portraits visit www.help-portrait.com.
To contact the GPG, visit www.guelphphotographersguild.com.
