iheartfaces: "random acts of kindness"

This week at iheartfaces, they are celebrating random acts of kindness -- and asked photographers to share stories of such.  Last year, I was lucky to have been a part of such an extraordinary experience... I was part of "Help-Portrait" -- a movement of photographers giving back to the community... the idea of help-portrait was simply -- "to give pictures, not take them"... it was a chance for professional photographers {all over the world} to work together in their community, find people in need, and simply capture them, and give them professional images -- for free... We had professional hair and make up artists, professional photographers, and lots of volunteers on hand to help make sure the day went smoothly... Our West Palm Beach group captured families & children from the Foster Care Association during their Holiday Party... most of these children moved from place to place and had never even gotten school pictures taken... these families didn't have much, but they gave what they had and opened their homes to children who -- didn't have a home, who didn't have a family... we met so many caring families -- so many heroes that day... families who never had professional pictures taken before... families who couldn't afford much, but gave all the love they had to these children..

It was the most humbling experience... working with other professionals in the industry... not competing with each other, but working together... seeing the families excited to get their hair and make up done... to see the excitement of the children... to see the excitement of the families getting "family" portraits for the first time... and to see how special they felt... that was the point of the day... to make them feel special... and to show them how special they were... it was a special day for all of us...

some behind the scenes...


look at the sparkle in her eyes... she whispered to us that she's always wanted to get professional make up done...


Robyn (the girl helping with the sign) was wonderful in getting the kids to smile...


they loved seeing their pictures... and the look on their face when they got their prints -- priceless!


Freddy, one of our photographers of the day...


and this little doll was shy... but I caught this playful moment =)


the news camera man capturing the event...


me with a very excited mother...


here's our west palm beach team... a group of incredibly talented & giving people...


and here's the official 2009 recap of the event from around the world... makes me cry every time... (please scroll all the way down & turn the music player off so you can watch the video)


click below to read more warm "random acts of kindness...