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...

Help-Portrait:: Behind the Scenes

Help-Portrait was a simple concept... a simple concept with such a profound impact on people... on both sides of the lens...

On 12/12 I got to be part of a historical day... maybe not historical for the history books (perhaps one day)... but quite historical to many... to the 17 photographers, make up artists, and volunteers in our West Palm Beach Group and the 153 subjects we gave free professional portraits to... Help-Portrait was a success! We partnered up with Foster & Adoptive Parent Association during their holiday party hosted by A Child's Cry for Help... in between eating, arts and crafts, and meeting Santa--- families came upstairs, got glamored up, and took some family portraits... to some, the only pictures they've ever taken as a family...

Help-Portrait became a world-wide event and even landed on CNN, CBS, and NBC news... all over the world photographers and volunteers were making people smile and laugh... making people say, "cheese!" or "Santa Claus!"... and something that will stick far beyond that day, making people feel special... as of today:: there were 36,000 portraits given by 3,002 photographers & 4,422 volunteers in 511 locations in 41 countries... that's the big picture... it was a very humbling experience... to be able to connect with people... not only connecting with colleagues in your profession, but connecting with people on the other side of the camera... I feel very special to be among an extraordinary group of such giving people... and that's what Help-Portrait is to me... it's about giving...giving beyond your services... your photography... your business... it's giving of yourself...

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give..." ~Winston Churchill

To protect the privacy of the families we captured, I can only share behind the scenes images... but just picture the smiles...and the excitement that day =)



make up artist Elysa, covering up this little guy's boo boo =(


a shot of Channel 5 camera man covering Help-Portrait =)


I love the look in her eyes... such pride and excitement as she got her make up done!




one of our photographer's, Freddy...






and our West Palm Beach Help-Portrait Group!! Can't wait until next year!


Thank you to Jeremy Cowart for sharing this brilliant idea with the world... thank you to my West Palm Beach group of photographers, make up artists, editing & printing crew, and the rest of the volunteers... Thank you FAPA for making us a part of your holiday festivities... and Thank you to A Child's Cry for Help for donating photo paper... it wouldn't have been a success without everyone's contribution... for that, I thank you!!

Help-Portrait

I'm proud to be a member of Help-Portrait... a member of something big... something beyond ourselves...centered around giving... "Help Portrait is a movement of photographers who are using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate this holiday season."

If you would like to be a part of the movement, please email me: jt.creativetouch@gmail.com... If you're a photographer, a make-up artist, a hair stylist, or simply someone who wants to help... I need all the help I can get =) The videos below give you an idea of what this is all about... a very moving, inspirational video that nudged me to join... it totally left me teary eyed...With that... I'll leave you with a simple quote that's quite fitting...

"Be the change you want to see in the world..." ~ Gandhi