“Help Portrait is about GIVING photographs, not taking them:” That’s the goal of Help Portrait, which happens around the world on the first Saturday in December.
In Edmonton, Help Portrait took place this year at the Boyle Street Community League
centre. More than 100 volunteers worked behind the scenes to make sure that everyone who needed a portrait walked away with an unforgettable photo and a memorable experience.
The volunteers include photographers, makeup artists and hairdressers who donate their skills and talents to make everyone look their best for their portrait. For some of the subjects, it’s the first time they’ve seen themselves in a professional photo.
It’s a moving experience, both for the people being photographed, and for the volunteers who help make it happen.
For the fourth time this year, I was one of the volunteer photographers. For me, what stands out most is the power of a photo to reflect the beauty of the human face. And, also, the joy that people express when they see themselves.
Most of the people who come for their photos are marginalized and could never afford to have their photo taken. Many are homeless. Over the years, several homeless men have told me that the portrait will be a gift for a family member, their eyes filling with tears as they hold the framed portrait. For men who are ignored by passersby every day on the streets, being able to present a portrait that truly captures their personality and humanity is clearly a memorable moment.
Javier Salazar is the co-ordinator of Help Portrait in Edmonton. He’s part of a movement that started in 2008 and has since given more than 381,000 photos to low-income people in 67 countries.
Javier welcomed me as one of the volunteer photographers in 2012 and like most of the volunteers, I keep coming back because it’s such a rewarding experience. I feel privileged to get to meet people I would never encounter in my everyday life.
Last year, one man named Dougie hammed it up for the cameras, lingering in the warm welcome of the Boyle Street centre for a couple of hours, sharing childhood memories of coming into the city from the farm to sell chickens with his mother.
Another woman told us that she had struggled with mental illness and was hospitalized for several months. Getting dressed up, having her hair and makeup done, boosted her spirits. The smile on her face said it all.
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