Over the years, some of us volunteers have learned more than just the names of the people who come. We’ve gotten to know the stories of some of the people who keep coming back for a portrait year after year.
Kayla Clements brought her family for a portrait for the fifth time this year.
In her first Help Portrait, her son Shane was three, his brother Jared was three and a half months old and Kayla was pregnant with her third child, Sophia, now four.
“What I like about coming here is that my kids and me get a real sense of family by lining up with all the other families. It’s so much more meaningful than just going to a private studio.”
She opens her photo album on her phone and shows off all of the family portraits Help Portrait photographers have given her.
“I love looking at them, over and over. I love the fact that I get to look back from year to year. I could never afford to go to a professional photographer every year. This is a real luxury for me.”
Javier Salazar smiles when he hears comments like hers.
“This year was our biggest event ever. We had an amazing team of close to 100 volunteers and we broke our record with 754 portraits given. However, I can’t quantify the joy I saw in the faces of the people attending the event, both volunteers and guests.”
By Ian Stewart
Pen and Lens Communications
To donate or learn more, check out their website!