Last year 100+ volunteers helped more than 800 of these residents get their free portrait a free portrait that shows them at their personal best, often as a needed tonic for low self-esteem or as a gift they can send to often-estranged family to show that they retain the dignity we all are born with.
On December 1, Free Portrait Vancouver is returning to the Carnegie Centre for a fourth year, with a goal of 1000+ portraits for DTES residents. This is significant in many ways; not only is the movement growing, but it's been welcomed by the DTES, which typically shuns outsiders from spending time there let alone with cameras. As the 'safe haven' of the DTES, Carnegie Centre typically doesnot allow photography in their space, but they have given Free Portrait Vancouver the privilege of hosting this event one day every year.
The principal photographer behind Free Portrait Vancouver is Jonathan Cruz.Photographers who have joined him include professionals Dan Ax, Deo Cruz, Ross Den Otter, Guy Roland, Robert Kappa + Jessica Venturi, Kyoko Fiero, Tim Kelly, Chris Haylett, Matt Haylett, Steph Schumann, Fabrice Grover, Richard Schmon, Lee Snelgar, Malcolm Parry from the society pages in the Vancouver Sun and Vancouver Magazine, and special guest photographer Tamara Taggart from CTV, who joins the fold again in 2012.
