Photographer Chris Kennedy has heard a lot of compelling stories as a volunteer with Help-Portrait Vancouver the past two years.
"One story that really touched me was of a young mother and her little girl who had never had their picture taken together before," said Kennedy. "And now they have a beautiful portrait together they can keep."
This year, Kennedy and a small army of volunteer photographers, makeup artists and hairstylists broke away from Help-Portrait to launch a similar movement, called Free-Portrait Vancouver.
"This way we have more control over what happens to the pictures after we take them," said Kennedy. "We'll own the images so in the future if we want to put them together for a fundraising project we can. We don't want to exploit anyone."
Help-Portrait was founded by American celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart in 2009 when he put out a call to photographers around the world to pick up a camera and use their skills to give back to their communities. Cowart's idea allows participants with little or no financial means an opportunity to have a professional portrait taken, complete with hair and makeup, should they choose.
Kennedy said while he was happy to be part of that initiative, he and photographer Jonathan Cruz of Gastown Photo wanted a more local approach this year. Cruz is the lead photographer for Free-Portrait Vancouver, which takes place at the Carnegie Centre this Saturday (Dec. 10).
Kennedy and Cruz hope participants, including homeless people, will feel more comfortable having their picture taken once they know their portrait will remain and be used locally.
"Free-Portrait is an extension of a core idea shared around the world, but our vision is to have the event benefit the Downtown Eastside community," said Cruz. "We believe this single day is a beginning."
The debut Free-Portrait event has support from Carnegie Centre staff, Aveda Institute for hair and makeup, Future Shop, Canon Canada and Homewerx. Lighting for the event is being supplied by William F. White Vancouver, which provides equipment to the film industry.
The goals behind Free-Portrait Vancouver are simple: Invite people in need, provide them with a safe venue where they can have their portrait taken, print their portrait in less than 24 hours and give participants their picture without charge.
"It's great to be able to give a beautiful picture to someone who doesn't have the access or opportunity, to show their family," Kennedy said. "They can have their hair and makeup done to be as beautiful as they want to be or just walk in off the street and have their portrait taken as is."
The Help-Portrait project also takes place globally this year Dec. 10, but the Vancouver version of the event was held last weekend at Union Gospel Mission. To accommodate the event, Union Gospel built five temporary studios at its Downtown Eastside mission. More than 40 photographers and 12 makeup artists and hairstylists volunteered their time to get their subjects ready for their close-up. Once their portrait was taken, participants were given two copies, a Christmas card and enough postage to mail a copy to a friend or family.
Free-Portrait Vancouver organizers are looking for volunteers to help with their event which runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Carnegie Community Centre, located at the corner of Main and Hastings streets.
Twitter: @sthomas10
