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Atlanta based editorial music photographer, Zack Arias. |
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Wed , August 26th, 2009
under News,Philosophy
From following Jeremy Cowart’s twitter feed, I knew that this video was in the making and now it is up! Jeremy is today’s guest blogger on Scott Kelby’s site. This is a great idea. A few photographers here in Atlanta are already on the ball with getting this organized locally and our crew is ready to jump in and do whatever we need to do to help. Be thinking about it for your town as well. More info should be up later today on the Help-Portrait site according to a statement on Kelby’s blog. http://www.twitter.com/help_portrait Help spread the word! Cheers, 81 Responses to “Help-Portrait :: By Jeremy Cowart”Leave a Reply |
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This is very very cool. Jeremy is one of my favorite photogs.
Heya Zack,
Will definitely spread the word!
Watch out Dubai – December 12th!
Charles
I’d like to get involved with the Atlanta crew if you need any help!
This is great, I’m already getting ideas and feeling excited about it. Taipei, Taiwan is on board.
I’ve spread the word on my blog and have put out the call to all my photographer friends and on http://www.meetup.com on all the photographers sites. Let’s make this a global success!
I am going to be in Paris during that time, so if there is a Paris, Fr group forming – or people that would like to form a group there – email me/connect with me through my website!
I’d love to be a part of it!
[...] Vía | Zack Arias [...]
It’s a little silly actually..
“Ohh look at me, I’m a photographer and I am sensitive!”
Come on now.
AWESOME! I would love to be involved in the Atlanta Group as well.
Zack,
Same here. If you need any help, let me know. Love to help and give back.
Dave
Fort Worth, Texas is on board! Thank you for sharing this awesome idea! We already have the neighborhood chosen! They are going to love this. What a blessing.
Werd!!! This sounds like fun. Any Austin peeps wanna collaborate?!?
I’m totally in for the Atlanta crew!! Please post an update if you have information about what the organizers need Zack. Thanks a bunch!
heya Zack jeroen here from the netherlands,im spreading the word in here
great idea
Sounds great. And thats what I have plenty of time for to spend. So Frankfurt, Germany will join. Hopefully I won’t do this alone!
[...] Zack Arias – Atlanta based editorial music photographer » Help-Portrait :: By Jeremy Cowart http://www.zarias.com/?p=452 – view page – cached From following Jeremy Cowart’s twitter feed, I knew that this video was in the making and now it is up! Jeremy is today’s guest blogger on Scott Kelby’s site. This is a great idea. A few photographers here in Atlanta are already on the ball with getting this organized locally and our crew is ready to jump in and do whatever we need to do to help. Be thinking about it for your town as well. — From the page [...]
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is on board.!
Got the ball rolling in Springfield, TN! Been going 100 mph since early this morning!
This is really cool. If there are any in the Detroit Area that want to put this together, let me know – I am IN!
I am so down…you will see this happen in Alaska on Dec 12
Hey Zack,
I am also here in the Atlanta area. I’d love the opportunity to team up and shoot with you guys here in town. Please keep us updated as this develops.
E
NJ in the house on 12/12. This is great. Thanks.
already getting together some gtc photo students. 5 deep and counting.
Hello Everyone,
My location is Okinawa, Japan!
I’m interested in forming a group here.
I’m a newbie but I’m willing to make a difference!
Thank you!
I am booked into shooting a wedding on the 12Dec. but I love the idea and will contribute in a small way here in Australia. I will spread the word here in Oz and gift a portrait to someone in need. Take care and I hope your efforts bare fruit at the end of this rainbow of an idea.
Great idea, great outcome in perspective. Will look forward to get involved.
All the best!
Going to get involved this is just the kind of greatness that is needed to help. Joined the mail list, was hoping there would be something more that would be auto sent.
Suddenly brainstorming ways to help.
I might see if there is somewhere to set up. Got my mind running nice and early and I’ll be spreading the word today.
[...] Source and Read More: zarias.com [...]
This is fantastic and hopefully all than can do this will either jump on this project or find others ways to do similar things in their communities. My job has me doing technical photography, but on my time my wife and I find ways to do things like this in our community. Such as shooting Christmas portraits at the local home for unwed mothers, portraits of the Head Start Program kids, high school senior portraits for families that can’t otherwise afford it and volunteering at the local hospital in the infant bereavement program. My point is that all of the things mentioned in the promo video are true and the gift of a portrait is invaluable to the recipient and the photographer.
Zack,
I would like to help in Atlanta if you need it.
I’m in!
I’ve signed up and I’m making calls.
Hey Zack, I’m in Atlanta and would love to help out with this. Not sure where the Atlanta folks are coordinating though. I have gear including several alien bee lights and a 12ft white seamless paper bg. Let me know.
Oh and I’m a graphic designer for a living so I could help in that arena too.
I love the fact that he doesn’t want to see the pictures. It gives you a “What’s in it for me” reality-check.
SO amazing. I love this idea. Can’t wait to make some calls and get this going.
I am in, hopefully something really big organizes in Illinois where we can all joing and give back.
East Peoria here!
Ricardo
This is awesome. Kudos to Jeremy Cowart. This is the stuff that will change the world. I just started to plan on a shoot and sent a message to all of my Facebook peeps to help in making this thing amazing! Thanks!
@ Comment #8
Kind of like…
“Oh look at me, I’m an anonymous commenter and I’m cynical.”
I’m sure the families who are going to benefit from this project are all going to sit around and think the same thing you are. Well done.
Cheers,
Zack
Hi Zack,
I’m also willing to help out in the Atlanta area.
Hey guys, just wanted to send out a big, heartfelt THANKS. I’m just overwhelmed at the kindness here and so excited about all the different states and countries involved already! So cool. I can’t wait to see all the people blessed this Christmas. You guys rock!
jeremy
taking yourselves so seriously.
ALOHA FROM HAWAII!! Thank you for sharing this on your blog. Hawaii will be participating
[...] Help-Portrait [...]
I’m there like a bear.
Cape Town, South Africa
Anyone else in CT keen?
hey Atlanta photogs….Help Portrait Atlanta is in the works…feel free to contact me
Zack and his team are going to be a great resource but not necessarily taking the point.
we can either make this one huge event, or each of us can serve in our local community and make a wider impact spread out over the city…just hit me up and we can chat
thanks!
GREAT idea. I’ll do my best!
[...] to Zack Arias promoting Help-Portrait, I got a chance to see a new non-profit initiative unfold to give portraits [...]
What a great marketing campaign! Fantastic publicity for you guys… Great idea, it looks like loads of people are buying it too! F.A.B
This is something you can do every day in your profession. I recently shot an editorial shoot for an agriculture digest. It was of a tomato farm that grew, packed, shipped, and sold their own tomatoes. When I finished the shoot and ftp’d the client’s selects to them, I had prints made of the out takes. Seeing some of the immigrant workers in my images, at work, began to move me. I printed a 5 x 7 of every worker who showed up in my shots. I traveled the 170 miles to the farm on what I knew to be payday. With the farmer’s permission, I stood in his office and gave the prints to each person who passed through. The look of wonder, amusement, and gratitude on their faces as they looked at and shared their pictures with each other was so much more rewarding than the job itself, it was amazing. I’ve never appreciated this profession as much as I did after that.
hahahahaha… zack, you smart@$$ genius.
yeah, the kids who couldn’t afford their senior pictures, and the single moms who get a family portrait, and the homeless guy who get a shot to carry in his backpack will all speak in unison, as if it were directed from above:
“this. is. silly! these schmuck sensitive photographers always giving their few precious free moments to me for free.”
well, i am planning on doing whatever i can in my little town. by the way, zack, the anarchists and hippies say “hi, come visit.”
Is there anything going on in central Illinois? I’m in the Champaign/Urbana area.
Thanks,
Paul
Be on the lookout for an email from me re: the one we’re organizing in ATL.
Word.
I’m going to organize this in Montreal for sure this is such a freaking good idea…. Tks Zack for sharing this!
Awesome! If anyone in Denver, Colorado (or Colorado Springs) is interested in working with me to get this all together, e-mail me at info@sweetfeetphotography.net
sign me up for the south dakota group!
[...] Help-Portrait thing popped up on @zackarias blog (watch the vid) today and I think I need to come up with a plan to be a part of it in some [...]
I am there for Denver! Posted the video on my blog and announced to Mile High Photographers!
Please let me know what is the next step!!
What a great idea! Can’t wait to gt involved!!!
I’m in the UK Zack. I plan to get involved in this amazing project, the concept is wonderful.
What an awesome idea.
One thing: A little grammar error. Sorry, I’m a nerd. “What’s This is about”. What This is about or what’s this about, what’s this is about doesn’t make sense.
I will be partaking in this. It’s awesome.
[...] wanted to share the video I founded on Zack Arias’s blog . I think it’s a great [...]
I’ll see what I can do in Melbourne, Australia
We did free portraits for a WOW Jam event in our town. http://wowjam.com/ They do something like a street fair where everything is free. Food, haircuts, games…. even somebody to rock your baby while you eat. Everyone can get a free professional family portrait taken. We averaged one family every three minutes for two straight hours. The pictures were good, we were exhausted. but the experience was so rewarding. This organization hand delivers every family portrait as an opportunity to have further contact with the families and invite them to a local church. I can’t tell you what a wonderful feeling it is to go into a rather poor community and do a free family portrait for anybody who wants to stand in line and have one taken. I loved it. 3 minutes for family is really far outside of my comfort zone since I like having 2 hours with every client but sometimes we need to work outside of our comfort zones to develop new skills.
I am excited about the Help-Portrait day. Unfortunately, every time I mention it to local photographers they look at me like I have 3 heads, except for my regular second shooter. But I’ll just do it without them. I am disappointed because I would love to see it be a really big event locally but even if we only do a dozen on our own it’s totally worth it.
Hi Zack,
I have been a voyeur on your site for a long time. You do great work.
I am in the ATL area. I will be glad to help with a group project. Otherwise I have an idea on my own. If you or someone else wants to spearhead something, please shoot me an email.
I think this is just a good reminder, for me personally anyway, to use our time and talents selflessly. We love photography, we own the equipment, and we know how to take portraits.
Ask yourself why YOU love portraits of your own family, and you’ll see why this would be such a HUGE gift. Open your eyes and see the people in your city who can’t even afford to go to Sears studio or even buy their own camera and take pictures of their own kids. THOSE are the people I want to seek out and serve.
Yes, #8, we’re photographers, and we’re sensitive. What are you? Whatever you are, I hope you’re not a photographer. Because you’re oblivious to the true value of a portrait, and that sure makes for a crappy photographer.
Whether you want to participate in “Help Portrait” or not, at least try to avoid being a selfish ass about the talents you’ve been given.
I’m in. Anyone in San Francisco coordinating/organizing/looking for volunteers?
I am on in Klamath Falls, Oregon… what.. never heard of Klamath Falls? Well I’m still doing it..
[...] recently posted a video from a guy named Jeremey Cowart. This video has inspired me. It’s made me sit back and [...]
Hey Zack, great post. I’ve covered the project on our live broadcast and over on my blog. I’m definitely going to do my part here in my town.
This is such a great thing! I’m pumped!!
ATL info for those local folk looking to participate: http://www.help-portrait-atlanta.com/
GREAT IDEA. Absolutely love it. Thank you for this. I will be taking part.
Zack, Jeremy, Scott and everyone involved in this project: Thank You.
Diego
I’ve been working with a lot of local models and been doing free shoots to help support the local talent
http://www.briandavisphoto.com/gallery/deploy/index.html
I’m a photographer located in Japan. I’m married to a career AF service member. We were previously station in GA and this is how I know this family. Since I’m not located close by to take their pictures I was hoping someone would take the Butler Family pictures as their Help Portrait. Since the situation is unique the pictures will need to be taken asap.
Please do not take theses photos if your intent is dishonorable. This family has gone thru a great deal and they do not need anyone trying to make money off of them.
Thank you very much for reading my post. I hope that God touches someone’s heart for this family.
Thank you and God bless you~ Denise
Proud Air Force Wife!
A little information on family:
TSgt Aaron Butler returned home from a 4 month deployment on 31 August just to be rushed to the local ER to join his wife, Jamie.
His infant daughter, whom he had only spent a matter of weeks with, was being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
The family moved from one hospital to the next during the course of the night, finally arriving at Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville, Florida.
Their daughter Charlotte, Charli as they call her, under went surgery on 2 September and Doctors are confident that they removed the entire tumor and that her spine is clear of tumors.
Her cancerous tumor is called medulla blastoma. She has the classic type of this tumor which isn’t the best case, but it isn’t the worse. For that, we are thankful. They have newer, more intensive treatments now, and this is what they will use to treat her. It is a blessing that they believe the tumor hasn’t spread, but they will test her spinal fluid on Sept. 17 or 18 at the same time they do surgery to put in her chemo port. A few days after that (Sept 21) they will plan to start her treatment cycles every 21 days, 6 cycles.
To read further about this incredible family please go to Praying for Charlotte Elisabeth Butler on Face book http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123236387769&ref=nf
Okay so I did my part this weekend. I reached out to a local Christian rock group who were in dire need of some promo photos and had zero funding to pay a pro. I took one light and softbox and hit the local church.
Results here: http://www.alanlougher.com/blog
Overall we were all happy with how they turned out.
Yeah! Things are really coming together for the Atlanta based Help Portrait planning! We have 3 locations already!
I don’t see the point. While this is definitely an interesting project for the photographers, I really don’t see the benefit for the people photographed. “Hey, homeless guy, I know you’re starving right now, but I have something for you, a glamour shot of you in your dirty clothes. Isn’t that something?”
No. It’s not. Instead of wasting your own and the peoples’ time, why don’t you spend December 12th in a poor feeding or a clothes distribution program. You know, a photo won’t keep you warm and I don’t think they’re very nutritious either.
Dearest Steven,
Please take a look around your own community. Are homeless people the ONLY people in need?
How about the single parent just trying to make ends meet who can’t afford a portrait session for their children?
When did the homeless become the only people who need help? This isn’t for the homeless. Homeless people have more institutions to give support than some people who have jobs and pay rent each month. Once that rent is paid, photos of their family are WAY down the list of priorities. What you are saying is this… “People don’t need photos of their kids and their families.”
You can hand out a meal that will last for one single day.
You can take a portrait that will last for years and years and years.
Not saying feeding the poor isn’t important. But when is the last time anyone gave a damn enough to take some family portraits for those who could not afford it.
Open. Your. Eyes. There are more in need then the homeless. They live next door to you. We, as photographers, have something to give.
Enough said.
Cheers,
Zack
I created a Group which will shoot on 12.12. in Cologne Germany.
It’s a great thing to be able to do something like this.
Thank you for sharing!
WOW !!!!!!!! I can not believe the negative comments. I can only say there are some stingy people who lack compassion. Do you think these people would be your next clients. Something as simple as taking a photo and doing makeup can make a difference. I would hope that ALL types of volunteerism would be contagious.
I did the help-portrait this past weekend, I’m from Cleveland Ohio and drove 2hrs to Toledo just to be part of this event. And I must say this has to be one of the most rewarding events that I’ve been apart of.
The point of help-portrait wasn’t to go take a photo of a homeless individual and say “hey heres a picture happy holidays”. It was to give someone a chance to smile, to make that woman as beautiful as ever. To make them feel special.