12.18.09 - Official Post-Event Press Release
HELP-PORTRAIT MOVEMENT UNITES COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMedia Contact & Inquires: Lori Mahon
press@help-portrait.com / 615-579-1266
NASHVILLE, TN --December 18, 2009 -- Last Saturday, December 12th, the world stood still as photographers worldwide united in a photography movement called Help-Portrait, which gave more than 40,000 individuals portraits to treasure for a lifetime. On Saturday, more than 8300 photographers and volunteers participated in 715 locations in 42 countries.
Help-Portrait was founded by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart with his vision of the photography community and individuals giving back this holiday season. This event reached a magnitude that nobody saw coming.
"On December 12th, cultural borders were crossed on one side of the camera and competitive borders on the other," reflects Cowart. "I honestly don't know which side of the camera was blessed more. For many of our subjects across the world, Help-Portrait provided them with their first-ever family photo. However, we're consistently hearing from many photographers worldwide that this is the greatest thing they've ever done with their cameras."
Information about Help-Portrait has spread across the globe through the Social Media phenomena-- Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Blogging. Cowart used his 10,000+ Twitter followers to help share information and vision about Help-Portrait, thus snowballing into this cultural event that gave back so much more than just a portrait to those in need.
In addition this movement has nabbed the attention of local, national and international media throughout the weekend and this week. Help-Portrait stories have been featured on CNN, CNN.com, CNN International, CBS Evening News, HLN Headline News, The ONE Campaign, AOL Philanthropy Project, Sears/GNN.com, BritneySpears.com blog, New York Daily News, CTV News (Canadian), Egyptian Satellite Channel and more. Those photographed all had a story - all unique and heartbreaking in its own way.
"Poverty steals a lot of things, like your home, car and food, but it also steals something on the inside. Help-Portrait feeds that something on the inside," states Help-Portrait Event Coordinator Annie Downs.
Moved and inspired by the response from those who participated this weekend, the Help-Portrait team is thrilled to announce the 2010 date of December 4th. It is setting the precedent of future Help-Portrait events annually on the first Saturday of December.
For more information on Help-Portrait: Visit the official website (www.help-portrait.com), follow the H-P team on Twitter @help_portrait (Hashtag #helpportrait), be a friend on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/helpportrait) and watch the official YouTube videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/helpportrait). Videos from around the world can be found on the YouTube tagged page here: (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Help-Portrait&search=tag). Photos from the events posted can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/help-portrait/.
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The goal of Help-Portrait was simple: 1. Find someone in need 2. Take their portrait 3. Print their portrait and 4. Deliver their portrait. This movement began just over four months ago with the YouTube video launch from Cowart. Help-Portrait was formed by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart as he contemplated using his skills and expertise to give back to those who may not have the opportunity for a professional photo. The idea is that a photographer has the opportunity to help someone smile, laugh and to remember - it is a movement, a shift in photography.
Cowart began full-time photography in 2005 and has traveled to 6 continents with his talent. He's photographed Imogen Heap, Sting, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood and more. He's also worked with entertainment clients ABC, E!, Fox, A&E, FX, The Style Network, CMT and more. You can view his photos and learn more at: http://www.jeremycowart.com/ or read his blog: http://blog.jeremycowart.com/ and follow him on Twitter @jeremycowart .
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12.15.09 - Media Coverage of 12/12 Event
With less than three days since the 12/12 event, we are continuing to get email after email from our H-P team around the world with links to stories, press coverage and reflections on their own personal experiences. Needless to say, we are all blown away. One thing we know for sure, some of the stories have already been written but many have yet to end.
If you didn't have a chance to catch some of our coverage, here's the link to the CNN.com article. Did you hear that H-P was on the front page at 3:42am CT on Sunday?
If you didn't have a chance to catch some of our coverage, here's the link to the CNN.com article. Did you hear that H-P was on the front page at 3:42am CT on Sunday?
Isn't that crazy?
We are working on creating a press page with links to all of the articles that were ran online about H-P. If you know of one, please email us at press@help-portrait.com.
Thanks again to everybody!
We are working on creating a press page with links to all of the articles that were ran online about H-P. If you know of one, please email us at press@help-portrait.com.
Thanks again to everybody!
12.13.09 - CNN & CBS Coverage
Check out CNN (US/International/.com) and CBS Evening News (US) tonight at or around 6pm ET as they will be covering the International Help-Portrait movement.
Also, CNN's sister network HLN is broadcasting a phone interview with Jeremy Cowart all day today. Be sure to check it out too.
Of course, once they make their stories available online, we'll let you know.
Also, CNN's sister network HLN is broadcasting a phone interview with Jeremy Cowart all day today. Be sure to check it out too.
Of course, once they make their stories available online, we'll let you know.
11.21.09 - Help-Portrait Apparel Now Available
We're excited to announce that we launched the Help-Portrait Store last night. We've kept the selection simple: men's and women's t-shirts in black and white, and a nice fleece zip jogger, all American Apparel brand.
Pick up your apparel today. Our initial stock will arrive on Wednesday.
Pick up your apparel today. Our initial stock will arrive on Wednesday.
11.18.09 - Official Press Release!
With less than one month away, we wanted to post the official Help-Portrait press release! Click here to download now! Please feel free to share the release with local media in your area to help spread the word about your event. For any press related questions, you may direct others to press@help-portrait.com.
11.02.09 - Overwhelming Response!
We've been blown away by the response of the photography community over the past couple of months. Since August 26, when we originally launched the concept, we've seen over 43,000 unique visitors from 142 different countries.
If you're interested in giving, not taking pictures on 12/12, head over to the COMMUNITY section of the site and get started!
If you're interested in giving, not taking pictures on 12/12, head over to the COMMUNITY section of the site and get started!
11.01.09 - Help-Portrait Featured on Halogen TV!
Halogen TV is a brand new TV Network focusing on social justice, beauty, and empowering content.
Here's a clip from the feature they did on Help-Portrait.
"Help-Portrait is giving away photographs for Christmas, and they want you to do the same. Help Portrait is "a movement of photographers who are using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate this holiday season," according to the website. On Dec. 12, photographers across the country-and hopefully even internationally-will take pictures of people who wouldn't otherwise have access to a photo session."
Here's a clip from the feature they did on Help-Portrait.
"Help-Portrait is giving away photographs for Christmas, and they want you to do the same. Help Portrait is "a movement of photographers who are using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate this holiday season," according to the website. On Dec. 12, photographers across the country-and hopefully even internationally-will take pictures of people who wouldn't otherwise have access to a photo session."
10.12.09 - Help-Portrait Featured on Fox News
Fox17 News in Nashville recently covered our Nashville Dry Run Event on October 9th. Here's a clip from the article...
Most of these women haven't had their pictures taken in years.
"Almost, oh... whoa! 25 years ago? It's been a while," she says.
But today, these women who normally get overlooked were the center of attention.
"I feel beautiful... absolutely beautiful," she says.
Most of these women haven't had their pictures taken in years.
"Almost, oh... whoa! 25 years ago? It's been a while," she says.
But today, these women who normally get overlooked were the center of attention.
"I feel beautiful... absolutely beautiful," she says.
10.09.09 - Nashville Dry Run Event
We did a dry run event in Nashville to show the rest of the H-P community what the day might look like. We also had a film crew film the day to show you all the impact this act of service has on both sides of the camera. As you can see from our new video and from the blogs that Annie, Kyle and Allister have posted, the day had a huge impact on everyone involved.