I'm really pleased to report on our first Help-Portrait shoot in Coventry. Last night, 4th July 2017, my crew gave up their time, expertise and equipment to shoot 25 family portraits in a local school.

Help Portrait is a global movement of photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists using their time, tools and expertise to give back to those in need.

Help-Portrait is about GIVING the pictures, not taking them. These portraits aren’t for a portfolio, website, or sale. It’s about giving people who otherwise couldn’t afford photography, a chance to capture a moment, a memory…and a whole lot more. Read more about Help-Portrait-UK-Coventry here:

Although the International Help-Portrait day isn't until 2nd Dec 2017, my team was keen to hold an event before that date to test, hone their skills and most importantly use everyone's expertise to hold the first event for the school that is in a disadvantaged area of Coventry.

The team, Joyce James, Chris Shaw, Kirsten Pearce, Nicholas Jones and Ellen Shaw came together to shoot 25 family portraits, edit, print and mount the images in a 2hr window so that the families could take their photo's home the same night after their sports award presentation evening event.

Behind the scenes

I can't honestly say that everything worked like clockwork but despite the odd technical glitch and challenge of framing large groups against a small backdrop, we managed to pull it off and made a professional portrait print from start to finish in 10mins for each family.

Most importantly, of course, was the pleasure we all got from seeing the smiling faces of the families as they collected their printed photos.

Families collecting their prints

Selection of Portraits Taken On The Night

Thank you

I'd like to thank Jeanette, the Head Teacher, for allowing us to run the event at the school and for supporting us with her staff on the night, they all helped to make the night a great success.

A special thank you to Simon Newton and the Xposure Photography Festival team in Sharjah for sponsoring us and contributing towards the kit. Your support is really appreciated by all those involved with the project and receiving the prints.

Finally but of course not least, my shooting crew who all performed wonderfully to bring everything together for the event.

If you would like to get involved in the Help-Portrait movement then please make contact with me. Our next event is on 2nd Dec 2017 where we will be shooting portraits with Crisis Skylight in Coventry at a centre for the homeless.

We will need lots of volunteers for the 2nd Dec event as expect to run it over 12hrs so even if you can only spare a couple of hours to support please do let me know. We will need volunteers who can;