Times are hard; lots of people don't have the money for professional family or personal portraits.  In fact, they don't even consider the possibility.  Raw survival is hard enough.

Help-Portrait in an international movement of professional and amateur photographers in 645 cities in 58 countries who, on Saturday, Dec. 12, will:

Find people in need, take their photo portrait, print their portrait, and give the portrait to them.

In Northwest Arkansas, Help-Portrait groups will provide portrait photos to the poor in 5 locations: Fayetteville, Siloam Springs, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville. People will not only receive four 4x6 photos with an extra 8x10 photo donated by Bedford Photography stores, but will be treated to makeup and hairstyle makeovers.

“Our goal,” says Help-Portrait-NWA organizer Chad Foster, “is to help families look back three years from now when they were going through a very hard time and see themselves in a photo smiling and having a good time.”

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 unique ability to help someone smile and laugh, and return their dignity- it is a movement, a shift in photography. This movement began several months ago with the launch of the YouTube video from Cowart. Since then, Help-Portrait has spread across the world as photographers have jumped on board to give back to their communities.

For more information, go the website of the international movement: http://www.help-portrait.com/

The journalist information email address  is: press@help-portrait.com

The website of the Northwest Arkansas movement is:

http://www.help-portrait-nwa.com/

Help-Portrait NWA’s email address is:  

help.portrait.nwa@gmail.com