Thirty-six photographers and 34 volunteers offered their time, talent and equipment for the annual Help-Portrait event held in Asbury Park on Dec. 10 when 750 people in 256 portrait sittings had their photographs taken. PHOTOS BY KRISTEN DALTON Not even a thousand words could describe the smiles and positive energy surging inside the SistersAcademy on Dec. 10, where 36 local photographers and 34 volunteers transformed the gymnasium into a professional studio.
As part of the global Help-Portrait movement that took place in all 50 states and 56 countries that day, 750 people in 235 portrait sittings had their photographs taken in Asbury Park.
For residents Scott Lawhon and Jasmine Alston, it was an opportunity to capture a moment with their newborn.
“This is our first child and our first holiday portrait,” said Lawhon. “I feel really good.”
Every family had about 20 photographs taken before they collaborated with an editor about which one they would like to have printed and delivered to them within 10 days. Additionally, families left with a disc of all their photos that could be downloaded to a computer.
Volunteers offered makeup and hair styling services to those who had their portraits taken at the event held at Sisters Academy in Asbury Park. Celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart organized the first official Help-Portrait event in December 2009 with the idea of gathering photographers to use their time, gear and expertise to give back.
The man in charge of Asbury Park’s event for the second year in a row was Dan Falvo.
“It’s not an organized charity. It’s a movement. There are guidelines because they want to brand it so they can get that recognition, and it helps us at the grassroots level if someone recognizes us,” he explained.
“But it’s not about us, it’s about the families coming in through the door. We’re providing memories that a lot of these families wouldn’t have.”
Falvo said the most difficult part about organizing the event was finding adequate space to accommodate the maximum number of families. That’s when he reached out to Mary Louise Miller, the principal of the Sisters Academy, who made the gymnasium available for the project.
The photographers pooled their resources, and everything from the piping and drapes to the equipment and lighting was donated. There was even a makeup station for families to get beautified.
“You get a lot of moms who come in here who don’t have time to put on makeup. It’s just a day of pampering. We’re not expecting anything other than they come here and relax and enjoy themselves,” said makeup volunteer Josefina Taveres, who traveled from New York City to be at the event.
“Just seeing their reaction when the makeup is done it’s like, ‘Wow, I look like a different person.’ It’s just beautiful.”
Falvo said his goal for next year is to provide on-site printing. In other Help-Portrait events where prints were readily available, familieswere encouraged to draw on their photographs or write words of encouragement that tell their story in a unique form of art.
JoeAlloco, of Atlantic Highlands, and Gary Courtney, of Lincroft, are members of the Red Bank Photography Club who donated their time snapping photos.
“It’s very easy to drop cans off for a food pantry or go to a giving tree, take somebody’s name off and put a present under the tree. But you never see the back end of that,” said Alloco. “Here you have the initial contact with the actual family. You get to see themface to face, so it kind of brings everything closer so you see the actual work that you’ve done. You see the looks on their faces, their expressions and how they’re very happy to be here. It’s a different kind of element.”
Courtney expressed the same kind of sentiment about being able to spend time with families.
“The best shots I find are the ones where there’s a natural reaction between the parent and the child. You don’t want to make them pose. Sometimes they smile at each other or the kids lay their heads on the parent’s shoulder on their own accord. Those are the best pictures, the instinctive, relaxed pictures,” he said.
Lauren Penza, resident photographer at Gallery 13 in Asbury Park, said Help-Portrait is unlike any other photography endeavor.
“Photography is one of those things where it’s not that easy to make it charitable. This is huge. It’s giving someone something that they don’t have,” she said.
“When you do portrait work, it’s about capturing something, a connection between the people that you’re trying to take pictures for. It’s pretty amazing. It feels like what you’re doing is small, but for these people it’s one of the biggest things that they’ll take away. You’re giving them a memory that will last their whole lives.”
At the same time, the photographers are imprinted with the joy of giving, a reminder that stays with them while pursuing their passion. Penza recalled a lasting memory that had brought her to tears after photographing a mother and her two children.
“I could tell they were really excited. They never had their picture taken before, and for some reason, I connected with the 3-year-old girl. Afterward they were going around and saying goodbye to everyone, and at the end she grabbed my leg and wouldn’t let go.
“ ‘Thank you! Thank you so much!’ She was thanking me for making her feel pretty, and I cried my eyes out.”