Pike County Photography Club takes portraits of Belle Reve residents
Milford. The initiative was part of the “Help-Portrait” movement.
Milford /
| 13 Dec 2024 | 08:10
L-R: Photographer Jeffrey Sidle and Ingrid Frederico with photographers Bonnie McCaffery, Teddy Wilson, and David Richard. Not pictured: club member Rick Nichols. (
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On November 20, members of the Pike County Photography Club gathered at Belle Reve Senior Living in Milford to make portraits of the residents as part of the Help-Portrait project. According to the club, photo shoots were also held in 2018 and 2019 but the COVID pandemic interrupted the tradition until this year.
The club picked up on The Help-Portrait project founded by Jeremy Cowart in 2008, an initiative aimed at finding people in need, taking their photos, printing the photos, and then give them away. The concept became a global movement spanning 80-plus countries and millions of portraits and continues to this day, the club explained in its announcement.
“Help-Portrait is about giving the pictures, not taking them. These family portraits aren’t for a portfolio, website, or for sale. Help-Portrait is a community project to help people who otherwise couldn’t afford family portraits, a chance to capture a moment, a memory... and a whole lot more,” the club added. About a dozen residents and some Belle Reve staff had their photos taken in front of their choice of two backdrops with four photographers.
Club President Bonnie McCaffery made arrangements with ACI Color Lab to provide 8x10 color prints at no cost in support of the Help-Portrait project. Participants will receive their portrait prints before Christmas. Nicole Gallagher, resident life director at Belle Reve Senior Living, also helped to arrange sign-ups for the participants.
The Pike County Photography Club has a Facebook page and meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the activity room at Belle Reve Senior Living in Milford at 2 p.m. Anyone interested in photography at any level is welcome to join in. The club also holds photography practice sessions, speakers, and workshops on various subjects and offers encouragement, help, and critiques as requested. For more information, email Jeffrey Sidle at jscuba@ptd.net.