Articles

How professional photographers can give back this holiday season with Help-Portrait

Sprout Studio is an all-in-one app to help you run your photography business and includes a CRM, studio management system, galleries & more!

The holiday season is a joyful time filled with scrumptious eats, belting out your favorite Christmas carols, picking out that perfect present for your loved ones, and gathering together to reflect on old memories all while creating new ones !

But most importantly, the holiday season is a time for giving… and giving back. For some cannot feast over a table of treats, listen to Deck the Halls, share laughs with relatives, or gather in a home to reminisce about good times.

As professional photographers, we understand the power (and magic) behind a photograph. So why not share our gift – as a gift – to those in need of receiving? Help-Portrait was established with this exact intention.

The global moment of photographers, hairstylists, and makeup artists using their time, tools, and expertise to give back to those in need was established back in 2008 by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart and has grown to 67 countries just this year. With 380,000+ portraits given so far and 75,000+ volunteers participating in 3,000+ events around the globe, Help-Portrait is not only empowering photographers but also making an impact on communities on a huge scale.

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.

Check out this video to learn more about the meaning behind Help-Portrait.

We are so excited and grateful to be joining our local community in St. Catharines this Sunday, December 8th, for their Help-Portrait event, which has been running for eight years in a row!

The event is co-chaired by our very own, Robert Nowell, as well as Megan Muir (a former student of Rob’s). With of course the generous help from local professional photographers, photography students, hairstylists, makeup artists, and other creatives.

Our local event in recent years has expanded to include donated clothes, which the subjects can wear for their portraits and then take home to keep afterward. As well as refreshment including designer holiday cookies from a local bakery and lunch on the Sprout Studio team. Plus a children’s corner where kids can create crafts while their families wait for their printed and framed portraits.

Help-Portrait typically takes place on the first Sunday in December. Check out event dates in your community and get involved. Even if you cannot attend, donations from clothing to frames to hot beverages are greatly appreciated at these events. Join the Facebook Page to find the closet Help-Portrait event to you!

[btx_gallery images=”19484,19492,19489,19482,19485,19488,19478,19487,19480,19490,19491,19494″ style=”carousel” no_of_columns=”3″ spacing=”5″][/btx_gallery]

Behind the scenes at Help Portrait Niagara by Josh Bellingham (2008). View the full album on Facebook.

Be the portrait of hope this holiday season and change the lens you look through. You may just receive more than you give…

Comment below if you’ve ever volunteered at a Help-Portrait event. Let us know other events that give back to communities so we can keep them on our radar. You can also follow us on Instagram (@getsproutstudio) where we will be posting stories of the local event on Sunday the 8th if you want a look inside the event!

Author name

Share this article

Frequently Asked Questions

Have some questions?

Still have questions about Sprout Studio? We’ve got you! Let’s dig in …

What makes Sprout Studio different? What features does Sprout Studio have?

Sprout Studio is different because you get all the apps you need in one place. You get a CRM, invoicing, contracts, bookings, scheduling, questionnaires, galleries, email marketing, album proofing, AI tools, reports and so much more in one single, seamless platform specifically designed for photographers!

How can I see a demo of Sprout Studio? What does Sprout Studio look like?

You can watch a short demo video of Sprout Studio here. Each feature page on our site also has live demos of various features in Sprout Studio. The best way for you to preview what Sprout Studio looks like is to sign up for a free trial and see it in action for yourself!

How does Sprout compare to the other CRM and gallery systems for photographers?

It’s not really a fair comparison (for the others) to compare us, because other CRMs are like a camera without a lens and accessory ecosystem. The camera itself may be great, but you’re forced to hunt for off-brand lenses, flashes and accessories that don’t fit and work the same as they would if they were on-brand.

The competitors do 1 thing – a CRM – for example. Or they do online galleries. Or they do email marketing. And many of them do that 1 thing really well! Sprout does those things too – a CRM, galleries and email marketing. And feature-for-feature, we’re all more-or-less comparable. The real difference is that with Sprout, you get all the tools you need in one place, so it’s better for you, your clients and your wallet! Everything works nicely together.

What is the support like with Sprout Studio?

At Sprout Studio, you get industry-leading support from real people who show up every day to help you succeed as a photographer. They’re happy to answer your questions via email, right in your account or via phone.

How much does a Sprout Studio subscription cost? What are the plans?

There are several pricing plans and options for your Sprout Studio subscription, starting as low as $19/month USD. You can learn more on our pricing page.

Is it a lot of work to set up Sprout Studio?

Setting up Sprout Studio is straightforward. We’ve designed the platform with ease of use in mind. You first walk through Startup Wizard, which guides you through the initial setup process step by step. Additionally, you can download templates and preset workflows that make customization quick and simple, allowing you to get your CRM up and running in no time.

Do I have to create everything from scratch in Sprout Studio, or are there templates?

No, you don’t have to start from scratch with Sprout Studio. We provide 100s of customizable templates for emails, contracts, questionnaires, and more, which you can easily adapt to fit your brand and workflow. These templates are designed to save you time and effort, making it easier to maintain consistency and professionalism across all client interactions.

How do I move existing clients from my CRM over to Sprout Studio?

Migrating your existing clients to Sprout Studio is a smooth process. We offer tools that allow you to quickly enter client data directly into Sprout Studio from your existing CRM. You can also hire us to do it for you, and our concierge team will seamlessly migrate your clients for you.

Sprout AI: Questionnaires

Create questionnaires for clients in seconds.

Effortlessly design tailored client questionnaires with Sprout AI, the world’s first AI questionnaire builder for photographers. Say goodbye to the hours spent drafting and revising what to say – transform your client interactions now!

Sprout AI: EMAILS

Stop wasting your time writing emails.

Elevate your communication game with Sprout AI. Craft compelling emails in your unique brand voice, effortlessly and efficiently! With a click of a button, you can spend more time doing what you love – photography.

INDUSTRY REPORT

The Photographer's 2024 Industry Report.

We sent out a survey to thousands of professional photographers to better understand how the first half of 2023 was looking for them and what they were thinking about, worried about and excited about moving into 2024. See what they had to say.

Workflows

Sick of drowning in admin tasks?

Photographers, don’t let admin tasks dim your creativity. Sprout Studio’s automation and customizable workflows can set you free. Let Sprout Studio take care of the heavy lifting. Sign up for our free trial and rediscover the joy of photography.

ADMIN TASKS

Sick of drowning in admin tasks?

Reports & Analytics

Time to stop guessing and start growing.

Sprout Studio’s analytics, email marketing, and automation can elevate your photography business. Sign up for our free trial and take the first step towards success.

Galleries

Elevate your photography with stunning galleries.

Present your work in the best light with our advanced gallery software. Showcase your creativity and connect with your audience like never before. Experience the power of visual storytelling today.

Scheduler

Streamline your photography schedule.

Tired of juggling appointments and bookings? Our scheduler features are designed to simplify your life. Spend less time managing schedules and more time capturing moments. Try our scheduler today and take control of your time.

Ambassadors

Spread the love and earn as a photography ambassador.

Calling all photographers! Want to turn your passion into earnings? Join our ambassador program and share your love for photography. Not only do you get to be a part of an inspiring community, but you also have the chance to make money doing what you love.

Switching from HoneyBook?

An entire suite of tools