Help Portrait at the BVOH

On Saturday, December 8, First Exposures is participating in the 4th annual Help-Portrait at The Bayview Opera House. We are the only one to one mentoring program in San Francisco that provides free weekly photography classes for underserved youth ages 11 - 18.

Founded by Celebrity Photographer Jeremy Cowart, Help-Portrait is a global movement of photographers using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those in need.

We don't often reflect on the importance of photographs, however, the thing that most people would save if their house was on fire, would be their family pictures, they are priceless. For many of the families participating on Saturday, December 8, this will be their first family portrait and perhaps the only one they ever take.

Last year, thanks to the generous donations of equipment, time and money, by local businesses and individuals, over 250 families were treated to hair and makeup, a 5 to 10 minute professional, studio portrait sitting and left with one framed 5x7" print and a CD of their images. This year we hope to serve even more families.

What makes the site at the Bayview Opera House unique, is that our students at First Exposures will be running the show. They will be the photographers (working alongside professionals), stylists, editors etc. They will have this amazing opportunity to give back to their communities as well as invite their families to participate. We will have a total of 70 students and their mentors working together to help make this event a huge success.

Here's a short 2.5 minute documentary made from our location last year:
http://vimeo.com/33828721

There is more information on the Help-Portrait Website.

Help-Portrait at the Bayview Opera House will run from 10:30-4pm on Saturday, December 8. We are still in need of cash donations to cover some of our expenses. If you can help in any way please feel contact Erik Auerbach, Director of First Exposures at 415-374-6657 or firstexposures@sfcamerawork.org.