The Daviess County Public Library on Saturday once again hosted their annual Help-Portrait event, which is a national movement offering photographers an opportunity to give their time, tools, and expertise to provide professional photographs to those in need.
Celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart created the concept in 2008, expanding globally to reach all 50 states and 70 countries. Local commercial lifestyle photographer and branding consultant Maria Clark began the photoshoot locally in 2019 and is ecstatic to share her talents.
“Community is one of my core values and always has been important to me,” Clark said. “There are plenty of organizations focused on helping to fill physical needs — food, shelter, clothing, etc. Help-Portrait is a way that I can serve my community to help fill the emotional needs of identity, dignity, self-worth, individuality, and community.”
Clark said the photoshoot primarily attracts both traditional and non-traditional families and couples. The event’s primary goal is to create a portrait for people that might otherwise not be able to afford a professional photographer and print them an 8×10 on-site so they have something tangible to take with them.
“Sometimes people feel displaced. We want to fill an emotional need and create a sense of belonging and identity for the past, present, and future,” she said. “This is all about connection. It’s easy to feel isolated. Portraits are merely one way to fill that need for human connection.”
Clark is a Nashville native and considers herself blessed to call Owensboro home since she and her husband moved here in 2014. She owns Maria Clark Photography, a company that caters to the business world’s many photography and branding needs.
“You’ve heard the adage ‘A picture is worth 1,000 words,’” Clark said. “Help-Portrait edits that to say ‘A picture is worth.’ That’s what it means to everyone we get to serve through this event. Regardless of their level of need, they have worth.”
