About Us
Help Portrait began in Barrie in 2008, following the initial idea that year from celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart. The premise is simple, find people that cannot afford a professional portrait and give them one. Help Portrait Barrie has been an enormous success every year thanks to the people that sponsor, the many businesses that donate, the photographers, hairstylists and make up artists that give their time and expertise freely as well as the many volunteers that help out. Without everyone, our event would not succeed, and of course the many people we see each year to photograph, we love seeing you come out to us.
Lead Coordinator Christopher O Driscoll has been a professional photographer for over 20 years. Our main sponsor Michael Keogh, of Team Keogh (ReMax Chay Realty) has been invaluable to us. The many businesses around Barrie had help us out can be found on our supporters page.
Each December, photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists all around the world will find people in need, take their picture, print their picture and then deliver it—free of charge. 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.
Help Portrait was founded in 2008 by US photographer Jeremy Cowart, and here in Barrie we're proud to have been part of the event since its inception. Help Portrait Barrie is located in Bayfield Mall each December for the annual one day event.