On December 12 photographers around the world came together to give the gift of a photo. Help-Portrait was set up as a means for photographers to utilise their skills and equipment to help the less fortunate during the Christmas holiday period.

And for many of the people that came to the Help-Portrait events, it was their first ever family photo.

Events t ook place in 715 locations in 42 countries as photographers took individual portraits and family photos of those that came.

In Sydney studios were set up at the Australian Technology Park to take photos of people utilising services from Mission Australia, Saint Vincent de Paul, the Sydney Children’s Hospital and The Salvation Army and included the homeless, those in need and victims of domestic violence.

Help-Portrait was founded in Nashville, Tennessee by celebrity entertainment photographer Jeremy Cowart.

Cowart said, “we’re consistently hearing from many photographers worldwide that this is the greatest thing they’ve ever done with their cameras.”

If you missed the 2009 event and would like to help, put next year’s date in your diary now – December 10, 2010.