At Shannon West Homeless Youth Shelter, Las Vegas, Nevada - 2013

I was so struck by something I heard one of the kids say on camera. To paraphrase: a young man talked about how blessed he felt to be at Shannon West ... that it's a place of safety as they figure out what it is within them that's broken and then fix it so they can function out in the rest of the world. My heart broke momentarily with the thoughts of what these kids have survived to get to this point. But then my heart sang with this thought: They might recognize that there are broken places within themselves, but for me, I see the incredible light that sparkles through the cracks of those breaks. These kids are discovering their light again and Help-Portrait in essence provides images that reveal that light over and over again. My hope is that whenever they doubt how special they are, how priceless, how irreplaceable ... that they look to these photos and remember the day when EVERYONE saw their light because there was just no hiding it. I pray for the day when their light never has to hide again.

Created in Nashville, TN, by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart as a way for local photographers, makeup artists, stylists and others to give back of their time and talents, Help-Portrait has grown into an international movement joining hearts and compassion across the globe. Recognizing that many individuals simply do not have the resources to obtain a professional portrait, Help-Portrait steps in. From homeless shelters to low-income neighborhoods to schools to churches to hospitals to ... wherever there is need, Help-Portrait volunteers create a photo-shoot-for-a-day for their "models" unlike any other. Visit: http://www.help-portrait.com for more information.