It was a happy scene at the hall in St. Michael's Church in downtown Prince George Saturday.
There were drop sheets hung side by side all along one wall. There were camera shutters clicking away, big light diffusers were set up and black chairs were placed strategically throughout the hall. There were mirrors hung on the opposite walls with make up kits, curling irons and hair dryers resting in their holders ready for action.
It was Help Portrait day and volunteers taking a commemorative photo were making a happy fuss over one family that included Mom, her two precocious sons and a sweetly dressed tippy toddler.
Volunteers were trying to wrangle Cattleya, 18 months, but waving a toy to make her smile only inspired a new game to go get the toy over and over again, not just to look at it. Try explaining that concept to a go-getter who never quits moving.
Help Portrait is a global movement that occurs on the same day each year since 2008 in 67 countries and sees volunteer photographers, hair stylists and makeup artists come together for a good cause. So far there's been 3,049 events with help from 75,442 volunteers with 381,856 portraits given to those low-income families, the homeless, and anyone else in need who can't afford a photo but would like one.
Cynthia Tommy, a single mom, brought Leland, 8, Spencer, 6, and daughter Cattleya down to the event that her mom Paula Wilson first heard about when she got her hair dressing training at Loxx Academy of Hair Design in 2016. Loxx owner, Peggy Zettl, and students volunteer their time to do hair and makeup for those wishing to use those services before having their photo taken.
"This is my third year getting a picture taken," said Tommy. "It's important to capture a moment with my family. The kids were all excited to get dressed up and come down. Leland was happy to wear his 'fancy shirt'."
The event has taken place in the community for the last decade.
Organizer Crystal Wood has been volunteering for the event for four years and has been organizing it for last three years.
Wood knows what it means to the people who come get their pictures taken.
"When the people come to get their pictures the level of gratitude - coming from low income myself - it is just the most humbling experience and to see it unfold - that's what gets me," Wood said. "This is my baby and I love it. We get to help these families and last year when one single mom came in, all she wanted was a portrait with her and her babies and she was in tears when she got it and we all cried."
W.D. West prints the photos for Help Portrait and a few days later recipients are invited to come back to the hall for lunch and to get their photos.
The project gets the word out through St. Vincent de Paul's soup kitchen, invitations are included in all the food hampers that are handed out by the non-profits downtown and those who patronize the thrift stores are also invited.
About halfway through the event, there had already been eight people who came in to get their portrait done while still more people had come in from the cold to have a hot drink and some snacks that were available.
