Bridgeport Public Allies Community Portrait Session | Fairfield, CT Photographer

I have always been amazed and impressed at how many photographers are willing to share time and information to help others. People such as Zack Arias, a great Atlanta based editorial photographer, & Chase Jarvis, a Seattle based commercial photographer, are constantly inspiring me through their commitment to the photography industry and their own communities. Not only have I learned new techniques but have also been inspired to get involved helping others.

On Saturday April, 10th I participated in a great community portrait event derived from the successful Help Portrait event last December. This time the focus was to raise awareness for affordable housing in Bridgeport, CT as well as giving back to the community. I went into this event with a challenge for myself of photographing everyone that came to my station with only one light.

The Bridgeport Public Allies put on the event and I was honored to be asked as one of the photographers. The Public Allies is a national AmeriCorps program that seeks to advance new leadership in order to strengthen communities, nonprofits, and civic participation. With a four-hour window, over 60 individuals, including Bridgeport's Mayor Bill Finch, were able to gather at the Bridgeport Public Library to celebrate life with food, friends, family and free photos. Portraits of families and individuals were taken, printed and given back on-site. A select number of individuals were then asked to sign model releases and give a short biography.

The photographs will be displayed at a major fundraising event for affordable housing in May. The Public Allies team has partnered with Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust to raise money for the renovation and decoration of two six-family homes on Lafayette Street. On May 20th, community members, elected officials, sponsors and donors alike, will gather at one of the homes to celebrate its completion and raise funding for the other home.

The event is part of the Buy a Brick, Build a Home Campaign, started by the Public Allies team in an effort to raise awareness and funding for the housing crisis in Bridgeport.

How can you help?

The campaign advocates the purchase of personalized, engraved bricks that will be prominently displayed at affordable housing units throughout the city. Get more information at www.tinyurl.com/buyabrickbuildahome or contact Public Allies Bridgeport at bridgeportpact@gmail.com.

Below are some of my photos from the event. The people I met were amazing with so many different backgrounds and stories. Other photographers at the event included Carmen Nieves, Ian Christmann, of Catalyst Photography, and many others shooting behind the scenes.













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