Help Portrait groups hold photo sessions in Saskatoon and Regina

Members of the Help Portrait project, in Saskatoon and Regina, held photo sessions Saturday to provide professional-grade pictures for families in the community.

In Regina, the Help Portrait chapter spent Saturday with students and families from Jean Vanier School. The school is dedicated to children with special needs.

The Jean Vanier event included styling sessions, a free portrait and snacks for people to enjoy while prints were made.

Rolande Burant-Maher is principal at Jean Vanier. She said the photo shoot was great fun for families who enjoyed a little bit of pampering.

"Our families have a difficult time getting out of the house and having a professional photo taken and it's an opportunity for them to feel good about themselves," she added.

Help Portrait-Regina photo shoot at Jean Vanier School

8 years ago

Duration 1:18

Help Portrait-Regina photo shoot at Jean Vanier School

Holding the event at the school was also much appreciated.

Patricia Baziniak was there with her son Bryce, 12, and said the familiar location made a big difference.

"He's in his own surroundings, he's got teachers he knows, he knows people and he likes to smile for the camera," she said.

There is another Help Portrait Regina event set for Dec. 3, which will be available to clients of the Regina Food Bank. Those sessions will be at 445 Winnipeg St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is Regina's fifth year with the program. In previous years, volunteers have visited and done photography in the North Central community and at the Sask Abilities Centre.

Sessions in Saskatoon

In Saskatoon, photo sessions were at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge Saturday. They had to contend with a brief power outage, but were able to sort through that and prepare memorable pictures for people. They did 280 portraits.