Help-Portrait

This weekend I participated in the Help Portrait event in Nashville TN. Help Portrait is a nonprofit started by friend and celebrity photographer, Jeremy Cowart. The goal of Help Portrait is to give back to the community. To GIVE a portrait instead of just take a photo. During Saturday’s event I had the pleasure to do that and more. Throughout the day hundreds of participants were bussed in from around the Nashville area. Our friend and fellow photographer, David Bean, graciously donated his Westlight Studio for the event. He was so inspired by the days events, he decided we should take it to the streets to give to others in need.

A group of us headed out to a local park and then down to Broadway where we met a homeless man, named Mack, who was sitting out on the street. It was a cold and windy and he was sitting in the shade. We introduced ourselves and struck up a conversation. He told us how much he wished he could have a new, insulated pair of boots. A couple years ago, he had been doing some side work to make some money, and he fell off a 32′ ladder and shattered both heels. We also spoke about sports. It turns out Mack was a huge Titans fans, although he had never been able to go to a game. He told us he would love to go to a game one day, but above all, he needed boots. We prayed with Mack, spoke of grace, and how God loves us all, and will provide, regardless of the past sin in our lives. He was a very insightful, intelligent man. It was a pleasure to spend that brief time with him, but it was time to get back to the studio, so we bid him farewell and continued on our way.

As we were headed down Broadway, the four of us agreed that we felt that Mack’s requests would be granted. A few moments later, we ran into a man selling tickets. He had one ticket left to the Titans game the next day. David and I looked at each other; we couldn’t believe our luck. David asked the man if he would accompany us back to his studio to the Help Portrait event. On our way back to the studio, I found the boots Mack had told us about online at a Dick’s Sporting Goods near by. I called the store and they confirmed they had the boots in stock.

When we got back to the studio, we told Mack’s story, and the volunteers began giving donations towards the ticket. When we had pulled enough money together, we purchased the ticket and asked the ticket sales man to hang around so he could present it to Mack. David and I jumped in the car to go back downtown to pick up Mack so we could give him his surprise. We found Mack sitting in the same place we had met him earlier, pulled up to the curb, and invited him back with us.

When we got back to the studio, we presented the ticket to Mack. He was overwhelmed with joy and in complete disbelief. We gave him a cup of hot coffee and food and told him we still had one more surprise in store; his boots. I asked him if he would like to come down to the store with me and try on the boots. When we got to the store, Mack and I went to the shoe department. The employees were skeptical of Mack, but they brought out the boots he was looking for. He tried them on and said they fit perfectly. Mack had also told us that his socks had been stolen, so I had him pick out a really warm pair of winter socks.

As we walked to the check-out to pay for the boots, I noticed the price tag. They were $179 and the socks were $40. I was taken back at how expensive the items were. For a moment, I had an inner struggle with the price. I didn’t want Mack to see my reservation about making such an expensive purchase for someone I barely knew. But the I realized, even though I would never spend that much money on one pair of shoes or socks, this may be the only pair he would get for years. He needed them. I looked over at Mack. He was beaming with joy. He was clutching those boots like a new born baby, and kept saying. “This must be a dream. God is so good.” And then I decided, it didn’t matter if the shoes were $20 or $1000, I would find a way to pay for them.

When the cashier rang up the items, I glanced at the register, the total came to $95. I was shocked. I handed her my card in disbelief. I was afraid she had rung them up wrong. But she hadn’t. I looked at the receipt, the boots were 70% of the regular price. That was when I realized, this wasn’t so much about Mack anymore. It wasn’t about taking pictures or Titan’s tickets, or boots. It was about me and my own heart. God had his hand on every event of the day. We were doing it all for Him. All of a sudden, my mission had changed.

We drove away from the store, Mack thanked me countless times. He explained this was the first time since the accident, he would have a comfortable pair of boots for his disabled feet that were also well insulated and warm. I am not usually an emotional person, but it was all I could do to hold back the tears. I didn’t want to cry in front of this brave man. I told Mack I would take him wherever he needed to go. He explained he needed to be at Room at the Inn by 3:30 to be able to stay there for the night. Knowing at this point God was obviously on my side, I tapped into my inner Southern California freeway driving skills to ensure he would be there on time. I sped and weaved through traffic. We pulled up to the Room at the Inn, and I was speechless. It was 3:29. Mack would have a place to sleep tonight. I was so overwhelmed by God’s presence in our day and what all He had allowed us to accomplish.

In photography, people don’t see everything that goes on behind the scenes. The lights, cameras, assistants, make-up, or edits. They just see the final product. The final image. Life is like that. Too often, we don’t take the time to get to know a man on the street. We don’t know their circumstances or what has led them there. We just see that they’re different from us.  My new friend Mack doesn’t know about exposure, f-stops, white balance, or lighting ratios. All he knows is he has a new warm pair of boots and a place to stay. Today’s final image wasn’t about dressing someone up or making them look nice for the camera. It was about providing for someone in need and the internal changes in me.

- Jeb Wilson