Help-Portraits

Dec. 13, 2013

Transcript:

Ted Simons: There are many who don't have the means or the wherewithal to have a higher quality portrait or family picture done. But this weekend, photographers here in Arizona and around the world will be taking studio quality portraits for those who, in some cases, have never had a nice portrait to call their gnome. Nicholas Papagallo is the national President of The Photographers Adventure Club, and he joins us more to talk about, this is one of those things that, when you hear about it, you go, why haven't we heard about this? This makes perfect sense, talk to us about what you are doing, to help folks feel like folks.

Nicholas Pappagallo: We heard about it a few years ago, and it, it, same thing, we thought the same thing, wow, this is amazing and we want to be a part of this. And, and with our club, we reach out to like, 19 thousand photographers, and so, we decided let's try to figure out some more about it and, and get involved. And our, our part in this is we put everything together from the beginning all the way through, and we give portraits to our guests for free. There is no cost for them. So they get an entire portrait experience, some of them have never had a picture taken. We did it in Tempe last year for displayed families and people that could get their picture taken, and it was really great, and it was our first year being involved last year.

Ted Simons: And photographers, again, giving of their time and their skills, and hairstylists? Makeup? Also included?

Nicholas Pappagallo: This year we're not doing it, and last year we did include all of that because of the, because of the, our demographic, this year it will be for the down syndrome network, and it's at their event, their party, that they are having for the families, so they are coming already this year. We're just going to keep shooting away.

Ted Simons: Talk about the logistics and the event, when you go there, and you see
all of this, for the photographers, and how does it all work?

Nicholas Pappagallo: We get there at 8:30 in the morning, and we're going to be setting up the studios, professional studios, and we have five studios, a Santa booth, and a booth for like fun stuff, like your old-time photo booth, so we're starting early, and then by 10:30 we're going to be set up and taking pictures, and we're going to shoot until 1:30 and print them all up.

Ted Simons: It's there, and in the past, I know that some of the, the subjects were
able to write certain things on their pictures, and you can continue that this time or how is that going to work?

Nicholas Pappagallo: They can write stuff and down, download them online or share them with friends, family, and use them for their Christmas cards, and that's why we do it in the holidays, it is a global effort so we're not the only one doing this, this is worldwide.

Ted Simons: And, and let's take a look at the examples here because these are some folks that, again, and these are people who may not necessarily have ever, really, had a nice picture taken of them. Correct?

Nicholas Pappagallo: Correct.

Ted Simons: And, and it includes families, and single portraits and those sorts of things?

Nicholas Pappagallo: Right, anyone, thin that feels like they want to come down and check it out.

Ted Simons: And a family like this one, afterwards, what kind of response do you get from folks when they see these kind of qualities?

Nicholas Pappagallo: When they see it for the first time, they light up. The experience is great. The kids love it, and they just, you know, they are really just lighting up and love it. And --

Ted Simons: It's interesting because you see people, you know, portraits, they are
such, you know, if they are not too staged, they tell you so much.

Nicholas Pappagallo: Yeah. It's a great time. We had all kinds of people come in last year, and we don't have any restrictions on it, if you feel like you want to come out and be a part of it, we welcome you, and --

Ted Simons: And these, they are not going to be sold or included in the portfolios,
it's, basically, again, I love this one, this is fantastic.

Nicholas Pappagallo: Yes.

Ted Simons: Folks with what they have and they love, and again, dogs never had a portrait taken before. So -- how did this idea get started?

Nicholas Pappagallo: There is a gentleman called, named Jeremy, and he started the idea as a concept for himself. And it's kind of gone viral, you would call it, where, where, you know, thousands of photographers have picked this up, and started doing these. And it fit our, our actual photographers, that's why we took it up and, and there are a couple of other in the valley, somewhere last weekend and, and we are having about 420 guests come through on Saturday.

Ted Simons: Interesting, so, if someone, say you are taking a picture in previous or future events, someone is homeless, what, what do you do with the picture? How do you make sure that they get a copy?

Nicholas Pappagallo: We print it right out for them, so it's an eight by ten print and, and what -- we kind of thought of that ourselves, what are these people going to do with the pictures? Many sent them home to families, to kids that they have. And, and some of them wanted it for Facebook, so we gave it to them on a flash drive because they have Facebook accounts so they were able to get out to more people and, and they could just be temporarily displaced. It does not have to be strictly homeless, so, it's, again, anyone canuse it, and they do leave that day with the portrait.

Ted Simons: And again, the response from the subjects, just, they are tickled pink?

Nicholas Pappagallo: Overwhelming. For the photographers, it's great to watch
everyone, just, they are smiling and they are glowing and less time we did a lot of makeup and hair and everything, and they have never been done up like that before, so they were just looking in the mirror and be like, wow, this is amazing.

Ted Simons: And you mentioned the photographers talk about the response from photographers. I would imagine people who take portraits, specializing in portraits, all kinds of photographers are involved, but you can get some folks who can be a little cranky and demanding. I'll bet these folks are a joy to work with.

Nicholas Pappagallo: It's a different experience.

Ted Simons: Right.

Nicholas Pappagallo: And you are giving them something and, and it is very fulfilling for the photographers and all the volunteers, not everyone shooting pictures, we have a lot of logistics going into that of people helping get to the booths, and people setting stuff up and lights up, social media people, we've been working on this for a year so it's a big production.

Ted Simons: And are there shots of behind the scenes activity? And other kinds of things going on?

Nicholas Pappagallo: Correct. We're doing video, and we do behind the scenes photography, so we can promote for next year to let others know that hey, come out and check this out.

Ted Simons: How can people come out and check this out? What kind of information?

Nicholas Pappagallo: this is at the -- it's in Scottsdale, and it's at the venue, and there is a public booth, so we have five total booths, four of them for, for the D.S. network and one there for a public use, so anyone could come in, and get their pictures, and we're starting at 10, let's see, it's going to be a 10:30 start time. And until about 1:30 that anyone could come in during the times.

Ted Simons: When you say anyone could come in, those are the subjects. What about
photographers? They are watching and saying, I would not mind getting involved with this, how do they?

Nicholas Pappagallo: They could find us on the photographer's adventure website,
which is photographersadventureclub.com. I check the emails myself, and we are filled with volunteers, so, we're going to start planning for next year.

Ted Simons: And the photographer's adventure club, what is that?

Nicholas Pappagallo: A network of photographers that we just got together and we like to go out to do photo walks and teach classes and Photoshop, light room. And we just like to network and, and do model shoots, and passing information around.

Ted Simons: I saw someone saying it's about giving pictures and not taking pictures.

Nicholas Pappagallo: Right.

Ted Simons: And that's what this is about, isn't it?

Nicholas Pappagallo: Correct.

Ted Simons: All right, so again, this Saturday, the venue, in Old Town Scottsdale?

Nicholas Pappagallo: Correct.

Ted Simons: Get there, if you are a photographer, check the website for more information, and again, this is one of those things where you hear about it and you go this is fantastic, and I can't believe it hasn't been done a long time ago, and thank you very much and congratulations. A great effort.

Nicholas Pappagallo: Thank you.