Program offers free portraits to families

BRISTOL, Tenn., Oct. 28, 2022 — If a family portrait is on your holiday list this year, King University can help you check it off with its annual Help Portrait event. Led by students in King’s Digital Media Art & Design (DMAD) program, this year’s event will take place at the Bristol Public Library on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Help Portrait assists families who might not be able to afford a professional portrait by offering one completely free, courtesy of King donors. The University will provide each family with a framed 5 x 7-inch photograph, a flash drive of images, and more.

“Help Portrait is an event that we look forward to every year,” said Joe Strickland, chair of DMAD. “It’s a time that we get to use the skills and tools that God has given us to serve others in our community. At the same time, students learn how to work with clients and how to direct a photo shoot.”

Along with the portrait, King University will provide food for participating families while they wait for their appointment. Refreshments will be donated by Chick-fil-A, Food City, Blackbird Bakery, and King University food services.

“Help Portrait has been a great blessing to our students over the years because it demonstrates how they can serve their community, and it means a lot to the families who come in and have their pictures taken,” Strickland said.

The photo shoot will be set up on the top floor of the Bristol Public Library, located at 701 Goode St., Bristol, Virginia. Those who are interested may sign up and reserve a time slot by visiting http://kingdmad.com/helpportrait/.

King University Digital Media & Design (DMAD) professors work to process images taken during a Help Portrait photo shoot. The community event offers area families the opportunity to have their photo taken, free-of-charge, and to receive a framed portrait and flash drive of images.