Help Portrait

Help Portrait started with an idea brought to light by a Nashville photographer, Jeremy Cowart. Help Portrait is the simple idea of taking a portrait of someone, printing it, and giving it to them. The purpose of this project is to build self-worth in people and to show them that they are worth spending time on and worth making a great portrait for.

The Searcy chapter of Help Portrait was sparked by a tweet to a few photographers that I’ve come to know in town. Since then, so many people have stepped up to make this project happen. It truly has been a blessing. First putting out an idea, receiving so much support by people willing to give their time and talents.

I love this group and have nothing but good to say. It’s truly been a blessing and an honor working with such incredible people.

This first year’s Help Portrait: Searcy wasn’t exactly a smashing success by terms of number of people coming in the door, but it was most definitely a success. The families that did come through were blessed in ways we don’t know. Here’s a behind the scenes perspective:

Here’s the main photographer group. Love them.

This guy is the boss.  :)

We had quite a bit of downtime, so since we already had everything set up… you know. :)

~ Jon

365 Project

The 365 project has been popularized for a few years now. The 365 project is taking a picture every day for 365 days. I’ve followed a few other people’s progression through a full year of taking pictures daily, and it’s really a good challenge to do for personal photography growth. This project is rather daunting. Doing anything regularly for so long and sticking with something is quite tough. New Years resolutions, diet plans, goals, they’re all difficult but doable.

After deciding not to do this project for a few years, I’ve decided to try it out. I’m not going to be too religious about it, but I am giving myself a few rules:

• I plan to finish this by New Years, 2012, which gives me
• 20 vacation days (1.6 days off per month)
• One picture a week has to involve planning. This is open for interpretation, but increases the challenge to make something awesome and not just get by.

What to expect:

• Lots of Canon 5D 50mm pictures. (favorite camera/lens combo)
• A few camera phone pictures. (“the best camera is the one you have with you” – chase jarvis)
• Mostly people pictures. (people pictures are the reason I do photography. :))
• Behind the scenes type pictures.
• Etc. :-)

I will probably recap my 365 project on the blog monthly or bi-monthly, but I won’t be posting here daily. I don’t want my blog to be overrun with this project. :)

You can keep up with this project on twitter @jonyoder or through liking my Jon Yoder Photographer facebook page.

Here is day 1: December 10th, 2011.

Help Portrait behind the scenes. More on this tomorrow. Mark Gregory is the holiday-hat-adorned photographer, with the talented and awesome Cheryl and Maggie behind. Here’s the runner up photo.

 ~ Jon

A Challenged Life

At devo this semester we’ve been going over the book Radical by David Platt. The main effort of this book is to stimulate the breaking out of this cookie cutter, easy Christian life that we all seem to drift toward.

Tonight we talked about what a life fully dedicated to Christ would look like. Would we be living on a small budget and giving the rest of our money away?

These questions are tough, but shouldn’t be avoided. I can’t be complacent in my spiritual life or be okay with a routine. I need to continually pray for wisdom and see what God is calling me to do with what He has entrusted to me.

Most everything good in life comes from pushing yourself. Failure hurts, but it’s part of the journey.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:24

Preaching to myself, hoping you’re encouraged too. :)

~ Jon

Thanksgiving Blessings

Thanksgiving. This term means so much to me. Thanksgiving day is a special occasion in my family. It’s the one time of the year most of my dad’s side of the family (40+) get together and have some of the best food around. It’s an experience that can’t really be explained through words. It’s a blessing.

The food is good, but quickly forgotten. What isn’t forgotten are the experiences and the conversations. In my family are mentors, forever friends, and role models. They’re a blessing from the Lord.

Here’s a taste. :-)

mmmmmm!

One of the reasons I love Thanksgiving so much is because this is a taste of what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like. Happy Thanksgiving! Every day is a blessing.

~ Jon

Give Thanks

It’s been a quiet, rainy week up here in this little corner of Pennsylvania. Getting away is one thing that I always have good things to say about; getting away while being with loving friends and family is even more amazing.

This week has been such a refreshing time to relax, recoup, and refocus. So good.

The Thanksgiving holiday can take on different meanings. You have the opportunity to focus on the fading things or the things that have significance. This time is marked by the theme of being thankful and also the theme of obsessing over material things.

I say pursue what lasts. Focus on the significant, the relationships, the stories, the fellowship.

You are blessed.

~ Jon