Here we go! Announcing year three of the 30 Strangers Portrait Project and fund raiser. Once again, we’ll be doing portraits of mothers and daughters and collecting donations to the Center for Women and Children in Crisis.
Last year, it was first come, first served. This year, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post and we’ll be selecting people at random. You have until March 5, 2010, at midnight. If you are selected you must respond to my email within two days.
Please, please, read the following info before you leave a comment. We want to make sure you have all the details (which is to say, we want to make sure you know the parameters of the project) and that you have all the info you’ll need. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.
What is 30 Strangers?
A Justin Hackworth Photography project. It works like this. For the entire month of April 2010 I will make a portrait of a mother and daughter every day. 30 portraits – 30 days.
Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! How do I get picked?
Hold on, tiger. I’d love to pick you so please leave a comment on this blog post and we’ll randomly select you. Keep in mind, there are some guidelines. Please read carefully.
It’s not called 30 Strangers for nothing. To participate, you and I must have never met.
Also, we’re looking for people that are age 6 to 108. Why not under the age of 6? Too fidgety. Why not over 108? There are some stairs to my office.
When you leave a comment on the blog, be sure to include your email address. Don’t worry. Your email won’t show up for all to see, but I’ll be able to see it and get a hold of you if (when!) you are selected. All portrait sessions will take place at 4:00pm each day. Remember, this is for April 2010. When you arrive, I’ll ask that you sign a model release (pretty standard stuff). In your blog comment, if you’d like to mention 3 days that will work best for you, that will really help me out.
Although we’ll be strangers when I photograph you, I certainly hope we don’t remain that way. Part of what makes this project great is the people I get to know.
Now, those are the essential details so feel free to post your comment. And if you’re dying to know more, keep reading.
What do I get out of it?
I’m glad you asked. You’ll be part of this historic project and donating to a good cause. You’ll experience an artistic, professional portrait session with the most important people in your life. I’ll create something personal and unique that will become more important to you over time.
Each session will receive one signed 8×10 fine art print and further prints will be available for purchase.
What’s this about donations to a worthy cause?
Great question. The thing you should know about the 30 Strangers project is that the $250 session fee is waived. Instead, we’ll be collecting a $45 donation per session for the Center for Women and Children in Crisis, in Provo.
Can I see what you’ve done in the past?
Go here to see portraits from 30 Strangers 2009, and here for 30 Strangers 2008. And here’s where you can see more of my portrait work.
What type of person are you looking for?
A mother and daughter combination. What would be even better than that would be a grandmother, mother and daughter. What would be even better than that would be a great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, daughter. What would be even better than that would be any of those groups I just mentioned, but when they came to the studio, they brought me a pie or a Henry Wienhard’s vanilla creme soda.
I’m going to take my time and think about whether or not I want to participate.
Well, that’s up to you, but last year I filled all 30 spots in under 2 hours. This year, you have until March 5 at midnight to leave a comment on the blog. Participants will be randomly selected from those that leave a comment.
Where will the photographs be taken?
My studio in Provo, Utah.
Can I include more than one of my daughters?
You’re welcome to bring them and if there is time, we can photograph you all together. For this project, however, I am looking for one person from each generation. That is the focus of the project and I can’t guarantee that we’ll have time for anything beyond that. (But we’ll probably have time, and come on, what am I going to do, turn away your other two daughters? Look at them. All dressed up and that one is wearing make up. She never wears make up.)
How long do the portrait sessions last?
Usually about 1 hour. Sometimes less, sometimes a little more.
Why are you doing this?
There’s something about a project with structure and tight parameters that fuels the creation of an expressive body of work, in this case, exploring the relationship between mothers and daughters. I love being a portrait photographer. Making images that move people and offer a sense of the subject’s personality is deeply fulfilling.
I’m also looking forward to raising money and awareness for the Center for Women and Children in Crisis, an organization founded on protecting these vital relationships.
I can’t wait to see who walks through the door and the images we’ll make. This is my third year doing the 30 Strangers project and I have been looking forward to this ever since we finished last year’s project.
When can I see the photographs from my session?
In the studio, one to two weeks after your session. We’ll schedule an appointment and together we’ll view your images. Each session will recieve one signed 8×10 print and you’ll have the opportunity to purchase additional prints. I’ll also update the blog daily with favorites.
I wish you were doing a cool photography project related to weddings.
We are! It’s called Love’s First Year and you can read about it here.
I am extremely beautiful. Will you be intimidated by my good looks?
Probably not. I’m married to a very beautiful girl, so I’m used to being around lovely people.
Do you like cheese?
Well sure–who doesn’t, but what does that have to do with this project?
Do these pants make me look fat?
Are you kidding me? You look fabulous! I wish I had a picture of you.
Do you think it’s funny when a lot of clowns get out of a tiny car all at once?
Ok, enough with the questions. Just leave a comment on this blog post if you want to be a part of 30 Strangers.
430 Comments
I would LOVE to be a part of this. My mother doesn’t live close enough, but I have four daughters of my own (ages 9, 6, 5, 3) and it would be so wonderful to have my picture taken with one of them. Any date in April would be fine for us. Crossing my fingers that we get picked!
Love the idea!! I hope I can be a part of it.
I’m in Dubai visiting with my 3 sisters right now so I hope I’m not too late! This is a fantastic idea and I would love to be a part of it!
I am so glad I found out about this, since it ends in 24 hrs. But I would love if you picked me. My mother and I look so much a like & my mom looks super young so everyone always thinks we’re sisters, we could also bring my grandmother. Any weekend in April other than the first and last would work.
I would love to have a session with all of the most important women in my life. My grandmother and great-grandmother live in the area and my mother loves any excuse to come visit her children in utah. The best days for me would be April 9, 10, or 12th.
I have a family that would be so interesting to photograph! My mother had my sister when she was fourteen, and continued to have children until she had me, at thirty seven, (I’m #8.) So, there are four sisters and my mother ages, 72, 56, 45, 38, and 35. Another interesting fact is that there is much strife between all of us. I think it would be such an interesting portrait to capture how different 5 people can be from each other, when we all came from the same place.
Wow- what a cool project! I would love to be photographed with my mom (42) and grandmother (68). I am eighteen. And my mom makes incredible pies.. just sayin..
Pick us!!! We are available anytime in April, but after the 22nd would be best!
my name isn’t actually karl, it’s karlee.
anytime in april before the 23rd is wonderful for me. especially because my fiance will be leaving at the first april and through august, when we’ll be married. (how very sad, no?)(not the marriage, the distance prior)
i’d love for you to do my wedding also, are you available aug 20th?
I would LOVE to be a part of this project! Come April I will be almost-a-mother, so it would be lovely to have a photo shoot with my own mother and grandmother.
I would love to be photographed with my daughter-she’s amazing! Mondays and Fridays work for us
Hi Justin,
I think I can make a very good chocolate tart. I will definitely like to share it. I have 4 kids, 3 boys and a girl. She would love it if you pick us.
Anyway, this is a very cool project.
Hello Justin!
Saw this project last year on Cjanes blog & I thought it was such a wonderful idea. I love your work & think it would be so much fun to participate this year. It is for a really good cause also. I’m an artist & mother of three girls & soon to have our first little boy in June (insert squeal her). Although we live in Reno, Nevada, I have a brother in Provo we could stay with & we would totally be willing to travel the 8 hour drive for such a special photo shoot. I see everyone is tempting you with food, lol, I don’t bake very well but I make one heck of a cheeze-it treat mix. It’s my GG’s recipe & no one can resist them. Have a wonderful weekend & good luck picking 30 lucky ladies.
I’m not in Utah BUT I COULD BE. And I would bring my mom. And maybe my grandma. Because that’s how much I’d love to be a part of this. I’m willing to sit in a car with both of them for ten hours just to get our picture taken. YOU’RE WELCOME.
How about a mother (me) who is an artist (painter) and 3 daughters who are ballerinas. The ages of the daughters are 14, 10 & 10 (identical twins.)
Any day would work fine, we are only about an hour away from you.
I’d love to be a part of this project! I have a six-year-old daughter. I also have a sixty-something year old mother, but she is in Hong Kong at the moment (and for the remainder of the year). That would be really cool to have all three of us. But since she is out of the country, I would be honored to be a part of this project with my mini-me. Thanks Justin!
And we would make any day in April work.
i just love this project. so genius and touching. i wish we’d never met, and that my girls were older than 2 and 4. well, okay, i only sorta wish for those things
I followed this project last year. I thought it was lovely! I have SO MANY reasons; really reallly GOOD reasons why you should pick us and why we would LOVE to be a part! No really I do! I can’t WAIT to tell you all the reasons!
Just the tip of the iceburg… 11 years ago, i left an abusive relationship. A Womens Crisis Center was my lifeline-no kidding- for two days until i could get in touch with family to help me from there. I have been raising my two beautiful children all on my own for 11 years. It has been a fairytale life ever since, just maybe not how the “original” fairytale was written, but a fairytale none the less that we made as the three of us went along.
This last year, would you believe that i have met the love of my life, and now do i not only have the fairytale life… i get my ‘happily ever after’ TOO! How lucky am I?
I have a daughter, and the man of my dreams also has a daughter, who i love as if she were my very own. So you see… We would absolutely LOVE to be a part of your project-a project that has meaning for us too!
If we are so lucky enough to be chosen; a Perfect time for us would be the end of March – first week of April, as my Mom would be in town as well.
If not, any time in April would work for us! We cant WAIT to meet you Justin! Thanks so much for sharing your talents & for giving to such an amazing cause!
xoxoxo!
Jodi
Justin, I remember this project from last year and how awesome I thought it was. You’ve had so many comments – my chances are pretty slim, but would love to participate if chosen. We live here in Provo and I have 2 daughters – 22 and 25. They are both teachers and may be leaving the area this next year due to the poor job situation here.
We would be available from the 20th to the 30th. (Good luck with choosing!)
Just discovered your work– love it! I’m coming to Orem from Canada April 3-8 and would love to have a portrait of one of my daughters and myself. But which of the three would I choose?
Thanks so much for your dedication!
I’d love to participate! I live in Arizona but will be in Utah the weekend of April 11 with my mother, who is turning 60 in April, and my grandmother, who is turning 90 in April, and my 5-year-old daughter, who is a year too young, according to your guidelines. But I’d love pics with my mom and grandma even if my daughter can’t join!
Oooooooooooooh, an excuse to drive I-80 across Northern Nevada to rendevous with you and my beautiful daughter Lauren who is going to school at Paul Mitchell in Provo. This would make me sooooooooo happy. And I would bring my famous lemon bundt cake for you and your bride. I’ll be there. Just tell me when!
Hi,
I would love to have a picture with my pretty mama, she gave me up at the age of 18 only to find out that a little while later she had the chance to get me back and she did…thank goodness she never gave up hope! She is my best friend, and I hope you choose us!
We are not above bribery – choose us and we will be on time with Henry Wienhard’s vanilla creme soda in hand. USU 20 year old blonde/blue eyed student with her 48 year old dark hair/brown eyed mom are available on any Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday. This portrait would be a treasure especially since mom is moving across the country to reside in George and leaving her only child in Utah. I guess you need to cut the cord sometime. Good luck with your project – never heard of anything like it!
I can give you 4 generations if you will but consider my 3 1/2 year old as the 4th subject!? Please! We have a snap shot of the 4 of us when my daughter was 6 months old but have yet to get a more recent or more professional one taken. My grandmother, mom and I would still be available but how could you turn down my adorable blonde haired, blue eyed only daughter!?
If you are looking for some cute little Chinese women, I would love to do this with my Mom, sis, and Grandma! End of April works best I think.
My grandmother passed away before we could get any more than a snapshot at a family reunion where my nearly 2 yr. old daughter was squirming out of my arms. It’s all I have of the four of us. I love this project and would love to be a part of it. I have three daughters 13, 10, and 7 and my mother. I would make myself available whenever, we have family in SLC.
I would love to be part of this project. And considering how many times my mom and Grandma have volunteered me for things, I can safely say I am volunteering them for this as well. I also have 3 daughters (including a newborn) if you were to waive that age thing, but I totally get why you have it. My mom is in town from Cali from April 1-3, so any of those days would work. I can’t wait to hear from you!
I’d love to participate. I can do any day after 4:30 PM. Saturdays and Sundays any time work to
My mother and my daughters(and one baby) all live here in Provo as well!
Hello,
I am a california mom and happened upon your portrait give away for the benefit of women in provo and would love to have my portrait taken with my daughter. I also have a sister in law who lives there in Sandy has a wonderful relationship with her daughters. If I can’t do it I would recommend her she is full of fun and charisma.
We would just make it up there because we were able to. But BYU Womens Conference is at the end of April so that would work out well for me too.
thanks
stacy
This sounds awesome!
We can do any weekend in April! This is magnificent!
hope to see you soon
stefi