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The April issue of Professional Photographer magazine has an article about the 30 Strangers project. (And by the way, if you’re wondering about the project for this year–yes–I’m still doing it. Instead of shooting in April, I’m going to shoot in June this year, so very soon, I’ll put a call for participants on this blog.)

The article is in a section of the magazine called “Good Works” which they describe this way. “Images wield the power to effect change. In this monthly feature, Professional Photographer spotlights professional photographers using their talents to make a difference through charitable work.”

I’m honored to be featured this month.

The article on the 30 Strangers project in the April 2012 issue of Professional Photographer

Here's the cover of the April issue.

Here is the article, which talks about how it all started and why I keep doing it:

30 Strangers
Justin Hackworth shoots 30 portraits in 30 days to benefit mothers and daughters – By Jeff Kent

The project originally began as a creative exercise. In June 2008, Justin Hackworth decided to photograph 30 people in 30 days as a way fuel his creative fire. The sessions would be free, and he’d give away a print to each subject. The only criteria were the people all had to be strangers–not existing clients, not family or friends, complete strangers.

Hackworth thought up the project in May, advertised it on Craig’s List, and shot all the portraits in June. It went well. It was fun and inspiring. But it had potential to be so much more.

“My wife and I came up with idea of focusing the portraits on mothers and daughters to attach some special meaning to the images,’” says Hackworth. “Then my wife thought of adding a fundraising component. The Center for Women and Children in Crisis is a local women’s shelter, and they were in need of funds. It was the perfect charity to pair with a portrait project about mothers and daughters.”

For the second year of the program, titled 30 Strangers, Hackworth again offered to shoot 30 free portraits of strangers. This time, all his subjects were mothers and daughters, and he asked each pair to make a donation to the women’s shelter in exchange for their complimentary fine art print. Most of the subjects donated more than the suggested amount, and he managed to raise a few thousand dollars for the shelter.

Each year that Hackworth has conducted 30 Strangers, it has grown larger and he’s raised more money for The Center for Women and Children in Crisis. Last year Hackworth held an exhibition of the work, as well as an essay presentation by several writers discussing motherhood. Many of the women he’s photographed have personal connections to the charity or to other women’s shelters, bringing a poignant emotional context to the project. This year will be the project’s fifth year, and he’s expecting several hundred applicants for the 30 portrait spots.

“The response has been fascinating,” says Hackworth. “Every year, hundreds apply, but I can only take 30 pairs. For those who don’t get picked, I still offer a free portrait session with a print, but I do it outside of the 30 Strangers project. Very few people take me up on it. There is something about being part of the select group, part of the charitable cause, that inspires people. The appeal of aligning yourself with a fundraising effort for a charity cannot be underestimated.”

To others interested in conducting a similar project, Hackworth suggests tapping into your personal networks to make the project bigger than yourself. “I could not do this on my own,” he says. “I have been able to access resources from friends who have a far greater reach than I do to get word out and to help with certain elements of the project. When you are doing something for the greater good, something that’s beyond your own business, it’s amazing how eager people are to participate.”

Learn more about 30 Strangers at justinhackworth.com/blog/what-is-30-strangers. Visit Justin Hackworth at justinhackworth.com.

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