Dollar Portraits

Short Version

For each portrait I take, I donate one dollar to a charity.

Long Version

My name is George and I'm an amateur photographer. I usually shoot street photography, which involves walking around my city and capturing scenes that catch my eye. Street photography is usually candid and the scene left undisturbed. It's documenting a point of time and place that is hopefully interesting to the viewer.

In early Spring of 2008 I went out to shoot some street. There was nothing of interest to me. I don't mind this as I enjoy walking around and observing. A few minutes in I attempted something I don't usually do. I approached a person and asked them for their portrait. Then another and another until I filled my roll with street portraits. Every single person said yes.

A few days later I wanted to do the same thing but on a bigger scale. I wanted to use a medium format camera and spend a bit of time with the person to get better portraits. Some of the subjects have wonderful stories to tell and it's always interesting talking to strangers. It amazes me how we all go about our business with blinkers on in a busy city like Sydney but when you stop a person and have a chat with them you can spend up to half an hour sometimes.

In order to maximise the amount of people that would agree to have their portrait taken I came up with a small incentive; a dollar. Originally I thought that giving the subject a dollar would do the trick. I would get more portraits and I'd walk around with a pocket full of coin like a cows bell. Ok, maybe not the best idea. What if I pledged to donate a dollar in their name? What if I took all the money I donate to charities throughout the year and used it to fund a project where I can mix my hobby with raising a bit of awareness for charity work? It just made sense.

Giving a dollar to a stranger means little. A dollar donated in their name is worth much more. It gives them a chance to do something good for very little outlay and sometimes, just sometimes, it jump-starts the charitable nature in someone.

...and so, Dollar Portraits came to be.

The charity I chose to support is Cancer Council New South Wales. For any questions regarding this project you may contact the Cancer Council via their website or get in touch with me directly via the contact form at the top of the page.

If you felt hesitant to donate when I approached you, or you've never met me but wish to do so anyway, please click here.

View my current letter of authority from the Cancer Council NSW here.