PMDA » soldiers angels

“Portraits of Love” Wants Your Help Getting Family Photos To Deployed Troops

Jackie Augustine — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:56:47 +0000

By Tim Barribeau – September 22, 2011 – PopPhoto.com

Now in its 3rd year, “Portraits of Love” is a group that sends family portraits to soldiers in time for the holiday season, and they’re always looking for more photographer volunteers.

Portraits of Love is an annual event organized by the PMDA and Soldiers’ Angels in order to give something to troops stationed overseas during the holidays. Being stuck away from loved ones is hard enough for anyone during the later months of the year, let alone if you’re stationed half a world away in life-threatening danger. The organization allows any military family with a member stationed overseas to send them a family portrait for free.

Any time between October 5th and November 30th the families can make an appointment with a photographer near them, have a portrait session, and a 5×7 will be sent to their stationed family member.

But what about those of us on the other side of the lens? PMDA is actively looking for more photographers to donate their time to the project. The printing and mailing is being handled by Fujifilm through their SeeHere website, you’ll just have to take the photograph and upload it.

Portraits of Love wants to send out 10,000 free portraits this year, and if you’re interested in helping, they’ll be more than happy to have you on board.

Read more and watch the video:

http://www.popphoto.com/news/2011/09/portraits-love-wants-y

Boise Photo Studio Reaches Out to Military Families

Ian Littauer — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:46:17 +0000

Local Boise photographer, Randy McCrea from Timeless Photo and Portraits, featured on Idaho’s NewsChannel 7 taking part in PMDA’s Soldiers Angels, Portraits of Love project.

An accompanying article and photos can be found at http://www.ktvb.com/news/Boise-photo-studio-reaches-out-to-military-families-this-holiday-season-74507827.html

PMDA Soldiers’ Angels Portraits of Love Project Featured on NBC Nightly News

Ian Littauer — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:16:44 +0000

PMDA Soldiers’ Angels Portraits of Love Project Featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams today.

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Portraits of Love Project Aims to Send 10,000 Free Family Portraits to Deployed Soldiers This Holiday Season

Scott Signore — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:00:47 +0000

Old Bridge, NJ, August 25, 2009 —The PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) along with Soldiers’ Angels, a grassroots volunteer organization, revealed today the Portraits of Love Project, a volunteer effort aimed at sending family portraits to soldiers around the globe this holiday season.

Designed to help bring a piece of home to soldiers around the world, the project is utilizing the talents of over 275 volunteer photographers across the country who are opening their studios this September, to offer free family portraits to military family members who have a soldier deployed overseas. The portraits will be uploaded to a website, http://www.pmdaportraitsoflove.com, and a print will be sent, free of charge, directly to the soldier in Iraq, Afghanistan, or wherever they are deployed around the world. The goal of the project is to send 10,000 free family portraits during the month of September.

“This project is the photo industry’s way of giving back to our soldiers, and thanking them for the sacrifices they have made for our country,” said Jerry Grossman, the president of the PMDA who has spearheaded the effort. “Our industry is uniquely qualified to bring an important piece of home to our soldiers, and we’re pleased to be able to organize this effort.”

“It’s incredible how motivating a simple family photograph can be to a soldier who is far from home,” said Sergeant First Class Toby Nunn, who has served two tours in Iraq and has worked with Soldiers Angels on a number of projects. “This volunteer effort is one more way that we can help our soldiers cope with their situation,” he said.

The PMDA has asked photographers nationwide to volunteer their time and talent to take professional family portraits during the month of September. Military family members can find participating photographers living in their areas on a special website, www.pmdaportraitsoflove.com. Photographers are listed by state, and in order for family members to participate they will have to show a proper military ID to the photographer. The website was developed by Fujifilm, a PMDA member who has underwritten this effort, and SeeHere.com from Fujifilm is supplying the free prints to the soldiers and their families.

Those photographers interested in volunteering their time can also sign up online at www.pmdaportraitsoflove.com.

About PMDA

Founded in 1939, the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) has promoted the photo industry for over 70 years with an emphasis on photo imaging manufacturers and distributors. PMDA provides an open forum for its members to exchange ideas and learn new technologies and business trends, in addition to administering programs that promote photography to the general public. The member companies of PMDA have a box seat on the changing product and business developments of the photo industry and a unique opportunity to network with other industry principals and managers in the receptions preceding each meeting and special event. PMDA has also teamed up with the Photo Marketing Association to create the Photographic Information Council (PIC) to promote photography to the general public. PIC’s website (www.takegreatpictures.com) provides great photo tips and techniques, celebrity photographers, contests, new product releases and projects. See PMDA’s site, www.pmda.com, for more information.