Each year in December, the Downtown Chapel teams up with local photographers to offer professional-quality portrait-sittings to members of the Old Town community. The portraits are Christmas gifts to be both received and given by our daily guests and volunteers.

Conceived in 2007, the vision of this project is to offer members of our community something that can be both received and given proudly: a gift that allows a person to be viewed through a new lens, by both the subject of the portrait, and any family or friends whom they may give it to.

The Downtown Chapel teams up with Jason Kaplan, a local photographer, to organize the event, which takes place over the course of 4 days at the beginning of December. This year Jason invited two other local photographers, Leah Nash and Amy Sakurai, to provide their services to the community free-of-charge. Much laughter was heard from the studio room (set-up during our morning Hospitality Center), and many people seemed transformed by the experience... a testament to our photographers.

Then, a week before Christmas, the community is invited to pick-up their portraits. Each person receives two 5"x7" color prints that they may keep or give as gifts for Christmas. The Downtown Chapel provides Christmas cards, stationary and postage for mailing portraits to family and friends. These gifts are incredibly special for people who have been out of contact with family for far too long. In fact, these portraits have offered healing to many people.

We also put together a slide show of the portraits each year, something that many people enjoy being a part of. It is important to celebrate these images and how participating in this project instills as a sense of belonging. So, from the generosity of our community members, please enjoy the gift of these portraits.