CEDAR CITY – Local professional photographers John Lisonbee, Parker Grimes, Jenn Ova, and Terral Fox, along with photographers from all over the world, participated in a grassroots movement to bring a bit of holiday cheer to those who need it, one smile at a time.

The group spent last Saturday at Kolob Regional Care & Rehabilitation taking photos of locals as part of the Help-Portrait movement.

The idea started with celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart who wished to use his talents in photography to help others. Only two months ago Cowart posted a video on the Internet explaining his idea. The idea spread until on Dec. 12 there were more than 50,000 participates in more than 55 countries taking photos of those in need and giving them a print free of charge.

“It’s not something you think about, but some people have never had their photo taken,” said Parker Grimes, who spearheaded the movement in Iron County. “It’s an amazing thing when you show people the photo we’ve taken of them. Their eyes just light up.”

New Harmony resident Sherri Meadows had her portrait taken, but first she sat down with volunteer stylists from Evans Hairstyling College.

“I don’t remember the last time I had my hair done,” Meadows said as four stylists worked on her hair at the same time. “I thought this was just for a picture, I didn’t expect all this treatment.”

Meadows laughed and joked with her stylists before moving into the makeshift photo studio where she continued to laugh and talk with the photographers.

“Some of these people are just too much fun to talk with,” photographer Terral Fox said.

This type of interaction and camaraderie was also part of the original vision Cowart had for the event.

“We want to see relationships being built,” he said in his original web video. “We want to see connections being made behind the scenes.”

Help-Portrait is not a charity organization in the traditional sense of the word. There is no board of directors, no tax designation, not even a headquarters. The extent of its organization consists of a website, designed by volunteers, where people communicated and planned the event for their various locations around the world.

“You have to understand that this is a worldwide movement,” Grimes said. “The word spread just though word of mouth and through the internet.”

Even though this is the first year for the Help-Portrait event, the success was evident by the dozens of people who came to get their pictures taken and by the smiles on their faces when they left.

“I definitely plan on doing this again next year,” Grimes said.