A family portrait with four generations. Not much beats that in the portrait-taking department, according to Andrea Walker, a Help Portrait organizer, who pointed out the family in the waiting area of the Saturday's event.

Jaime Wagner, 24, was there with her son Daxtyn, mom Jesse Fast, and nana Celia Fast.

"It's pretty cool. We haven't had one with all of us together," Wagner explained, adding that the last family portrait they had done was five years ago, before three-year-old Daxtyn came along.

"It's really exciting for us, especially around Christmas time, to come together, put it on the wall for people to see, and be proud of it," she said about the portraits they would be taking home from the event.

Help Portrait is a worldwide event where photographers, make-up artists, hair stylists, and graphic artists volunteer to do free photo shoots for financially strapped people.

In Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Help Portrait was held in the hall at the Golden Ears United Church this past weekend.

Maple Ridge photographer and returning volunteer Stephanie Mitchell said she loves the event.

"I've always loved photography, but I was never able to make a career of it. [Help Portrait] gives me the chance to get out there and do it, while giving back to the community," Mitchell said.

"I absolutely have fun with all my models," she added.

Help Portrait was such a success last year that organizers Walker, Brenda Garcia, and Rev. Richard Bott were expecting even more people this year.

But that is not what happened, according to Walker.

"There were more people last year. We really wanted to increase our numbers this year," she explained, adding 150 attended.

"We may need to go out to the people. We've talked about sending a team out to the Caring Place and other locations, and working on some kind of transportation to get people here," Walker added.

"But, it was really great. We saw lots of people from last year and we saw a lot of new faces as well."

smclaren@mrtimes.com