Local Studio Photographers Encouraged to Help Deliver 10,000 Family Portraits to Deployed Military Personnel in Time for the Holidays; Online Registration for Participation Begins September 1

Woodbury, NY, August 29, 2011 -- The PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA), a respected photo industry organization that brings together some of the most renowned brand names in the photographic community with the common goal of sharing the impact photography has on our society, today announced that it is calling for studio photographers throughout the country to participate in its third annual Portraits of Love Project, which offers families of deployed military personnel free portraits for the holiday season. Photographers who volunteer their time will be asked to photograph families stateside and then simply upload the images to a server where prints will be shipped free of charge to both the families and their loves ones serving overseas.

The Portraits of Love Project offers professional photographers and portrait studios an opportunity to use their talents and resources to show their appreciation for our military personnel serving abroad. The PMDA’s nationwide network of volunteer photographers will be asked to open their studios to military families from October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. While some studios may choose to host sessions by appointment throughout this period, others may elect to host open sessions on select days.

Interested photographers can register to participate in the program online at http://www.pmdaportraitsoflove.com/photographers.php between September 1 and October 1, 2011. Volunteer photographers will receive program promotional materials from the PMDA along with directions on how to upload portraits to the Project’s fulfillment system. Additionally, volunteer photographers will be asked to provide details about their studio space, such as location, size and set-up to allow organizers to plan for anticipated volumes in each market.

“In 2010, we had more than 400 photographers host portrait sessions for families on military bases and in studios throughout the country,” said Joellyn Gray, President of the PMDA and Director of Marketing at FUJIFILM. “This year we hope to expand the effort to deliver a small taste of home to even more servicemen and servicewomen who aren’t able to be with family during the holiday season. The photography community has always been amazingly generous with its time and resources around this cause, and we believe we’ll be able to do even more with their support this year.”

In its first three years, the Portraits of Love Project has enjoyed the generous sponsorship from industry partners and PMDA member organizations including:, Canon, FUJIFILM, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Bonnier Technology Group, Digital Photo Academy, Photo Industry Reporter, SeeHere.com, Samsung, Panasonic, Hewlett Packard, Tamron and The Tiffen Company.

About PMDA
Founded in 1939, PMDA provides a series of forums throughout the business year for its membership to exchange ideas and learn about new technologies and business trends, in addition to administering programs that promote photography to the general public. Monthly programs and symposiums feature leading photo and imaging product suppliers and retailers, as well as financial analysts and technical experts. The PMDA teams with the Soldiers' Angels volunteer organization to create the Portraits of Love Project, with a goal to provide 10,000 U.S. soldiers around the world with free portraits of their families and loved ones during each holiday season. The organization has also teamed with PMA International to produce www.TakeGreatPictures.com, a site created to help American consumers find meaningful ways to incorporate photography into many aspects of their everyday lives, while helping them to make intelligent decisions about buying new cameras and accessories.

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