What Happened During a $15,000 Headshot Giveaway

In February, I put something out into the world that I had been thinking about for a while.

I said I was going to give away $15,000 in headshots to people serving in ministry and moving the message of Jesus forward in the world. I did not know who would respond, and I did not try to control it. I simply put the offer out there and paid attention to who stepped forward.

By the end of March, I had photographed 28 people. In my mind it became an exercise of casting lots on who I was to serve.

And in the end, it felt like I was meeting the exact people I was supposed to meet.

Each session was a window into someone’s work. Pastors, leaders, people serving quietly and consistently. Different roles, different organizations, but a shared commitment to something bigger than themselves. I walked away from the sessions realizing how many people are out there doing meaningful work that most of us never see.

And in the middle of all of that, something else was happening that I did not expect.

The experience inside each session started to look very similar.

Almost everyone walked in the same way.

Excited to be there, grateful for the opportunity, and at the same time just a little unsure. Many had never had a professional portrait done before.

So we kept it simple and began capturing images quickly. I provided guidance and direction on posing, made a few adjustments and within a couple of minutes I showed them what we had.

That moment changed everything.

They would look at the image and almost always say some version of the same thing.

“That actually looks like me.”

You could see the shift happen in real time. Their posture changed and they smiled with ease. They became more willing to take direction, try different expressions.

From that point on, it stopped feeling like something they had to get through. It became something they could actually enjoy.

And that is where the best images came from.

Not because of the camera, but because trust showed up.

As the month went on, I started to see the bigger picture.

I did not choose the 28 people who came through. Each conversation, each session, each connection felt intentional in a way that is hard to explain if you have not experienced it.

There were moments where introductions were made. Moments where referrals went both directions. Moments where I could see how one relationship could lead to another down the road.

It reminded me that when you put something out there with the right intention, you do not always get to control the outcome, but you do get to be part of what unfolds.

Looking back, this was never just about giving away $15,000 in headshots.

It was about showing up, paying attention and trusting God that the right people would walk through the door.

And they did.

God brought the right people, and through trust, they ended up enjoying something they usually avoid.

If you have been putting off getting a portrait done, I understand why. Most people are not avoiding it because they do not need one. They are avoiding it because the experience feels uncomfortable or unclear.

But when there is trust in the process and in the person guiding you through it, everything changes.

And sometimes, you do not realize how much until you see it for yourself.

If a new portrait has been on your list for a while, there is a reason. You do not need to have it all figured out before you start. You just need a process that makes it easy and someone you trust to guide you through it.

If that sounds like what you have been looking for, reach out.