Local Photographer Joins “10,000 Headshots” Initiative

NONPROFIT NEWS INITIATIVE SHOOTS FOR 10,000 HEADSHOTS

BY SAMANTHA GALVEZ-MONTIEL

Local photographer Irene Bello took part in the “10,000 Headshots” initiative, a nationwide event to help unemployed Americans update their professional profile in an effort to find work.

Bello was laid off about ten years ago from a job in the corporate world. Photography was always her passion, so decided to pursue it full time.

“When I heard about the initiative of giving

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 tor Susan Lacerte. “It was wonderful to see people and their smiling faces come through the gates on our opening day. We look forward to welcoming more visitors to enjoy this outdoor treasure in Flushing.”

The Queens Botanical Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Various safety measures have also been implemented to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

State guidelines mandate that the garden

back to the unemployed workers, I was totally on board because I know the importance of a headshot and what it is to get a job,” she said. “I know the feeling of being unemployed.”

“10,000 Headshots” is the brainchild of Tony Taafe, who co-founded Headshot Booker with renowned portrait photographer Peter Hurley and national event photographer Lauren Lieberman. Taafe recalled the struggles his father had with unemployment and the impact it had on his entire family.

“A headshot is really important today in the admit only one-third of its standard capacity, and guests must wear face coverings and maintain a six-foot distance between themselves and others. Masks are available for purchase upon entry.

Staff are also disinfecting high-touch surfaces throughout the day, and multiple hand sanitizer dispensers are stationed throughout the grounds.

Though the visitors building, which houses the Garden’s gallery, is closed to the public, art is still incorporated into the experience with outdoor installations, thanks to a collaboration

job market, it’s your digital handshake basically and just a selfie or a photo that you took at your cousin’s wedding is not going to suffice because unintentionally people will make judgments just by looking at a picture of you,” Bello said.

At last month’s event, Bello said 50 percent of the attendees were actors and actresses, while the other half were corporate workers.

“Giving people confidence and a self-esteem boost and hoping that they can take the next step in getting a job was a huge accomplishment for

BOTANICAL GARDEN BEGINS WELCOMING VISITORS

me,” Bello said. with AnkhLave Arts Alliance, a nonprofit that works toward inclusivity and representation in the contemporary art world.

By presenting art in a nontraditional setting like the Queens Botanical Garden, AnkhLave aims to promote artists of color, who represent the institution’s diverse visiting audience.

Six local artists were selected to create sitespecific installations for locations throughout the garden. Information about the exhibiting artists and the Queens Botanical Garden’s reopening can be found at queensbotanical. org.