Portraits were free for the asking at the Carnegie Community Centre on Saturday. (CBC)

Some Vancouver photographers have brought a bit of happiness to the impoverished residents of the Downtown Eastside.

On the weekend, they transformed the gym at the Carnegie Community Centre into a photo studio where they are shooting holiday portraits and giving them at no charge to those in front of the shutter.

It's part of a global project called Help Portrait founded by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart.

Jonathan Cruz called the project an "opportunity to reach out and touch people — remind people that they belong and they mean something.

"Everybody feels safe in here so we're getting some amazing interaction with subjects," the Vancouver photographer said.

"Subjects" like Sylvia La-Rochelle are a little shy at first but soon warm up to the camera.

"I was going to tell my friends it's nice to get your makeup done," she said as she posed.

"I was always looking where you can use your camera for something to do good — good opportunity to make them smile," said photographer Don Ax.

And there are plenty of smiles to go around. Many who showed up Saturday to have their portrait done haven't posed for the camera in decades.

"I'm going to put them up on my wall, frame it," said Douglas Forster. "I don't have people take pictures of me often, if at all. I can't remember anyone having pictures of me."

Cathy Tustin said she was grateful to have pictures of her husband and herself to hang in their new home: "This is really nice. It didn't cost us anything."

Hundreds of portraits were shot, Cruz said, and he hopes for an even bigger turnout next year.