A unique way to celebrate the people who attend your next event
It’s fun • It’s personal • It’s something they take home with them • It connects them to you, memorably, forever
With a ONEbyONE Community Portrait™ you not only CELEBRATE them being a part of your community, but you REWARD them with a souvenir of that association…a captivating portrait of themselves which whenever they see it, will forever CONNECT them back to YOU.
My unique process explained in 4 simple steps.
1. The Photoshoot Experience
Artist Tom Styrkowicz has the ability to almost instantly size up his subject and capture their personality in a fun, engaging portrait, most times with his very first shot! His “portable location studio” is set up in a very visible space so those waiting can watch what essentially becomes a performance. They cheer, respond and applaud the ones before, and are encouraged to create their own memorable pose when it’s their turn.
2. Receiving the Printed Photo
No delayed gratification. People are often surprised that they get a large 8 1/2 x 11 print almost immediately. It’s theirs to take home with them! (To protect the print it gets put in a folder that is printed with information about the event or its sponsor.) The quality of the photo makes this a treasured keepsake.
3. Installation on the Community Wall
THIS is the real magic of the ONE by ONE Community Portrait™ experience. A second print is added to a large wall containing ALL the portraits made at the event. The wall becomes a focal point. People stop by to watch it “grow.” They look to see if their friends’ photos are on the wall. They take selfies of themselves next to their photo on the wall.
4. Community Bonding
It’s on the wall where people realize that they are part of your community. Their photo could be next to the CEO or keynote speaker, but because they too are on the wall with all the other participants, the print that they carry home leaves them with the lasting feeling that they “belong” to your community.
About Tom Styrkowicz
The creator of this concept, as well as the photographer, is Tom Styrkowicz. Tom’s background is widely varied; marketing and innovation consultant and speaker, event producer, brand creator and designer, photographer. He calls this “the 9th chapter of his life.” Discovering that he had a talent for quickly sizing up his photography subjects he challenged himself by setting up the first event as “500 Portraits in 5 days.”
He was excited by the quality of the portraits, but he was even more delighted by people’s reactions to the “community portrait wall” that was part of the event. He saw that this took photography to a whole other level. These were no longer just photos of people, but by linking them together on the “community portrait wall” they became a validation, a celebration, of what connected these people all together. People ask if he gets tired photographing so many people. He answers that he doesn’t, because everyone brings new energy to the event. And that energy gets multiplied further by the performance nature of these experiences. People waiting in line watch those ahead of them. They cheer them on, and get inspired themselves, to make their own photos more memorable. And at the center of all this is Tom, orchestrating it all.
Past Events
OMCA doubles value using ObO images in extensive branding campaign
The Oakland Museum of California extends the value of a ONE by ONE Community Portrait™ by using 100 of the images we created for a new branding campaign. We met Mary [...]
AAM convention’s gift to all their attendees
The American Alliance of Museums had us create a gift of a ONE by ONE Community Portrait™ for their convention guests. Anyone from the convention could come by and get a [...]
1246 people in 3 days at the Putnam Museum!
A testament to great upfront publicity. The Putnam Museum invited their guests to share their personal history. And did they ever. They brought personal treasures and mementos, and after the 4 [...]
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum celebrates over 600 volunteers and staff.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is about the plants and animals of the Sonora Desert. They called their event “The Other Animal,” meaning the people who made the [...]
IHS event was so successful they invited us back 2 more years
The Indiana Historical Society sees a way to expand their base and engage these new attendees in a personal way. I had created a book about the Nelson-Atkins Community Portrait and [...]
Supposed to be 500 in 5 days, ended up 810 in 3 days
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art was the first of what would later become known as a ONE by ONE Community Portrait™ experience. I was asked for a suggestion for a unique [...]
Frequently Asked Questions
meet and greet
who are you
who am I
what do you need to know
what else do you want me to know
talk about some words
setting our date
we’ll have created our foundation
capture your magic
you’ll be guided
you’ll see what we’re getting
you’ll be able to have input
apply my magic
I work with the images
taking the real and adding the dream
turning it into what you imagined
turning it into who you are
be amazed
view the vision that I created
or maybe a few different versions
suggest what could make it even better
say “we love it”
seeing it in your home
Of course this is important. But first let’s quickly talk apples and pomegranates. Let’s say “apples” are “pictures of yourself.” Selfies. Vacation pics. But here I’m talking “pomegranates.” Something special. Out of the ordinary. That’s what this is. You end up with a framed piece of art. The magic is the energy of your relationship that is captured forever.
That’s what, after doing photos for all my life, I have figured out that I am best at. Getting at peoples’ essence. And with this I want people to truly celebrate each other.
At the “be amazed” session I will show you your artwork possibilities, and we will discuss the different sizes for your chosen artwork. Because some people have lots of wall space, and others maybe less, I offer them in any of 3 sizes (16×20, 20×24 or 24×30) for $1195 (framing included). I offer larger sizes too in case you’ve got those 11’ ceilings in your home. There is also an option to purchase other images that you didn’t select for your main artwork. Full payment is made at this session.
There is no “session charge” for the photo session. You are only paying for your final artwork. Payment will be due at the time of selection at the “be amazed” session.
My talent is getting you to feel relaxed, then guiding you through the photo session. It’s a “go with the flow” kind of thing. If you’re a playful couple I’ll encourage that, and then some! If you’re quieter and more low-key, some soft music playing and you’ll forget I’m there, being so focused on each other. I build on your personalities, drawing out what makes you you.
Tuxedo and ball gown is always a good place to start. OK, just kidding (unless, of course, that’s YOU). Otherwise I say choose clothes that feel the most “you.” The images are in black and white so color won’t be a factor. And, really, I won’t want you thinking about the clothes and whether you feel right in them. I’d rather you concentrate on each other.
That can be a phrase you use between you. It can be something that comes up in the photo session. It might be a reaction to the final image choice. It could be my impression of you. It can come from anywhere. You have final say over what becomes part of your final artwork.
This is me, the artist, saying yes, that’s where I can control my magic the best. Black & white on a white background, because I want to focus to be entirely on you.
Each sessions builds into a rhythm that is uniquely ours. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes, sometimes it may take an hour. (A tip…bring music that you love.) We’ll know when we have it. And then I might encourage you to try a few more things, maybe to surprise yourselves.
What?!?! And take the focus off YOU?!?!? Nope, this is all about you. No thoughts of unruly kids, or yapping dogs. Be honest…when was the last time you focused only on each other? When was that last time you had a photo of just you two, capturing the feelings you have for each other? (You’ll thank me for this!)
Ok, ok, you had such a great time doing this…yes…next week you can bring the kids!
For the individual prints and the “community portrait wall” we have found that this combination puts a clean emphasis on the individual person. Black & white neutralizes any bright or garish colors and places the emphasis on peoples’ personality rather than their clothes. However, for additional usage, the images can also be provided to the event sponsor in color.
We believe that Tom Styrkowicz has a rare ability to immediately size up each person’s personality, and get them to express themselves in an interesting, fun way. (He gets 80% of the photos in one shot!) It’s not likely that any other photographer could get these kinds of results with so many people in such a short amount of time.
We provide Tom (photographer), a technical director, and 1 or 2 assistants, depending on the complexity of the event. The event sponsor might want to provide additional people to assist with information gathering and crowd control.
The most Tom has photographed so far is 1246 people over a 3 day event. Usually the number is between 600 and 800 over 3 days.
No. Each photo is considered a limited edition. People are given a folder explaining that there are only two prints. One for them, and one for the community portrait wall. The event organizer may also make available web resolution images that can be downloaded.
We set up the ‘portable location studio’ in a well-trafficked area. People sign up by filling out a photo release. Tom then does their portrait, encouraging them to be expressive about themselves. Immediately we send the chosen image to a high speed printer and print out two images. They are both embossed with the logo of the event. The guest gets one, and a second is posted on a ‘community portrait’ wall.
It can be a one day, two day or three day experience, 4 hours each day. It can also be customized to suit your event.
The photographer is Tom Styrkowicz. Tom has a remarkable gift of revealing someone’s personality in an instant. Most times he gets the incredible portrait in the first shot. That’s why this event works. He is key to the event because there are not many photographers who can capture a person’s essence as quickly as Tom, and do it for 600-1200 people in 3 days!
It’s hard to give a blanket estimate because there are many variables that affect the cost, like location of the event, length of time (it can be a 1, 2 or 3 day event), whether prints are being made, or if only digital photos are being distributed. Generally, for a full 3 day event, the costs can range from $12,000 to $20,000. The best way to get a firm estimate is to discuss with us the details of your event. We can suggest ways to tailor it to fit your circumstances. Get in touch with us on the contact form below.
Does the idea of having this at your next event intrigue you?
Call or text 913.940.8900 or use our contact form to tell us about your event.
Behind the scenes blog…
Out of the more than 10,000 portraits I’ve made at my events, this one is the standout.
Greensboro History Museum, Fourth of July celebration. Mom brings her 5 kids. When she sees their photo on the monitor she starts crying. She says she hasn’t had a photo of them together since they were little, and now she’s so happy that she has this memory of them.
In 3 days, 1246 people wanted to show me their history.
The Putnam Museum, in Davenport, Iowa, promoted their 150th anniversary ONE by ONE Community Portrait so well that at the usual end time of 4 hours, there was still a 2 hour wait for people who wanted to participate.
Museum uses photos of over 300 of their guests, created during my ONE by ONE Community Portrait event, to populate an entire branding campaign.
The Oakland Museum of California’s Director of Marketing, Mary Beth Smith, saw my ONE by ONE Community Portrait as the ingenious way to collect photos of over 300 of their members and guests, which became the core of their new branding campaign celebrating their 50th Anniversary…I did it for them in 4 hours over 1 evening!
Inventing a new way to use photography that utilized my unique ability
Through a random sequence of conversations I found myself talking to Kimberly Young about a grant that the Nelson-Atkins Museum had received to encourage new and different events at the museum. Little did I realize when I suggested my concept that it would change my career in a radical new direction.
How other organizations have funded their community portraits
Is funding holding you up? If so, here’s 4 ways museums funded their event. An individual donor The Indiana Historical Society turned to [...]
Make a ONE by ONE Community Portrait™ experience go farther!
The Oakland Museum of California had the brilliant idea that they could get great images for a new branding campaign (coinciding with their 50th [...]