The single-day initiative, called 10,000 Headshots, is taking place at various locations across the country and is open to anyone who is currently unemployed.
The professional headshots are can be used with resumes and to post to job sites such as LinkedIn.
"The goal of this is to put a skip in their step when they walk out of here, so they can be confident when they go out into their next job interview," photographer Peter Hurley said.
He is hoping the act of generosity will help Cat Henry, who was laid off because of the pandemic, get through this very difficult time.
"I'm looking to have a vision of the next path I take in life," she said.
According to LinkedIn, people who include headshots receive 21 times more profile views and nine times more "connection" requests. And this type of session would normally cost $250 or more.
RELATED | 1.3M sought unemployment benefits last week as COVID-19 cases rise, extra $600 in jobless aid expires
More than 200 headshot photographers are participating across all 50 states, creating pop-up studios at Brookfield properties retail locations.
There are four locations in New York, three in New Jersey, and two in Connecticut.
For photograher Leslie Kahan, it hits close to home. Years ago during the mortgage crisis, her husband lost his job.
"It was tough on our family," she said. "And I can relate to that and it's part of the reason why I put my hand up."
All headshots are being taken with social distancing and safety measures observed.
Anyone who wanted to take advantage of the initiative must pre-register before showing up.
MORE ABC 7 UNITE
See more stories at abc7NY.com/unite
SEND STORY IDEAS TO EYEWITNESS NEWS
Watch Here & Now
Here & Now episode archive
RESOURCES
We are also publishing resources in a range of areas, which will grow and can be found below:
Ways to Help
Black Lives Matter
Black Voters Matter Fund
NAACP
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform
No New Jails NYC
Voices of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL-NY)
Black LGBTQIA + Migrants Project
Teaching the Next Generation
Black Lives Matter at School
Creating Space To Talk About Racism At Your School
Teaching for Black Lives - Rethinking Schools
Black-Owned Bookstores in New York and New Jersey
Cafe con Libros (Brooklyn)
Grandma's Place (Harlem)
Sister's Uptown (Manhattan)
Source of Knowledge (Newark)
The Lit. Bar (Bronx)
The Little Boho Bookshop (Bayonne)
Books
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children In A Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Podcasts
1619
Black Wall Street 1921
Jemele Hill is Unbothered
Still Processing:
Movies
American Son: Available on Netflix
If Beale Street Could Talk: Available on Hulu
Just Mercy: Available on Amazon Prime
Selma: Available on Amazon Prime
The Hate U Give: Available on Amazon Prime
When They See Us: Available on Netflix
Documentaries
13th: Available on Netflix
America Inside Out with Katie Couric: Available on National Geographic
Becoming: Available on Netflix
I am Not Your Negro: Available on YouTube