Jeremy Cowart is a photographer with an extraordinary passion for people. He has traveled all across the world taking pictures of some of the most famous artists and entertainers today. But Jeremy finds his greatest joy in using his talents to serve those in need. From traveling across the continent of Africa to help tell the story of those affected by AIDS, to uniting a community of photographers to engage with those less fortunate in our own cities. Jeremy is as passionate about people as he is about his art. And that stirring shows through in his work. Whether it's photo shoots with rock stars or taking portraits for earthquake victims in Haiti, it's easy to see he loves what he does.

Here is our exclusive Harmony Republic interview with Jeremy Cowart:

1. The "Hope in the Dark" photo book really is an incredible collection of images and stories. Where did your vision for the book come from? What was a favorite memory from that trip?

Thanks. Honestly there wasn't a vision when I set off to Africa to shoot that book. We went into it blindly and figured it out as we went along... we just wanted to let the stories and issues reveal themselves. Jena Lee Nardella did a fantastic job of putting words with the images. My favorite memory was just the whole thing. That was my first visit to a 3rd world country so I was taking it all in for the first time. And I've been back 5 or 6 times since and I've also been to many other 3rd world countries since.

2. How did Help-Portrait come about? What were the biggest challenges in putting it all together? What were some of the biggest rewards?

I wanted to do something over the holidays to give back. We ran a test event in Nashville in 2008 doing portraits for the poor. It was a huge hit and I knew there was no reason that we couldn't do it on a worldwide scale. Twitter and Facebook makes it really easy to spread the word these days obviously. There are always challenges when you're doing a worldwide, 1-day event. It was a little tricky getting everyone on the same page logistically but we got it done. It was clumsy but we got it done. The biggest reward was seeing how much it meant to the subjects. I knew it would be a cool event but I had no idea it would mean THAT much to people. It was a big deal. You wouldn't believe the stories...

3. You've gotten to work with some of the most influential entertainers today such as Sting, Imogen Heap and Switchfoot, yet you have a huge heart for servicing those in needs around the world. How do you find the balance between the different kinds of projects you do and how do you prepare yourself emotionally and spiritually as you jump between the two different worlds?

They go hand in hand for me. There's a weird balance there and I'm not really sure how to explain it. But I enjoy both worlds equally for totally different reasons. I plan to bridge that gap for a long time to come. I don't know that there's much "preparation" per say. I'm just called to do both so I jump in head first. I love it.

4. You recently spent time in Haiti working with the millions of earthquake victims? What was your time there like? Any particular moments stand out to you? Where do you see the biggest needs are?

The time there was intense obviously. I tell people it's like experiencing every emotion at once... loss, devastation, shock, slivers of hope and laughter, confusion, perseverance, anger, deep sadness, desperation... those are just a few emotions I both witnessed and experienced while I was there. I can't imagine the range of emotions the people of Haiti must feel. One of my favorite moments was witnessing the end of a wedding just days after the earthquake. It's amazing to see the Haitian people just press forward with their lives no matter what. There's no stopping them and their hope. At this point I see tents being a huge need. The food is getting there. The water is getting there. But they need shelter bad for the upcoming rainy season in March and hurricane season this summer...

5. What do you see is next for Help-Portrait? How can beginners in photography get involved?

We're just going to keep doing what we do! Although we'll have some partners this year that we're very excited about but can't announce just yet. It will be a big year. We're hoping to double our impact. Last year we did over 40,000 portraits in 42 Countries. Ideally, we'll double that this year. It's not about numbers obviously but it's fun to dream about giving that many people free portraits this year.

Jeremy's Website: JeremyCowart.com
Help-Portrait: Help-Portrait.com
Voices Of Haiti: VoicesOfHaiti.com
Hope In The Dark: HopeInTheDark.com
Awakening: AwakeningTheBook.com