Search For Baltimore's Most Photogenic Baby To Benefit Hopkins Children's Center

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WJZ)—Nothing draws oohs and aahs like a picture of a baby. And later this week will be your chance to have your child's picture taken as the search begins for Baltimore's Most Photogenic Baby.

Ron Matz reports it's a contest for a good cause.

Twenty-month-old Logan Blanchard is a star. He's last year's winner of Baltimore's Most Photogenic Baby Contest.

"We stumbled across the contest and decided to enter Logan. He was seven months old at the time and he actually won," said Jaime Blanchard, of Sykesville.

The 2012 edition begins Thursday at Marley Station.

"We come to Baltimore every year. This is our 20th year here searching for Baltimore's Most Photogenic Baby. The money we raise in Baltimore stays in Baltimore and goes to the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. We try to raise about $10,000 each year," said Julie Matthews, event coordinator.

Winning the contest took on special meaning for Logan and his mom.

"It meant a lot for us seeing that a lot of Logan's physicians are with Hopkins. It was a good way for me to teach him a lesson about kids helping kids and raising money for the hospital. It was about good moral values. It wasn't just about the photos; however, they were amazing," Blanchard said.

Categories include Most Precious, Most Comical, Most Beautiful and Most Fashionable. Your child just might win.

"All parents who enter their children get a professional modeling photo shoot with a fashion photographer. It's for infants through age five. There's no appointment necessary. Just bring your children to Marley Station this weekend. There's a $35 entry fee per category, but the parents get to keep the photos," Matthews said.

This is much more than just a contest. Each year this event raises about $10,000 for the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

"The Hopkins Children's Center is amazing. It's state-of-the-art. They are caring individuals. Their pediatric team is amazing. They were very hands-on. I couldn't have asked for more," Blanchard said.

It's a picture perfect way to help others.

"It's a fabulous win-win situation. It's a kids helping kids event. Parents get fabulous photos they don't normally get and they're helping to raise money for Johns Hopkins," Matthews said.

"The photographs we take this weekend will go on display at Marley Station, and a month from now we have the judging and voting. At the end we have a big awards ceremony where we give out trophies. It's like the baby Oscars," Matthews said.

The contest is Thursday through Sunday at Marley Station in Glen Burnie. The entry fee is $35.