These times are unique. We’ve never encountered anything like this in our lifetime. Schools closed down (most likely for the rest for the school year), businesses have closed, hospitals are over run with patients and not enough equipment to support people, IE beds, staff, ventilators and respirators…

The reason: COVID-19, aka The Coronavirus, AKA Rona.

 

Some photographers started various sessions called #thefrontstepsproject and #thefrontporchproject to keep with the government directive of Social Distancing (not coming within 6 ft of someone else) , while still allowing us to do what we love, but also sustain our lives, being able to pay our bills and take care of our families. As small business owners and entrepreneurs, there is no one who is going to pay our partial salaries, or give us unemployment. Oh, it’s been offered as an option, but it’s as if I was a non dentist trying to pull out someone’s teeth. It’s not happening.

This SEEMED like the solution, until things got super bad we were ordered to “shelter in” our homes, not leave unless we had to.

Oh, we can take a walk, or go the the park, though on nice days it’s hard to practice social distancing because Errrrrrrrryyybodyyyy is out!

 

 

It was such a joy to see these guys smile and laugh in the midst of our country’s devastation. It’s IMPERATIVE to laugh, and find happiness in one another.

 

I took these images of my sweet neighbors at the beginning of this madness a few weeks ago but have been afraid to share because many photogs have gotten back lash for not following directive for shelter in place or social distancing. Even though I used my 70-200 mm lens, I still want to be responsible and abide by the governors rules So for now, these sessions are on hold. I’m sure once the order to shelter in is lifted, some, like myself, will still be a bit fearful and  want to continue with this style of photography, at a distance.

But to be honest, I have been photographing people at their homes for YEARS, yes mainly inside, but this gives a whole new perspective. Kinda nice, dontcha think??

My hope is that small business like myself are able to sustain ourselves for a bit through all this, and that our amazing clients come back and support us once it is safe.

(watch for those you love to share specials, and you can support us through purchasing gift cards , sharing our work, writing positive reviews, liking and commenting on our posts on social media and right here on the blog!

Photographs are part of our legacy. One of my favorite things to do during this ‘shelter in’  time has been perusing old imagery of our family/ancestors. I think of the times they went through, and wish I could hear stories of, say, The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.

I am vowing to tell a story with imagery and having my teenagers write journals to go along with photos I take, for future generations to read and see.

 

Anyone else documenting these times, or is everyone just trying to survive the quarantine?

 

#stayhome #staysafe #shelterin #socialdistancing