Just like many other industries and businesses, photography has been dramatically affected by Covid-19. Not only has the virus caused a major financial decline within the industry, individual photographers are required to change processes and procedures to fit the new normal as things open back up. Some of these changes will be simple and others a little more complex. I’ve provided some information below on the changes that I’m making to keep us safe but if you have any questions or concerns please let me know.

Normal Interactions

The simplest but probably the most difficult due to it being habitual is not shaking hands when meeting someone. I’ve been taught my entire life that not shaking hands when you meet is disrespectful so eliminating this will take some practice to develop new habits.

Hugs are also an issue because they’re a common occurrence in some cases. After spending time with a family and in many cases working together multiple times it seems very natural to hug instead of shaking hands so this will also be an adjustment.

Session Locations

Due to the potential issues with shooting indoors (studio, in someone’s home, etc.) I will be shooting outdoors almost exclusively for the next couple of months. I prefer to shoot outside but the virus has made this more than just a preference.

The parks in our area are still closed but will be opening up in the coming weeks. They are a  great place to shoot because they provide a beautiful background and they also give us the space we need to maintain distance between us.

If you’re interested in doing individual portraits or senior high school portraits in the studio let me know and we can discuss in more detail. It can be done but there are numerous other requirements that we’ll need to follow.  

Social Distancing

Many photographers like using 50mm or 85mm lenses to do portraiture. This means the distance between the photographer and subject may be a little closer than what’s comfortable right now. When I started doing portraits, I was taught to always use lenses over 100mm so I already gravitate towards longer lenses.

I have several lenses that are more than 100mm which means we can easily shoot while maintaining considerable distance between us. I’m not going to get much deeper than that on this subject but am happy to expand if needed. I provided a list of my equipment in the “About the Shoot” section of my website but if you have any questions or would like more information please let me know. However, with the equipment that I have we will easily maintain two or three times the suggested social distance requirements.  

Props

It’s very common to use props with children or pets because they enhance the shoot. They add fun, action and in some cases a distraction during the session. This includes things like balls, balloons, squeaky toys, flowers, bubbles, candy, etc. Due to the virus I’m no longer going to bring props to a shoot; we will only use items that you provide. This will eliminate someone outside of your family handling an item that your children or pets will be playing with. We can discuss potential props prior to the session and I can provide a ton of ideas if needed.

Other

If you have any questions about the items above or would like additional information please let me know.