Adopting Your Photography During Quarantine

Here in Los Angeles our live changed profoundly on 03/13/2020 when schools were closed and stay-home-orders were established. I only found out two days ago that the stay-home-order might be extended for the next three months. This has had a huge impact on how we see the world, especially as photographers and artists. Mainly because our freedom to document and create changed in such a massive way. But also because of anxiety, fear and insecurity caused by the unique situation we are in. For some of us, income fell to zero, and for others workspaces were closed. Today I want to share my story and how the Coronavirus lockdown impacted my work.

How it all began. Parts of my own family in one frame.

How it all began

For the first few days of the quarantine I tried knitting, crocheting and panic grocery shopping to keep myself busy. I quickly realized that these things weren’t helping me distract my anxious mind. Sitting still with my thoughts only made me more nervous. So I began to think about what I could do with my photography skills to help the community. When I heard about the Front Steps Project started by Cara Soulia, a Massachusetts family photographer, I immediately fell in love. I reached out and asked her for permission to replicate her project here in California and, with her blessing, I started on March 21st.

Starting a photography project

The idea behind this project is to take pictures of families in front of their houses from a safe distance, no payment necessary, but asking for a optional donation to a local cause of the photographer’s. After setting up a GoFundMe page to collect the donations, I started spreading the word via social media and text message. A few families were immediately interested, but it took time to get recognition for the project. In the beginning I was really nervous because I wasn’t sure I would be able to manage it all. However, within a few weeks I developed a routine of making appointments in the afternoon at people’s houses and editing at night. Early the next morning I would send out the pictures and after that I started all over again. Basically it’s a routine of portrait, edit, sleep, send, repeat.

So many friends and neighbors! I’m so grateful for each and every single one of you guys.

At one point during the fourth week I felt like the whole thing was losing momentum. It’s so hard to stay motivated when you constantly have to motivate other people and push yourself at the same time. I wondered if I should quit and change gears by starting something new. Around that same time a local TV station contacted me to report about my project. I said yes right away though it freaked me out. From that moment a lot changed for the project. More and more people asked me to take their pictures, but most importantly I felt like my project mattered and made a difference. As if looking at myself through some else’s eyes had changed my own perspective.

Making new friends during the second phase of the project.

Today it’s been eight weeks since my little project began and we’ve collected over $3500 in donations for the Los Angeles Food Bank!

Somewhere along the line I also started a second project, Faces of South Bay, where my daughter and I work together to feature local small business owners. We aren’t asking for donations, but simply raising awareness within our community for all the little family-owned businesses struggling during the quarantine. With each business we feature on our Instagram account, our following grows and it becomes more comfortable for us, almost like we’re growing deeper roots in the community with each picture we take.

Meeting small business owners in the area has changed my own shopping pattern. Now I’m paying much more attention to shopping local.

Most surprising to me is how little ideas keep growing in so many directions. To be able to feed people via photography and create networks within a challenged community means so much to me. And it had such a strong impact on how I see the world. Before quarantine, my photography was mainly a creative outlet that nurtured only my soul.

Now I feel like I’m spreading love one picture at a time, while pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

This blog post if part of a blog circle and I’m excited to share Melissa’s information about how to prepare your family for a photoshoot. She’s a North London Family Photographer and I adore her work. Enjoy!