2020 has been a tricky year for many reasons, but the pandemic has made it especially difficult to navigate.
Small businesses like my own have had to overcome some serious obstacles. Not only are we worried about staying afloat during an economic downturn, but we are also genuinely concerned about the safety of our clients.
My studio is still open for business, even amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, like many others practicing photography in the Austin area, I’ve made it a priority to focus on extra safety precautions this year.
Here are some ways I keep mothers, babies, and family members alike safe in this strange new normal!
1) Masks
In 2020, most of us went from whispering “phone, keys, wallet” under our breath as we left the house to whispering “phone, keys, wallet, mask.” Masks are not something any of us really enjoy having on our person when we leave the house, but they are a little item that can make us feel safer in all this uncertainty.
At Hello Photography, masks are a must to protect yourself and others. I take safety precautions very seriously at my studio, and I wear a mask at all times to ensure your family is safe. During your photo session, you will be maskless, but I ask all my clients to wear masks in-between set and prop changes.
2) Distance During Sessions
Distance also does the trick when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19. To stay true to what experts on the spread of pandemics say, I practice social distancing as much as possible within my little central Texas photography studio. During my session, I will stay as far away from you and all other family members as is possible — though, to be clear, I will need to get close to babies during newborn sessions.
All of my clients have been more than gracious in terms of respectfully staying their distance during photography sessions. If this year has shown me one thing, it’s that people can be kind and caring toward one another even when faced with their own adversities. Respecting social distancing practices has reinforced that belief between myself and my customers.
3) Extra Sanitization Efforts
Before the coronavirus, I kept my baby & maternity photography studio clean and sanitized to uphold proper health and safety precautions. However, I amplified the amount I sanitized after COVID infection rates began to increase.
I ensure all surfaces and props are thoroughly sanitized before and after photo shoots. Doorknobs, bathrooms, and seats are wiped down to stop the spread of germs. Additionally, I make hand sanitizer available to all my clientele before, during, and after their newborn sessions, maternity sessions, or otherwise.
4) Distanced Appointments
As we all have come to understand, masks and hand sanitizing alone are not enough. Social distancing also makes a huge difference. Many people have tried to keep their social life vibrant by forming “pods” — friends and family who have committed to only seeing one another and no one else.
Unfortunately, I can’t keep client pods! But I have tried my best to maintain distance between sessions. I leave enough time between appointments that I have ample time to clean and sanitize the studio. I also leave time between appointments to ensure that none of my clients ever run into one another in the studio. During COVID, I have limited sessions to one per day.
5) Communication
Finally, one of the most critical keys to keeping everyone safe during the coronavirus pandemic has been maintaining open communication with my clients. I don’t need to know every detail of their lives, but I ask my clients to let me know if they’ve been potentially exposed to the coronavirus before they come in for their photography sessions.
Moreover — I emphasize that there is no shame in being potentially exposed. At some point this year, most of us have been exposed to the virus without our knowing. After all, it is hard to spend an extended amount of time away from a grocery store, the doctor, or even your mailbox. You never know who you may have run into who might potentially have the virus. My clients are encouraged to reschedule if they feel they might have been exposed to the virus.
By working together, we can cherish precious moments in milestone sessions, embrace the power of maternity portraits, and capture the innocence of newborn photography — all while keeping ourselves safe in the wake of the coronavirus.
COVID won’t always be the “new normal,” but Hello Photography will continue with best preventive measures until it isn’t.
