I love a good portrait, like the one above that I photographed several years ago.
But despite that, it’s time to hit the pause button. It’s time to stop doing the trend which has become so popular among photographers as of late — porch portraits.
Earlier this week, the Professional Photographers of Canada came out and asked Canadians to halt the practice of photographing porch portraits due to concerns regarding the spread of Coronavirus. We haven’t heard from an organization about this in the U.S. yet — I’m looking at you, Professional Photographers of America — but it’s really time to halt this project.
You might ask why. After all, the entire idea behind porch portraits is to stand far away and have the family stand on their porch, abiding by the 6-foot rule. The fact of the matter is, you’re still exposed as a photographer, and likewise, so is the family.
The risks
There are several risks you take when photographing porch portraits, though you might not think about it.
For one, you’re most likely driving to these people’s homes. If you were to get in a car accident, would your insurance company question you about why you were out doing non-essential travel? Would you be taking up time of first responders, or worse yet, a much-needed bed at a hospital?
But furthermore, there are risks when you’re at the family’s home. When you arrive at a home, what do you do? Probably knock on the door or ring a doorbell. Coronavirus can live on surfaces.
Some families were also breaking the rules and having their grandparents over, who did not live with them. This defeats the whole purpose behind a porch portrait, and again opens you and the primary family open to contamination.
Finally, some photographers were bringing things like white boards and tablets to help communicate posing and other ideas. Again, you risk contamination.
N95 masks are impossible to find, and so are latex gloves. Sure, you can bring hand sanitizer, but that doesn’t mean you’re making yourself and the family immune to the virus.
Be smart
Instead of pushing these porch portraits now, when everyone else is inside and worried about the Coronavirus, take a hiatus. Tell families that you want to capture them as they come out of the woodwork, when things start to open back up and return to normal. Doing so will keep you and your clients safe.
For now … let’s leave those porches empty.
Again a rather hysterical comment from someone who obviously doesn’t have much background knowledge about Covid-19. There are some risks you take when photographing portraits of verandas, even though you might not think about it. I am sure the “risks” are manageable and very minimal. For one thing, you will most likely go to the houses of these people. If you were to have a car accident, would your insurance company ask you why you are on a non-essential trip? In times like these, when hardly anyone can make money, I think something like this is very necessary. Every working… Read more »
You say “Why? If people are healthy and show no symptoms, why should they be kept apart?” There’s a very simple reason to keep people apart. People may be asymptomatic and still be carriers of the virus. That’s been proven, especially with children.
And the other thing about the car accident. If you were to get in an accident, that means you’re taking away first responders from responding to the virus. You’re potentially taking up a bed in the E.R.
And sure, you can take precautions. But the fact of the matter is that many are NOT taking those precautions!
There’s a very simple reason to keep people apart. People may be asymptomatic and still be carriers of the virus. That’s been proven, especially with children. Right. And as everyone should know by now, asymptomatic people can only spread the virus by smear infection. That’s why I had written that you shouldn’t touch anything and/or nobody and wash your hands. And the other thing about the car accident. If you were to get in an accident, that means you’re taking away first responders from responding to the virus. You’re potentially taking up a bed in the E.R. Seriously now? Does… Read more »
I see no reason to discontinue. Safe distance is maintained. As for car insurance claims, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard yet.
A-FREAKING-MEN! We are not essential. We can just lay back for a bit…like every-freaking-body else.
Photographers are doing it here in Australia too, they think they are doing people a favour, they are NOT
I see “porchraits” as a very reasonable way of making and maintaining connections. These days it is so hard to connect with people in any meaningful way.
I think the “car accident” argument is a little much. What’s next? Recommending a healthy diet so you don’t have a heart attack at home from eating all those Cheetos, and place a burden on first responders?
I’m all for being responsible but we have to use our heads and manage risk.
I agree – photography isn’t essential right now. There’s a lot we can do to strengthen our businesses during this pause that doesn’t require seeing clients face-to-face.
I actually love the idea of “Porchtraits”. These days people are taking ill and dying. How about having a great memory to take a look at to put a smile on your face or maybe a photo will be taken because photos in that family are never taken.
Life is a risk…period. At this point, our leadership and decision makers want the world to experience the “new normal” and get back to living more outside of our homes. With that said, portraits taken from a porch cannot be any worst than going to a studio.
I think right now, you’re totally right! When I wrote this, it was right in the time where Coronavirus was spiking across the U.S. Right now with most states being somewhat open, this is totally acceptable, as long as people continue to take precautions.