tips: Re-Opening during the pandemic.
When I took a client out for my first session since the mid-March quarantine, it felt amazing. Different, distanced, but amazing. After that, the following week (the first week my state re-opened) I had an uptick in inquiries, which I had predicted.
I told y'all that people will always still want pictures and always value professional photography! Coronavirus or no coronavirus: what we do matters and our clients love us!
So first, please don’t completely panic about your business simply because of the pandemic. Somebody moved our cheese, but we can adjust a bit to not just stay-afloat, but thrive in this new world we are finding ourselves in. Adjusting is kind of a thing these days.
So…. on the topic of re-opening your portrait photography business….
Some of you (I see you Wyoming) never stopped working because Covid-19 isn’t a big deal where you live (what’s that like??).
Some of you who closed are chomping at the bit to photograph clients again.
Some of you who closed are feeling like you are just not ready yet.
Some of your clients are super ready to let their kids hug you already (whether you want them to or not).
Some of your clients might be secretly (or outwardly) condemning anyone who is already leaving their house right now.
All this division is something we need to accept, because while we are all in the same storm, we are not all in the same boat. Anyone with the internet can see that people are very divided about a lot of things right now. But that doesn't mean we have to be afraid to run our businesses in a way that works for us and respects others too.
Navigating it though… I don’t want anyone to feel alone or uncertain. In April, right in the middle of the first quarantine for my state, I posted a video from my last workshop where I shared my own thoughts on “COVID-19 and Us”. As part of the twenty minute round-table, I made four recommendations for what to do when you do return to shooting...
In case you missed it or don’t feel like watching it, here's a recap of those four recommendations:
What to do when you’re ready to return to photographing family clients again:
1. Do Not Drop Your Prices
I repeat: don't drop your prices… at least not out of fear that you won't book clients if you don’t. The value of your time and talent did not suddenly get slashed in half. The amount of hours it will take you to do what you do — to plan, perform, process and deliver an exceptional family photo session experience — did not magically reduce to peanuts because of this pandemic. If you feel a tug at your heart to offer reduced-price sessions out of the goodness of your heart and because financially, you can, by all means, do that. But if you are feeling like you have to drop your prices because nobody will book with you if you don’t, please talk yourself off that cliff or take my pricing class and I’ll talk you out of it myself.
2. New Practices for Not Spreading Germs
Assure all of your clients that you are taking new germ precautions — and of course, do that. If you or anyone in your household has been exposed to Covid-19… reschedule all of your upcoming client sessions and wait until you’ve got a negative test result or have quarantined for the recommended amount of time before you have any in-person interactions with clients. Mask-wearing, distancing, no-touching, and bringing sanitizing wipes everywhere — this is the new norm for most of our interpersonal interactions these days. Being outside helps a lot, but even outdoors, you should be doing everything you can to put your clients at ease that they are safe with you — and also… you need to protect yourself and your family too. Figure out what distancing at one of your sessions might look like. Other ideas: Consider front porch sessions. Prep your clients on how to prep their kids, or get cute or funny colorful masks that might be less intimidating than the surgical ones, for the little kids who maybe haven’t been out of the house much and seen a bunch of grownups in masks. Be mindful that your clients might be all over the board with how they are doing right now.
3. Follow the Rules
Operate legally and follow government mandates in your area. We should all be doing this anyway, always operating legally and elevating the reputation of family photographers as professionals and business-owners… but it bears repeating in this context!
4. Stay Calm, Cool, Collected, Professional
Just like you always have, let your sessions with families be a time when they are creating memories together, having fun, and escaping the mundane for the time they are with you. If you’re freakin out a little bit about the pandemic on the day of your session, reschedule for another day (or get it together before your session starts). If you’re frustrated about the ways of the world right now, don’t unleash all your frustration on your clients. Remember the experience they are coming to you for… and give them that. Be the pro that you are.
Now that I’ve talked a little bit about the what… some of you in some states might be wondering about the WHEN. On workshop day, the “what to do when you return” topic was sort of emblematic because the stay-home order was still in place. I didn't even address the when because I don't have a crystal ball.
Now that we (at least in Arizona) are not under any government mandates to cease outdoor distanced activities, I did not (and do not) have a formula for determining what you are ready for, what your clients are ready for, and WHEN you should re-open (if you have not already). Only you can decide that.
For me, I knew as soon as I finished with my first session after quarantine that I had made the right decision to start up again. For me, to returning to shooting with an abundance of caution felt safe and responsible. I know that even in the midst of a pandemic, when I have real concerns about my health and the health of my family members, I know that I am ready to work with *some* clients again. I will also not be saying yes to *all* the sessions that I totally would have done eight months ago. I am taking it one day at a time and one inquiry at a time.
For you… Do you feel pressure to do something that you aren’t ready for?
Do you feel ‘ready’ but are uncertain about how to proceed or afraid of what others will think?
When and how you start shooting again are decisions that only you can make. But if you want to chat through it with someone, you know where to find me! (but in case you don’t…. my email is juliegriffinphotography@gmail.com)
-Julie