With the world in “lock down” and the photography industry coming to a complete halt, photoshoots cancelled with an unknown of when or if they will ever be rescheduled. It’s created a time where everyone has been forced to reevaluate our lives. I, like others are concerned with our health and safety during a global pandemic, I’m probably more concerned with the economic outcome this will have on me and my family, since as a freelance photographer and retoucher, I live from one job to the next.
We’ve been “sheltering in place” as recommended by national and state leaders, to stay safe and reduce our risk of catching the COVID-19 (coronavirus) and although we might not catch the virus directly, its economic impact will be felt by everyone. With the extra time during my quarantine, I’ve had the time to reflect on my portfolio work with what I’m currently showing to attract new clients and how my marketing is set up on my website.
During my own reflection, my thoughts drifted to thinking about others and what other photographers are doing during this historical time period. One photographer, Tim Tadder, launched a campaign called, “Art for Assistants” to help support his photography crew. With a goal to sell 100 limited edition prints for $100 to raise $10,000. He extended the invitation to others in an effort to get 100 photographers to sell 100 prints for $100 to raise $1 Million as financial aid to support the photography industry. Other photographers have created print sales and provided discounts for their work and services. With all of this and my own desire to DO SOMETHING, I felt compelled to try and help others by looking at their work, offering portfolio review critiques; so, when life hopefully gets back to normal, I and others will be in a stronger position to start showing our work again with more focus and confidence than when the photo industry came to a stand still over night.
So in an effort to do something and to help, I’ve launched the 30-in-30 initiative to review 30 portfolios (and business sites) in 30 days. In an effort to start the healing process now so there is momentum when we all come out of this together. Within the first two days of announcing this effort through Instagram stories, 20 of the 30 sports were filled and the response has been amazing as photographers have been grateful for the extra help to talk about their work and their marketing efforts.
During a phone call, I mentioned the reason for wanting to do this with At-Edge, Associate Director of Photography, Francesca Galesi who loved the idea and immediately offered support to get involved. So I’ve teamed up with At-Edge who brings photographers and advertisers together already, so having their / her support has been great. Together, Francesa and I have been able to put together a process, which allows us to meet virtually with photographers / retouchers / artists / business’ through ZOOM video conference (virtual meetings) to review and critique their work, websites and marketing. All from the safety of our individual homes.
The experience has been great with being introduced other individuals, styles or genre type of work, which I don’t always find look at. The team effort of being able to approach the review from another photographers point of view while Francesca approaches it from the marketing side, has been great, and like most things, I’m also learning a lot.
As of today, we’ve managed to review 6 photographers and retouchers work over the first week and have other artists from Norway, Spain, Russia and other areas of the United States all signed up over the next few weeks.
I’m looking forward to this experience and know that I’ve already reached my goal of being stronger now than when COVID-19 brought the world to a stop.
