This still doesn’t feel real…

We’re all locked up at home, low on toilet paper, and admittedly kind of afraid of what life is going to be like for the next few months. It seems like all you can do is take it one day at a time right now.

There is, however, somewhat of a silver lining amidst all this chaos: times likes these force you to reflect on your life and focus on the important things like family, health, and happiness. And perhaps it’s a blessing that we’re all being encouraged to focus on those things… maybe it’s shaping us all into better and more conscious humans.

HERE ARE 5 REASONS WHY COVID-19 IS SHAPING US INTO BETTER HUMANS: #WeAreAllInThisTogether

1) WE’RE GENUINELY SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY (AND SHOPPING SMALL)

Every business is struggling right now, but especially small businesses.

Like so many other working Americans, your fellow photographers will be out of work until things are back to normal. We’re under “shelter in place” orders too... so any photoshoots or events we had in the books for the next few months are out the window. That means no source of income for the foreseeable future.

Even when life goes “back to normal”, things just won’t be normal as we all try to adjust to life after the coronavirus. That includes small businesses - it might take quite the fight for many small business owners to get back on their feet after this.

That said, here’s how you can help out your local photographer or other small business owners after this is all over:

Reschedule, don’t cancel
Give them a shoutout on social media
Recommend them to your friends and family
Leave them a rockin’ review
Utilize some of their other services

2) FINDING CLARITY IN WHAT MATTERS MOST

We’ve been trudging on since we got into the workforce. Life moves quickly, and it often causes us to forget about the necessities.

But, because of this, we are all slowing down. We’re facing hard truths like never before - Are we devoting enough time and energy to our loved ones? Are we feeling fulfilled in our careers or in our lives in general? Are we healthy (mentally or physically)? What would we do if the worst case scenario happened?

You name it, we’re facing it right now. Never before in our lives have we been forced to face so many difficult questions about our existence. Take advantage of this. Bring your priorities into focus, and keep them there even after this is all over.

3) THINGS ARE UNDOUBTEDLY BEING PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE

It’s incredibly difficult to wrap our heads around what our parents and grandparents went through in their lifetimes. Not much that has occurred in our lives thus far can compare… but the situation we are in is remarkable.

For the first time, so many of us are coming to understand what it’s like to be pulled out of everyday life, to become resourceful in times of uncertainty, and to genuinely fear what the future holds. Ok, Boomer… we see you, and we understand you.

On top of that, we’re all considering what life is like for others during this hard time and paying attention to what we completely ignored before. We see you too, healthcare workers. And we owe our lives to you, COVID-19 or not. Thank you to everyone else who continues to risk their lives to keep things rolling. Hopefully we remember how thankful we are for our communities after this is all over.

4) LEARNING TO APPRECIATE THE LITTLE THINGS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE

We took our normal routines for granted… and full grocery stores, and yes, even toilet paper. Many of us probably worked a little too hard and even took time with our loved ones for granted before all of this. Let’s admit it, we got too comfortable and we took so many huge blessings for granted!

Going forward, let’s change that. We’re sure that you’ve already discovered newfound joy and appreciation for things that were previously just another part of a day in your life. Keep that going! Thank your family, your community, and the workers (and even your toilet paper) for the roll they play in your life. Rejoice in the little moments with your loved ones and don’t let yourself forget what these moments were like and what they taught you.

5) MAKING THE MOST OF OUR TIME

While we’re a little wary of all this free time we’ve been given, it’s been a blessing in disguise.

On the business side of things, we’re finally getting a chance to finish off projects we kept pushing off. It’s given us a chance to slow down, re-evaluate and make sure what we are doing is in line with why we are doing it.

As many of you have probably also discovered by now, this free time has encouraged us get back to doing the little things we love, like picking up old hobbies or discovering new ones! It’s also encouraging us to do some “extra” things with our loved ones to pass the time, like family TikTok’s, Just Dance parties, and even family photoshoots! While it’s crucial that we document this historical time of our lives for future generations to learn and grow from, it’s also important for you to take advantage of this situation and capture your family’s unique experience throughout all of this.

These photos will be absolutely incredible for us to reflect on in just a few short years to remind us of where our hearts ultimately lie. And we promise you don’t need your trusty family photographer to help you capture these remarkable moments. Here are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind while you take the reigns on this whole family photographer thing:

Hunt for good lighting! Do your best to find natural light, but don’t drown your subjects in sunlight. It’s called Golden Hour for a reason!
Don’t forget to frame the shot! Use what you have around you (a tree, a stairwell, or an indoor plant!) to coax the viewer’s eyes to your subjects.
Experiment with your camera’s capabilities - try portrait or landscape orientation, use pano or portrait mode on your iPhone, and even touch the photos up a little after.
As far as posing, just forget about it. Those candid shots will do a better job at capturing your family and their personality, and that will mean so much more to you in the end.
- But, if you’re really eager to bust out a few really good Christmas card pics, check out our 12 tips to a drama free family session!
This one is just for laughs… switch to panoramic mode (portrait or landscape orientation) and take photos of your family while they move around or change faces mid-pic. This is the result, and it brings so much belly-laughter which is something we just can’t get enough of right now!

While we’re completely devastated by the impacts of COVID-19, we’re thankful to be given the chance to look at life from a new perspective. We’re feeling incredibly blessed for our friends, family, and our community during all of this. Thank you for all that you do.

Stay safe and hang in there, y’all.