Porch and front door photography sessions have exploded in popularity since the lockdown, but photographers in Canada are now seeing a pushback against the practice.
Porch portrait sessions have been the subject of much debate in photography circles, with arguments about whether they are essential, further compounded by official advice varying greatly from one region to another. The Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) has now released a statement asking photographers to stop.
“PPOC recommends that these Front Porch type of sessions do not take place at this critical time,” the statement reads. It acknowledges that the sessions can be argued both ways but has come to the conclusion that photography “is not an essential service or business” and its continuation cannot be justified in light of directions from Canada’s health officials.
Many photographers were offering their front door sessions for free, with clients making donations made to food banks or supporting other local services. Despite these good intentions, photographers are now being encouraged to stop in the interests of public safety and respect for government guidelines.
No doubt the debate will continue. Be sure to check out this article, which explores it further. Many point out the low risk presented by such photoshoots, making them justifiable. In contrast, others observe that people shouldn’t be allowed to pick and choose when the “stay at home” advice can be ignored.
What do you think? Is PPOC overstepping? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
HAHAHAHAHAHA great and since you like to be, how would you put it as vague as possible why don't you link to which article you were referencing...?
I'll wait sweetheart.
You were the one who referenced the article. You are the one to provide the link.
[EDIT] As I already stated, there is only ONE article which shows up in an Fstoppers search, about using a drone to take photos during the pandemic, an article which you commented on, an article in which the photographer did as I accused, an article still irrelevant to this article. [/EDIT]
You are the one who appears to be wrong. I made what seems to be by ALL accounts, a correct statement; the drone photographer in the article YOU referenced was violating drone laws of his country.
You then made several claims about my statement; «so many assumptions without any evidence», «makes completely blind statements without any shred of evidence,» «making claims without evidence,» «You claim that the photographer using the drone was violating all these rules but you have zero proof,» (the first time in which you even remotely gave an inkling to the actual accusations), «making ignorant claims», «sighting a specific drone rule on this argument is not really relevant,» (which is interesting, since your argument was that I made a false claim about him violating specific drone rules), «You do not have the full context to that situation,» «you didn't ask the author», and, «you must be referencing the wrong article.»
So I made a claim, and supported that claim with a country-specific rule about what I saw actually done in that country by that photographer in what I theorised was the correct article which YOU referenced. Since you now made the claim that I got the wrong article, and YOU are the accuser, it is on YOU to provide the correct article. YOU referenced the (irrelevant) article in the first place. YOU have been the one being vague the ENTIRE TIME.
So, you can wait, just do not hold your breath. You have been weighed, you have been measured, you have been found wanting. (…Or, at least, your arguments).
lol not even reading the rest of that based on your first sentence. The hilarious ignorance and hypocrisy are too much to handle.
I genuinely mean this, I feel bad for you.
Really??? So if I had told you that there is an article which proves me right, it is up to YOU to find the article????
Now THAT is ignorance. You enjoy believing you are right, without a shred of proof to support your arguments.
[EDIT]
Just looked at your 97 comments. Ignoring the ones in this article, it seems that you have a habit of making accusations, laughing, but never really justifying yourself.
Me out.
[/EDIT]
LOL keep telling yourself whatever you like and avoid citing your claim. Got it! :D
My claim? The irrelevant reference was yours. The accusation against me was yous.
P.s., I already did cite my claim. Re-read.
I can't argue with blind arrogance and stupidity. :D lol
In that case, how do you live with yourself?
Laughing at you on what has become a regular basis. :D
You laugh at everybody. That is what you do.
«LOL!»
ok lol
photography “is not an essential service or business”...
And that is the killer. Even when giving free sessions (by the way, many of those sessions were for free) we still cannot practice our profession.
I photograph mainly daycare and families. I keep wondering what kind of landscape we will face when things go back to "normal".
We are not essential, that goes without saying. Many of our potential clients face huge reduction in income without any hope of improvement in the short term.
Strange times.
I am a portrait photographer. I take portraits.That is what I do. (…and model portfolio, and corporate events, but that is neither here nor there).
Would I ever do a “porch session”? No! …Unless it truly reflects the persona of the subject(s). As an environmental portrait, it can work, for those to whom it is suited. If I were to do such an environmental portrait, I would still have hair and makeup done, lights/reflectors, etc.
Going to a families house, keeping a safe distance, and shooting them on the porch, without first scouting for a good perspective, composition, or lighting, is not what good portrait photographers do. Sure, the end product might have been shot on the porch, with no artificial lighting, scrims, flags, or reflectors, and with the subject(s) doing their own H&M, but that would have been done after assessing the specific portrait need and intent.
This is certainly not an essential activity. If that is what you want, ask your neighbour to take a pic with their cellphone, and send you a digital copy to print on your HP® Deskjet®.
You want me to take your portrait? Next available booking is *tentative* for the second week of August, (although, my event booking for the first week of August is currently up in the air). I am neither doing, nor recommending, (for photographers, or clients), porch portraits during the Covid-19 pandemic.
TLDR: I’m a portrait photographer. I don’t like porch photos. I need a crew and extensive lighting. Infect your neighbor instead. I’m against shooting until the second week of August.
Not really, but close.😉 Love the summary.
P.s., Asking the neighbour does not mean infect them. It means they can shoot you from a safe distance, without lighting, composition, et al, and send you a no-contact digital download, just as easily as any pro can, if scouting, H&M, etc., is not going to be done. The only difference is the post processing. (…but if they asked for a porch session, they were probably going to add their own IG filter, anyway 😉 ).
In other words, whatever a pro can do “safely” in a no-touch, two-meter boundary, without risk of infecting/infection, would require so little effort on their part, that a neighbour can do the same, with a smartphone, without the travel. If it takes more than what a neighbour can safely do, it is no longer safe for the pro to do.
Can a pro do a better job? Yes, considering things such as watching for eyes being open, expressions being acceptable, shadows not falling across faces, etc., but in essence, it akin to calling the plumber because the kitchen sink strainer needs to be emptied. Do that yourself. If your sink is blocked, call a plumber. If you want a snapshot of your family on the porch, ask your neighbour (from a safe distance). You want a family portrait, make an appointment with a pro for after the storm has passed.
P.p.s., I may possibly be shooting in June/July, but those dates are being kept open for any re-schedules, (tentatively), as that really depends on how the situation unfolds. No “new” reservations until the second week in August (tentatively).
Porchraits bring joy to families, break up monotony, bring a smile to children’s faces, and give people a lasting positive memory of these unprecedented times. Many have never had a Portrait done before.
I’ve done 60 Porchraits in 3 weeks and raised over $3,000 for Made by Momma who provides food and essential supplies to families with young children facing adversity or crisis in Calgary.
My process:
1. Prior to session, family receives a detailed agreement advising of social distancing practices and touchless session steps.
2. Each morning before leaving, I check the Alberta Health website for any updates or changes to policies.
3. Text the family my ETA
4. Text the family when I arrive to come outside.
5. Sanitize hands prior to leaving my vehicle
6. 10-15 minute photo session with NO contact of any surface, pet or person.
7. Back in vehicle, sanitize hands, wipe down camera and Repeat steps 3-7!
I have received a death threat from a photographer in another province (reported), numerous hate, judgments and shaming messages and comments.
I have also received a great deal of joy, ability to connect, learn more about the struggles people are facing and even share a blog series ‘Hope Amidst COVID’ that highlights small businesses, entrepreneurs, front line workers and charities.
We are supposed to be in this together with kindness, not tearing people apart.
Even though I’ve decided to finish up the Porchrait sessions (my mental and physical health is strained from the volume and the threats and shaming), I will not hesitate in granting friends, family or neighbours a session at their request, in accordance with local government protocols.
I feel for you that someone is making death threats. That's out of line.
Average $50.00 per session to charity, and people are giving you death threats??? Good for you on your work! You ought to be thanked, and imitated, although, not by me. I mean, not imitated by me. I stand by what I said previously, But someone doing something for charity and hope is not to be held in contempt.
Do I think porch sessions is a good idea during this pandemic? No. Not for you nor your clients. That is my opinion. Is it essential, or needed? No. That is by definition. But it is absolutely fantastic that you should spread hope and raise money for charity simultaneously. No question about that. Kudos to you!
When a baker says that he will be giving away $5 to feed the hungry for every $7 velvet cake purchased, do other bakers say, “hey, you are ruining our business! You cannot charge only $7 dollars for a velvet cake. Besides, you will never stay in business like that. Have you any idea what your business overhead is? Stick to hobby baking!” I do not think so.
But then again, I am not a baker. I could be wrong 😉 . What I say is, “yes, his velvet cake costs less than mine, but mine is worth every penny!” (And I still give to charity, but that is a personal thing for me, not marketing. Not all my customers might appreciate my charities. Some of them are faith-based).
All the best to you in your charitable work, and stay safe, for you, and others.
P.s., face mask? You did not mention that, but I assume it is happening. Remember, as long as you are moving around, you are a potential vector.
I’m about to start doing these sessions. 70-200 only, guess which end I’m shooting at? I have a respirator and gloves. In the event a “child charges me”, I’ll pull out my “pepper spray” and drop the child. Come at me bro. 🤷🏻♂️
"Essential" vs "Non-essential" needs to be dumped for "Safe" vs. "Un-Safe". If a business can operate in a manner that conforms to a set of safety guidelines, then they should be allowed to do so. It also has the added benefit of removing the government as being the sole judge of the "winners" and "losers" of the "Essential Game."
Someone has to set the safety guidelines. That is what a government does. That is what, “to govern,” means. …Literally! …to set limits. It sets limits on what businesses can and cannot do, for the protection and well-being of the people. Unless, of course, that it is a government of the corporations, for the corporations, by the corporations, in which case, its job is to limit what people can do, for the benefit of businesses.
In this particular case, “safe” has been defined as staying home, and “un-safe” has been defined as moving around. An exception has been given for “essential” businesses, so it does come down to both safe vs un-safe AND essential vs non-essential.
The government is going its job as a governor to businesses, for the protection and well-being of the people. The “essential” exception is for the protection and well-being of the people. One cannot separate safe vs un-safe, from essential vs non-essential, and governance. The three are intertwined.
The government also set safety standards during the crisis. If someone is functioning within those standards, then it is safe for the general public. My wife and I are allowed to walk through the local parks. I take my camera and I take pictures. It's all within the 'government' guidelines. You tell me; what's the difference of me walking in a park taking pictures and someone on the sidewalk taking pictures? If the rules are being followed, then I see no difference. Well, one is organized and one is spur of the moment photos, but.....
«Well, one is organized and one is spur of the moment photos, but.....»
Ah! So you do see the difference! But seriously…. I think the problem here is the difference is that when the government says that you can take occasional walks, in your neighbourhood, for exercise, they are not telling you to deliberately interact with other people. (Indeed, I think they tell you to make every effort NOT to interact). OTOH, porch sessions means interacting with other people deliberately, perhaps several times a day, several days a week, in different locations, not locally.
The difference is HUGE! See my post above, #101populations. ( [DEL] Going to tag it now [/DEL] [INS] Tagged [/INS]).
[EDIT] To clarify, you and your wife would be a potential vector within one population. A porch photographer is a potential vector between populations. [/EDIT]
Karim Hosein , I disagree with ..."OTOH, porch sessions means interacting with other people deliberately, perhaps several times a day, several days a week, in different locations, not locally. ... To clarify, you and your wife would be a potential vector within one population. A porch photographer is a potential vector between populations."
IF I were do porch sessions as described in the article, my interaction with the client would be via phone, TXT, and email, and while standing in the street. As long as I stay at least 12 feet from the clients, I am not a vector for them catching COVID-19 from me if I had it.
I talk to my neighbors regularly from my front yard, they in their's, and some are across the street, or walking by in the street - while I am in the middle of my yard. I am interacting with each of them from a safe distance.
Social distancing is about slowing down the rate of the spread of COVID-19 within the population - not stopping it entirely.
«…and while standing in the street.»
I will assume that you mean the sidewalk, (or curb, or shoulder, if a sidewalk is not present), but I digress.
«As long as I stay at least 12 feet from the clients, I am not a vector….»
You are not a direct vector, but you might deposit the virus on various surfaces on their property. It can remain on hard (non-porous) surfaces for several hours, and on soft (porous) surfaces for several days. (Hence the reason for wearing a face mask). If they have pets or people who later go into the yard in that area, then they become another indirect vector from you to them.
«Social distancing is about slowing down the rate of the spread….»
…by eliminating as many potential vectors as possible. If all vectors are eliminated, the spread stops. we may not be able to control all vectors, —recent studies suggests that feral cats may be a potential vector,— we can contol the biggest known potential vector.
If I am being assaulted by a human, I do not want them to slow the assault, I want them to stop. Same with the spread of the virus. The goal is to stop the spread. If all we can do is slow it down, we will take that.
«…within the population….»
…And across populations.
This article makes me grateful that I am an American citizen living in the USA. Our Constitution's Bill of Rights protects us from overreaching governmental restrictions. State and local officials (Florida) have the policy that the restrictions are all about safe distancing, and not about what you do, but how you do it.
An analogy I use is that life is a lot like swimming, where sometimes you are only treading water, and now we are told to submerge (stay at home) and hold your breath - until the air is safe (COVID-19 is airborne). We can only hold our breath so long before we must surface and breathe - those who don't will drown. Economic activity is essential to the welfare of all human beings.
Given that we still know very little about COVID-19 at the moment, it is not known how long it will be before life returns to "normal". There is no guarantee that a vaccine will ever be produced (there is no human vaccine for Rabies, nor is there any immunity - I've had to have Rabies treatment twice thus far). Right now we are hopeful, but we need to figure out how to navigate our life through the landscape of COVID-19 while pursuing life, liberty and happiness.
Front Porch photo sessions are the demonstration of human adaptation. That is what we do - we adapt to survive, those who don't, won't.
Is the PPA of Canada going to send money to photographers so they can eat? If not, they have no business telling these people to stop. These sessions can be done With proper social distancing.
Frank Zayas , I agree, and so does the State of Florida. Here in Florida we can just about do anything we want as long as we do it with proper social distancing: go walking, go fishing, doing photography outdoors, just as long as we are not getting too close to others.
There is a general fallacy about COVID-19 among the public that the virus just "die out" and will "go away" if everyone just stays home, inside their house or apartment and practice social distancing when we go out on essential errands. ...Then we all can go back to "normal."
There is hope that eventually a vaccine will be developed; and there is speculation by health officials that this virus might go dormant during the summer months like the regular flu strains do. At the moment a vaccine is just a big "maybe" with no certainty that one will actually be developed; and the later part is just speculation: no one knows if warmer weather cycles will cause the virus to go dormant; and there are uncertainties about those who recover from COVID-19 will have long term immunity, or as in the case of Rabies, any immunity is short term after treatment.
From watching NatGeo and Discovery type shows, I've learned that when human explorers enter a new cave system, that they contaminate the caves merely by being in the case. So they quickly take fauna samples are they enter and go deeper, knowing that the case system will never be pristine again. Human beings carry a host of fauna on and in our bodies that we shed continually into where ever we happen to be.
Let's say that I am exposed to COVID-19. Whether I get sick with it or not, the fact is that I will bring it into my home. Once there, I will take it with me when I leave my home for any reason. Just like the cave explorers, I will unintentionally spread it where ever I go, whether or not it results in someone else getting sick from it. Eventually, everyone in the USA will get exposed to COVID-19 - that is where herd immunity eventually kicks in.
The whole purpose of staying at home and social distancing is the slow the rate of spread of COVID-19, so that our health care system can provide the needed level of care to those who get serious sick and need more intensive care. As long as our health care system, people and facilities, are able to keep ahead of the demand for care, fewer people who get sick will die. When our health care systems are overwhelmed, more people will die. When COVID-19 first arrived in our country, our healthcare system was no where near prepared for it. By slowing the rate of infection, bending the curve, we are giving our health care system a chance to catch up and get ahead of the virus.
They weren't TOLD to stop, they were ASKED to stop, and not by any government body, but by the PPOC. Quote from the article..
"The Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) has now released a statement asking photographers to stop."
The headline is total clickbait, and were I in the PPOC, I would seriously reconsider my membership.
Okay, this is just dumb. I do not think these people actually realize what a photo session can do for a person's moral, especially a families who has been stuck at home most likely over a month now.
There's no physical interaction or danger to the person or family the photo is being taken of. Preparing for a photo boost a person confidence and it provides a moral boost that is very much needed.
What's funny, Bars selling beer on the go is perfectly fine, but actually making a change in a person or family's life is dangerous. LOL