Creative in the First Inning of Covid-19

I remember this time last year as if it were an hour ago. Everything stopped with a sudden hush. The photographers, stylists and retouchers on my roster all contacted me, one by one, to discuss what this might mean for their business.  We greeted each other during zoom happy hours with nervous laughter and Covid memes that were trending at the moment. There were some funny ones. We discussed the possibility of business stalling for a month or two. We had no way of knowing, at the time, the havoc the mysterious pandemic would reap on our business and our lives for 12+ months. And so, we waited anxiously for a few weeks as clients called to postpone jobs and to ponder next steps. Soon we came to realize that our industry was shut down—the lights were off, and we were in the dark. 

To keep anxiety and depression at bay, I encouraged my photographers and stylists to do test shoots at home, lest they sit on the couch and mope. Some people got inspired and did some remarkable things that stretched their artistic muscles. Here are a few wonderful projects that unfolded during those first few months of Covid-19. 

Prop and Food Stylist Rachel Grunig Went Crazy with Dying Fabric. Not one to sit idle Rachel Grunig took the opportunity during the “slow times” to experiment dying fabric with natural ingredients such as marigold, avocado and eucalyptus. She was fascinated with range of color she could get infusing fabric with plants, especially plants that she grew or gathered herself. “There is an element of randomness in the results that I cannot control,” she says, “that’s where the magic happens.” Rachel created some beautiful fabrics, one of which I wear around my neck as a gorgeous scarf. I would say now, after 12 months Rachel’s an expert!  

Photographer Sarah Flotard and Her Mannequin. The viral threat took Sarah Flotard to some experimental places. Enter her muse—The Mannequin. Booking models for a test shoot was next to impossible, so Sarah made lemons out of lemonade and ordered mannequin hands and arms and began photographing them in action. They were surprisingly cooperative. Creating visual stories with her new mannequin talent became her Covid obsession. 

?Photographer George Barberis Found Comfort and Creativity in his Garden. When Covid set in, George Barberis headed to his garden where he cultivated some gorgeous plants and vegetables. An amateur chef, he used his bounty to whip up some gourmet meals and some stellar photographs. The results were rich and yummy images that we added to his food portfolio.  

Liquid & Beverage Photographer Mark Mawson Got Literal. One of my favorite photographs of the early Covid days was from Mark Mawson. He created an image, made with paint and water, of a syringe emitting the much talked about dose of a lifesaving vaccine. I love it. And I cannot wait until everyone gets their own shot in the arm!