Coronavirus Updates for JDP Clients- 3.13.20

Weddings, Photoshoots and the Coronavirus – My Action Plan

Hey everyone!

I wanted to take a quick minute to talk about something important. By now, I’m sure you’ve all heard of the COVID-19 and its impact worldwide. While at the very least this is distressing, I wanted to assure you that my business and I are prepared. I’m staying updated on the latest information, acting responsibly by avoiding travel to outbreak hotspots, meeting clients/vendors/employees who aren’t feeling 100% online instead of in person, and swapping hugs & handshakes for a friendly wave. Additionally, I’m making sure that all of my clients know what to expect!

If you are a client and have any concerns about your event and any details pertaining to cancellation and rescheduling practices, please don’t hesitate to review our contract and/or reach out to me.

Thanks!

My Action Plan:

I’ve created a coronavirus action plan. I will continue to practice healthy hygiene including washing my hands thoroughly before every wedding/photoshoot as well as before and after any public activity and avoid physical contact with others.  I will be bringing hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to every session and wedding to keep things as clean and sanitary as possible. I won’t be shaking hands or hugging when meeting with clients or other people in my day to day life.  During sessions, I will not be touching and I will keep away a distance of 5 ft, if possible, unless you request a specific shot that requires me to get closer. I will choose lenses that let me stay a little further away.

I will be very transparent with my health and if there is any concern I will take the highest measures and put others safety and health first.  I am minimizing my personal travel (including cancelling a vacation to New Orleans…boo!) and exposure to large events, sick people, and crowded places as much as possible.

 

Wedding Clients:

First and foremost, I am keeping up to date with all WHO and CDC recommendations and their travel advisories. I am also keeping up to date with what is going on in Maryland and neighboring states and the announcements that have been made regarding shutdowns, cancellations, postponements. My goal is to be understanding, easy-to-work-with, and flexible during COVID-19 outbreak. I operate my photography business with core values of honesty, transparency, and respect. Your health and well-being are my absolute TOP priority. I want to help ease your mind’s going forward, so you have one less thing to worry about at this time.

All scheduled weddings and events will be occurring as normally scheduled while taking the highest precautions. My goal is to put couples at ease. Please refer to my above action plan for steps I am taking to keep you and your guests safe.  In the hopefully unlikely event that I become ill or feel at risk to you or your guests, I will notify you immediately and make sure you have another professional of my quality and standards to take care to photograph your wedding.  If this were to happen, I will still be the one to edit your images. If you choose to cancel your wedding, please refer to our contract regarding next steps.

Make sure to keep your guests posted about your plans! Communication goes a long way. Use your wedding website as a tool! Post on your wedding website about the virus situation in the wedding location, and tell sick guests to PLEASE stay home and get creative about ways to include people who can’t be there. Worried that your grandparents or immunocompromised guests can’t make it? Find a way to live stream your ceremony and as much of the wedding as possible.

The most important thing is to not panic. We will get through this together!

Engagement or Personal Photo Sessions:

I plan to operate under my normal schedule. If we have a scheduled session, at this time I will be honoring our original date and time and agreement. Please refer to my above action plan for steps I am taking to keep you safe.  My goal is to keep us away from large crowds or crowded areas in order to keep our risk low. If this means switching to a new location spot to keep us safe, I will offer reach out to the couple with options to suggested alternate locations, while giving couples the opportunity to decide what is best for them.

All sessions can be rescheduled for a later date!  If for any reason you feel uneasy, sick, or would just prefer to reschedule, I completely understand and will be as flexible as possible for you.  Additionally, should I feel ill or feel as though I pose a risk to you, I will contact you immediately and we can reschedule.

Conclusion:

Please don’t panic and cause more stress. We are all in this together and we just need to do our part to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy.  Communicate as much as possible and be extra mindful with your everyday practices including washing your hands and not touching your face. Panic & fear can quickly overcome the facts so do your best to keep up to date with what is going on in the world and your community.

Can’t wait for things to go back to normal!

 

Resources:

World Health Organization

CDC

Live Global Coronavirus News Updates – The Guardian

 

Maryland Official Updates