In a nutshell…
As a mom and a neighbor, I am working closely with my school partners to ensure the health and well-being of my littlest clients during the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Click here to see my updated portrait session illness policy.
A Personal Story…
My oldest daughter was born 7 weeks premature, so practicing good hygiene has always been a priority for our family. At 9 years old she remains immunocompromised, having an IgG deficiency.
With this in mind, I take every precaution necessary to ensure the well-being of my clients, my family and myself. With the COVID-19 outbreak looming, here are the steps I’m currently taking:
General Scheduling:
As of July 2, 2020 I am booking any school – returning or new – who would like Fall photos outside on school grounds, taking advantage of social distancing and fresh air. I will maintain a distance of roughly 6 feet from the children and wear a mask if requested; there will be no shared surfaces between children or myself.
In the event of inclement weather, we will simply reschedule. I will not be accepting any indoor school sessions this Fall. As a last resort, if absolutely needed we can push back to the Spring.
Due to the nature of this outbreak, some of my schools have elected to remain closed. I know these keepsake photos are still important to parents. In this case, I will have space available for families to come to an outdoor studio in Leesburg for their school photos, should you want to make this option available for your families. Your school will still receive my usual donation. Please let me know if this is something you’d like to discuss in more detail.
Illness of Photographer:
Knock on wood, my entire family has remained healthy throughout all of this. If any of my family members – myself included – have a hint of illness in the two weeks leading up to your session, I will notify your school accordingly. If deemed medically necessary, I will submit to a COVID-19 test and provide the results to you. I am more than willing to reschedule if illness presents itself on my side or yours.
I do not take germs lightly and operate with 100% caution for the benefit of my littlest clients. While not entirely related to COVID-19, my entire family is up-to-date on vaccines. We have also been limiting our own activities in an effort to keep germs at a distance, including fewer activities for our children.
At the Session:
While I typically bring an assistant to schools, for the Fall of 2020 I will be a one-woman show. This hopefully provides some comfort by ensuring that at your session, there will be one photographer – and zero support staff with me – in the school. Bringing additional staff with me would increase the risk of the spread of illness. Schedules will be adjusted accordingly to ensure I have enough time to do all the things, and your understanding is appreciated.
I will not touch the children under any circumstances. This means I may need assistance ensuring children are photo-ready – faces cleaned, hair in place, outfits neat.
Please note that these are the steps I take when I am healthy. If there is any question of illness, we will proceed with the steps outlined in “Illness of Photographer” above.
Student Illness:
If there is the possibility of an outbreak of COVID-19 or other contagious illnesses in your school prior to our session, please notify me immediately. I will work with you to reschedule our dates to ones that ensure we are in a much healthier state.
I recognize that in many cases, there may be some sick children without there being an outbreak. Please note that I will not photograph children who appear sick – fever, dry or wet cough, runny/stuffy nose, vomiting, etc. This is as much for the comfort of the child as it is for the other children and staff who may be present. I am happy to offer make-up sessions for children who are sick on school photo day.
Cleaning of Photography Equipment:
All equipment that may come to the school with me will be sanitized after each use. I always have sanitizer in my bag and will clean my hands before, during and after the session; and will put my own outfit in the wash upon my returning home from your school.
Etc…
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. First and foremost, I’m a mom as well. I’m happy to answer any questions that you may have.
