Below is my letter to the State of Indiana COVID Response Team who asked me to provide recommend guidelines for photographers to follow as we reopen the state from the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic. I hope that these serve as a basic set of guidelines photographers can follow to safely reopen their businesses.
May 6, 2020
Christopher N. Deckard
Velvet Lotus Photography
210 N. 6th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901
To Indiana state leaders:
I would first like to thank you for all of your efforts to create as safe an environment possible over the last few weeks as SARS-CoV-2 has impacted the state and local communities. While many of us think the plan to reopen the state is ambitious, we do hope and pray that everything goes well and we can begin to find a new normal.
Per your request on May 4th, 2020 to suggest guidance for the photography industry, I’ve taken the opportunity to discuss with other photography professionals in our state to come up with a list of guidelines we feel should be followed as best as possible.
Following guidelines set forth in Executive Order 20-26, page 7, point 13 and page 6, point 8, recommendations put forward by Professional Photographers of America [1], photographers across the state of Indiana, as well as discussions with medical professionals, we have come up with the following recommendations for photographers to follow which should begin no earlier than May 11th, 2020.
For all sessions we recommend that on the morning of a photography session, photographers should ask their clients the following questions. This can be done via the phone, email, or questionnaire.
- Has any subject or family member had a temperature of 100.4 F or above in the last seven days?
- How are you feeling?
- Have you had a cough or any flu-like or COVID symptoms in the last 14 days?
- Have you been around anyone exhibiting these symptoms within the last 14 days?
- Are you living with anyone who is sick or quarantined?
If the answers to any of these questions is yes, the session should be rescheduled.
For outdoor photography sessions we recommend:
- Through Stage 4 of reopening, photographers shall wash their hands and use hand sanitizer prior to and after photography sessions.
- Photographers should wear a mask when possible.
- Photographers should observe social distancing guidelines and stay at least six feet apart from the subjects being photographed. Photographers should use verbal queues to recommend changes in posing.
- Any props used should be sanitized. Any clothing, blankets, or washable items should be laundered and dried. All props, clothing, blankets, and washable items should not be used for at least three days.
For indoor/studio photography sessions we recommend:
- Through Stage 4 of reopening, photographers shall wash their hands and use hand sanitizer prior to and after photography sessions.
- If possible, windows should be left open during the session.
- Photographers should wear a mask during the entire indoor session.
- Only the subjects being photographed should be in the studio. No guests, friends, or observers. If the subject is a minor, one parent or guardian may accompany.
- Subjects being photographed should wear a mask upon entering the studio per CDC guidelines for masks [2]. Subjects should promptly wash and sanitize hands upon entering the studio. All subjects should wear a mask when they are not being photographed.
- Photographers should observe social distancing guidelines and stay at least six feet apart from the subjects being photographed. Photographers should use verbal queues to recommend changes in posing.
- Immediately following the session, any windows that can be opened should be opened and the subjects and photographer should leave the studio for at least two hours. Following the two hours, any props used should be sanitized. Any clothing, blankets, or washable items should be laundered and dried. All props, clothing, blankets, and washable and un-washable items should not be used for at least three (3) days.
- In the case of multiple, individual, subjects being photographed, where the subjects live or work together (i.e. passport photos, headshots, etc.), each subject should be in the studio alone.
- It is further recommended that shoes be removed or foot coverings be placed over shoes.
- For studio shares, it is recommended that the studio administrator work with users of the space to follow the guidelines, including, but not limited to, additional cleaning and allowing no more than one session per day.
In the case of newborn photography sessions, photographers must directly hold and touch the newborn so as to safely and properly pose. To keep the newborn safe at all times, photographers must be within arms reach or have at least one hand on the baby at all times. As such, these additional recommendations are made for newborn photographers:
- Photographer shall wash hands and put on gloves before handling the baby. If the mother needs to feed the baby, photographer shall sanitize their hands prior to taking the baby back into their hands. Sanitizer should be used anytime new props are used or if the photographer touches someone other than the baby. Gloves should be used until Stage 5 is reached.
- Only one parent should be present during individual, posed, newborn photos. As family, parent, and sibling photos are also important the other parent and siblings should not be present until it is time to photograph the family. Any family member not being actively photographed should wear a mask.
- In addition to part 6 above for studio sessions, it is recommended that props, clothing, and the studio should not be used for a minimum of three (3) days per scientific studies that show the virus does not live past three (3) days on most surfaces.
Finally, in the case of wedding or event photography, it is recommended that the photographer follow social distancing guidelines, wash and sanitize hands frequently, and wear a mask when possible. As the photographer is a contracted professional who is required to be there, they have no control over the number of people at the event and shouldn’t be liable for exceeding the group capacity limits set for each stage.
We feel these guidelines will help photographers safely return to work and continue documenting the lives of the families they work with.
Sincerely yours,
Christopher N. Deckard
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