COVID-19 Safe Photography

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, including how we produce photographs. John Benford Photography is re-opening for production with the goal of creating high impact images while keeping everyone as safe as possible.

Business has always been about relationships, and the pandemic will test those relationships now more than ever. Flexibility, respect, listening and patience have always been our strong points. They will be required from all of us as we navigate these uncharted waters.

Our safety protocols are based on extensive research, using guidance from the CDC, WHO, OSHA, US Chamber of Commerce, state health departments, creative industry trade associations and industry leaders. John has also completed a COVID-19 Compliance Officer training for photography and video production sets, based on guidelines for Hollywood.

Here are some highlights from our protocols:

• We will prioritize working remotely whenever possible, especially for pre- and post-production tasks (site scouting, image selection, etc.).
• Outdoor locations will be given first preference, and then indoor locations with ample space and ventilation.
• On site, we will emphasize screening, minimizing crew size and participants on set, the use of masks, physical distancing measures, hand hygiene, and cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces.

Working lean is nothing new to us – every image on our website was created with a small crew (<5) or even solo.

These changes will affect budgets. There will be new costs (PPE, compliance officer when required) and increases as safe production will take longer. Some projects will need to be stretched over additional days. These increases will be partially or fully offset by savings from reduced travel, smaller crews, etc. We always work with our clients to tailor an approach that will produce the highest quality images within the available budget.

We are staying up-to-date on developments and research about the pandemic, and will adjust our policies and protocols to meet the latest standards set by government agencies and the creative industry.

Contact us for a copy of our latest policies and procedures for safe production. Or just drop us a line to share your thoughts – we would love any feedback you have on this subject.