As restrictions slowly come to an end, Lincoln photographers are preparing to adapt to the rules to ensure they can work post-pandemic.
They were not legally allowed to work in lockdown due to photography being close-contact work.
This has meant most photographers have had to go on furlough until they can find safe ways to work without any repercussions.
Stuart Wilde is a professional photographer specialising in everything from national media, PR, and weddings.
He has been able to carry out some socially distanced shoots but explains that it is very difficult.
He said: “Only for the last three months has it really felt like it’s been quiet. But I’m not feeling pessimistic about it.
“For someone who is used to being busy and has a work ethic, it’s been difficult. The furlough of three months and these last three months have been extremely difficult.”
Stuart works on events such as the Lincolnshire Show and the Christmas market, but due to them being cancelled he has lost lots of money.
“It has cost me thousands of pounds worth of money, it’s put a hole in the boat, but it’s not terminal by any means at all at the minute.”
Adapting to the government guidelines has not been easy either, he said: “Because I have to talk while I’m taking a photograph, it steams up the camera all the time.
“You have to work differently, there are only certain shots you can do with more than one person because people obviously have to be distanced.”
Hollie Vasey owns her own photography business called Tiny Feet Photography and specialises in newborn shoots.
Lockdown was also frustrating for Hollie as she has not been able to work since December 2020.
She said: “It’s been awful. Naturally, I’m a very creative person, I am not business-minded or admin minded.
“I’m a creative person and that is what sells my work and my business. For me, it’s taken it away from me. The only way I can describe it is a creative frustration.
She explained that lockdown has made her change the way she works on a day-to-day basis.
“We used to work at a million miles per hour, but we can’t now. We would have one customer, stop, and finish, and then have the next customer.
“Now we have to wipe every surface, the sofa, and it takes about half an hour per client, so we lose a lot of time.”
