How COVID 19 Has Affected My Business

I hate COVID 19! I don’t know that we will ever know the the true damage that this deadly virus has had, and I fear that it will take years for us to even begin to fully understand its impacts.

Like many of you, COVID has hit home for me. And of course, it has also negatively affected my business as well. During the year 2020, I had several shoots cancelled. I would say about 85% of my sessions were rescheduled or cancelled due to COVID. And of those that weren’t cancelled, I had to limit the number of sessions, and even the type of sessions I was doing.

At the start of the pandemic, I stopped shooting large groups, and big events. I limited my sessions to 1-2 people or families in the same household in order to limit the risk of exposure. I always wore my mask, and remained 6 feet apart. But as the pandemic worsened, and we went into shut down, I had to completely shut down my business. I was not doing any shoots, and this lasted for months. It was tough, and at times if felt as though things would not get better. There was a lot of uncertainty. There was a lot of anxiety. It was an intense time.

The thing that helped me through that dark time was having faith. Faith that things would get better. Faith that we would not only survive this but that we would be stronger, and more knowledgeable. And so during this time, I focused on me. I did a lot of photoshoots in my home. I took pictures of my family. I took pictures of my dog, Jax. I took to the internet to learn. I got a mentor, and began reading more about photography. This time helped me so that when the world was ready for me, I would be prepared. During this time, I was also reminded of why photography meant so much to me. Photography for me is about connecting with people. It is about capturing emotions. It is about bringing people closer together.

I am so grateful for the loyal clients that stood by me. To those who were understanding when we could not do the photoshoot they had envisioned due to the COVID guidelines, I am so grateful for you. Thank you for being patient, understanding, and kind. Despite all the things I lost, I was reminded that I have a community who has got my back no matter what.

And although I don’t know what the future holds, I am hopeful that we will get through this together, 6 feet apart and with PPE, but we will be together none the less.

xo,

Esther Kabwe Photography