A local photographer is maintaining a sense of humour as she documents the current health crisis.
Laura Bainborough, of Laura Joy Photography, had many photo shoots booked, but COVID-19 shuttered each of them.
“I actually had a wedding shoot planned for today (Saturday), but obviously that, along with many other things, has been halted,” said Bainborough.
Not being deemed an essential service, the photography business is taking quite a hit as the current health crisis is forcing people to self-isolate.
Bainborough has been in photography since 2012 when she graduated from Georgian College. Her passion for the art form came at a sad time in her life, as the family prepared photos for her grandmother’s funeral.
“I was looking through all these photos and realizing I was watching her whole life in pictures - laughing and having fun in moments I previously knew nothing about,” said Bainborough. “I loved how moments could be captured and live forever to tell someone's life.”
The same thing is happening now as the 27-year-old photographer has some fun by telling the story of the health crisis that has many people scrambling to disinfect themselves and everything around them.
COVID-19: A Collection, is a series of photos that show Bainborough in different outfits and poses. In each picture, she is shown with an item that has become relevant for the time. A Lysol can, toilet paper wrapped around her and posing in a housecoat ... these form the beginnings of the collection.
“I had all this pent up creativity that I needed to get out. I had this brand new dress I bought for a gala I was going to attend,” said Bainborough. “I really loved the dress and wanted to wear it, so I took some pics in it and everything just went from there.”
The whole process took about three hours from the thought popping into her head, taking the photos (from a tripod), editing and then posting.
Bainborough admits to having fun with it and just trying to keep busy. After posting on her social media pages, she got lots of positive feedback and says more collection photos are coming.
“Everyone loved them, I was kind of shocked,” said Bainborough. “I was just having fun, but the fact that others were able to take some joy from them makes me really happy.”
Her main concerns are all the other small businesses she tends to work with as she does a lot of commercial work. While Bainborough does worry about the immediate future for everyone from time to time, the lighter side of the crisis she displays in her photos lines up with her positive outlook on life.
“I believe this will be over in no more than a couple months, maybe late May,” said Bainborough. “I think most people are taking this seriously and doing what they’re supposed and we will get out of this OK.”
Check out her website for more information.
