A Special Frontline Workers Porch Family Portrait

Porch portraits have become a thing since the lock down and social distancing were put in place. During the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic some are making huge self sacrifices to help the many. They are putting others before them and their families.

One of my neighbours daughters and husband fit into this category. A number of weeks ago they made the tough decision to leave their son with her parents so they could carry on working and helping others. Charlotte works as a Care Quality Nurse for a company who run seven nursing homes with some of these nursing homes having confirmed Covid-19 cases. Due to this scenario she didn’t want to put her son or parents at any risk resulting in this important and difficult choice. Her husband Daniel works as a data analyst and is classed as an essential worker and must go to his place of work.

Having seen them come round to visit their son a few times I felt it important that this special time be captured and remembered. Seeing them talking, blowing kisses, playing peek-a-boo and laughing through a pane of glass is both beautiful and heart wrenching. Not all eyes are dry when it is time to part.

This situation and choice has not been easy but people like Charlotte are putting the lives and safety of both their residents and colleagues first; before themselves and their own families. I wanted for them to have something to remember this time and be able to explain to their son in the future just what happened and how much they loved him. I asked them if they would like their next visit photographed and I would capture a porch portrait of the moment they arrived, were together and started to part. It is such an intimate time with anticipation, recognition, jubilation and filled with love, affection and happiness. All this on a near silent street.

Here are some of the photographs of this special time and shares the importance that we all do our bit in this important time. I am truly grateful for all of the front line workers for everything they are doing and the sacrifices they are making for the rest of us.

During the entire time I was taking photographs social distancing was observed (around 3m away at the closest) at all times. Using a 70mm-200mm lens allowed me to stay distant but still capture the story of their visit.