Celebrating Healthcare Workers
Post Pandemic Healthcare Production
Healthcare workers across the world have been incredible heroes this year. As a whole, their stories have been told. Their praises have been sung and sung loudly. I think it is safe to say that regardless of political and other world views, the healthcare community has worked incredibly hard and has earned every bit of praise that it has received. Not only has it been earned and received but the community still deserves a lot more praise.
Like most of the world, production at our studio stopped mid-March. We postponed, or flat out canceled, shoots left and right. We made use of our time working on our website, making and re-making marketing plans, reworking our business plan, and making ever evolving plans for getting back to shooting whenever the world would allow it.
One of the jobs that postponed in March was for a repeat client, The Women’s Hospital of Texas. We had teamed up with Heroic Brand Creative in October of 2019 to photograph employees for an installation on a main walkway in the hospital that celebrated inspiring employees. The work ended up winning some awards and we were slated to repeat the project in March of this year. Then with quarantine, the strain on our healthcare system combined with mandates to limit unessential people in hospitals, we expected that to be the last job to reschedule.
Late last month we got an unexpected call. The shoot was back on. Not only was it back but the client wanted the new installation hung within a couple of weeks. The celebration was back on and now it was more important than ever.
We assembled our team. We kept it small. John, our studio manger, now has multiple certifications in production virus control and served as our safety officer. He brought hand sanitizer, masks, and other cleaning supplies. We knew the hospital would have loads more but we came prepared anyway. The hospital handled our standard temp checks and exposure questionnaire. Anna, our makeup artist, also has safety certifications for cosmetics. Zach served as digi tech and 1st Assistant. We set up a tether computer and socially distanced monitor for client review. We all kept our space. We kept everyone safe.
It was a celebration of the workers. They are true heroes. I was privileged to be chosen for the job and humbled to be able to honor these fine people. The client is very happy. Super happy. They are far too nice to me. Even more special for me was seeing the reactions of each person we photographed as they reviewed their images at the shoot. I could see what the recognition meant to them. Some said they had never seen themselves that way before. That is all the thanks I will ever need for doing my job.
