My day job as a self employed photographer, like so many other people, has been put on hold during the Coronavirus Lockdown. I am unable to work, and have been missing taking photos as well as the social interaction, which was really beginning to get me down.
After a few weeks of tearing my hair out over home schooling and despairing that I was losing my own identity in the process, I finally came up with a way of using this time productively.
I thought it would be a lovely way to document this strange time in our lives by offering Doorstep Family Portraits and encouraging charity donations by way of payment, while doing my daily walks around beautiful Hertford each day. I've had an overwhelming response to this on social media and have raised (at time of writing) over £1400 for the East And North Hertfordshire NHS Trust Charitable Fund! Hopefully I'm not done yet!
I have met families with new babies who haven't met any of their relatives yet; Keyworkers who are working tirelessly in the community to keep everyone safe or fed; Families who are separated by the lockdown. We're all just trying to get along as best we can. Thank goodness the sun has been shining for most of it!
Anyone who would like to donate can do so here
"we would like to thank you Purple Kite Photography for volunteering your time during the Lockdown to raise valuable funds for the NHS by using your talent and skill as a professional photographer during a most unsettling period. The visual keepsakes you have generously created have brought so much joy to many families in Hertford, and shared globally in our case. Our family photo was missing our eldest son who is currently busy working in A&E at Homerton Hospital, supporting Covid-19 and non Covid patients. He is studying to be a doctor and along with other NHS staff has experienced some very challenging times. It was profoundly moving to include Adam in our doorstep portrait by way of holding a photo of him and he was really uplifted when he saw your final image. Thank you on behalf of our family and all the others for your outstanding contribution to our community. We will cherish our family photo forever”
by Sarah Whyte, Purple Kite Photography
Female lifestyle photographer based in Hertford, Hertfordshire