Photo and film shoots in times of Covid-19
Illustration: Carys Tait
Back at the start of 2020, prospects for the new year seemed good. I was busy and had quite a few projects lined up with new inquiries coming in regularly. Then, just before lockdown, pretty much everything was cancelled. Fortunately, one project kept going and prevented me from going stir-crazy, but I couldn’t wait to start shooting outside the confines of my house and work with people again. There’s still a long way to go before things resemble pre-pandemic normal on shoots, so in the meantime, we will need to work together to make our workplace as safe as possible.
Getting back to work: my guidelines
The following guidelines outline the way in which I intend to work with my clients and colleagues on photo and the smaller video shoots for the foreseeable future. Let me start off by saying that I am by no means a medical or health & safety expert. I have, however, been reading around widely on the current safety precautions in various sectors as well as experts’ views on their effectiveness. There are still a lot of unknowns around Covid-19, so I expect to be updating this document regularly, but having said that, please take your own responsibility and check the current rules and governmental guidelines as this article may be based on out of date or incorrect information by the time you read it.
Risk assessment
Prior to each shoot, we complete a call sheet and risk assessment document. This includes statements from everyone involved that they don’t feel ill or show Covid-19 symptoms. Every person involved in the shoot is documented, as well as all locations, in order to trace back for notification, should anyone get ill. When possible, we designate one person to supervise our safety measures throughout the shoot. Two weeks after wrap, the producer will be checking in with everyone to hear whether anyone has developed symptoms in the meantime and the result will be reported back to everyone present at the shoot.
Transport
Everyone involved in the shoot travels to the location on their own, in line with government guidelines. They put on PPE before they enter the location or interact with other members of the team. We will ask people to check their temperature before they enter the location.
Personal protection equipment (PPE)
Everyone on the shoot wears a face mask and gloves. Models only remove their PPE just before the shots they feature in and when the situation is deemed safe. Please be informed on how to put on and take off PPE safely (e.g. masks need to completely cover the mouth and nose; hands need to be washed thoroughly, preferably with soap and water for 20 seconds, before and after any touching of the mask).
Distancing
All pre-production will be conducted virtually, using video conferencing or phones. On shoot days, everybody is required to stay at least two metres away from each other. I shoot with long lenses and work wirelessly tethered to screens provided by me, on which the client and art director receive a preview of each shot. The art director is able to use this screen as a reference to what the set looks like through the lens. Models do their own styling, hair and make-up. We will consider how many people are on location at any one time. If too many people are in the same space, it will be more difficult to maintain distancing.
Sanitation
Hands need to be washed with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling anything. We sanitise everything we use. All my kit is disinfected following each shoot after being quarantined, using isopropyl alcohol-based products. We do not share equipment. There is one designated handler of props, furniture, etc. We are aware of everything we touch in the spaces we’re shooting and sanitise as soon as possible, including the WC. We agree beforehand who is to bring general disinfectants and who is to be responsible for hygiene in common areas. Where possible, spaces are to be well-ventilated.
Food and drink
Everyone brings their own food and drink as well as their own cups and cutlery. We eat separately and take home any rubbish as well as used dishes.
Obviously, feel free to get in touch with me to discuss this and how we could collaborate safely.