5 Inspired ways to photograph your new normal amid the Coronavirus pandemic

A chalk rainbow colors a driveway. Neighbors wave to each other from across the street. Children recite the ABCs as they wash their hands before dinner. These everyday moments seem ordinary, but through the lens of what’s happening at this moment in time, they aren’t. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our world upside down, and these moments now hold a unique significance within our new normal. But during this time, when the ground feels like it is constantly shifting under my feet, one constant for me is my camera.

I personally have never felt more inclined to photograph my family’s day-to-day life. A significant piece of history is being written, and we are part of it! The day to day may feel mundane, but the reality is that what we are all experiencing is extraordinarily unique. So grab your camera and photograph your part of history. Here are five tips to help you photograph your family’s new normal.

Note: Before we begin, I want to say one very important thing. We are all processing this situation differently. It is OK if you aren’t using your camera. It’s OK if you don’t feel like it, or if you’d rather do something else (or you’d rather do nothing at all). For me, my camera has been my outlet, but that may not be the case for everyone, and that’s OK.

1. Photograph the things you are you doing now that you might never do again.

For my family, life before the COVID-19 pandemic was routine and fast-paced. Appointments, playdates and extracurricular activities filled our calendar. Now, playdates have been replaced with text messaging, waving hello through windows and hand-written letters. Dance class is held in our living room, and every Monday night, the tap! tap! tap! of my daughter’s dance shoes echoes throughout our home.

Think about the everyday occurrences that have changed significantly in your house — school, exercise, social outlets — and capture your new normal with your camera.

dance-class-in-living-room-tapdance-covid19-pandemic

children-say-hi-through-glass-window-during-covid19-pandemic

Children draw rainbows on windows during pandemic new normal

Boy does math homework during coronavirus pandemic new normal

Child does virtual school during coronavirus pandemic

2. Weave global movements into your daily routines.

As the magnitude of the pandemic spreads, so too, does the resolve of the human spirit to come together to lift others up. It is a beautiful thing — be a part of it! I’ve never felt more connected to other artists and the global community as I do now, shooting for worldwide hashtags like #clickforourheroes, #click_newnormal and #letsallbewell. I will never, ever look at rainbows the same way!

Participating in any of these hashtags or other photo projects can help you stay connected or even build new connections.

For me, thinking of these global movements gives me more purpose as I shoot, lets me involve my children in a meaningful way, helps me feel like I’m bringing joy to others in this uncertain time and deepens my sense of community with other artists. This is also one way I’m doing my part to promote guidelines put in place to keep people safe (#stayhome).

photographing your new normal, girl looks out window with rainbow painted

Use these Coronavirus pandemic hashtags:

#clickforourheroes

#click_newnormal

#letsallbewell

#stayhome

#chalkthewalk

#goingonabearhunt

#togetherathome

#webelieveinhome

#andratuttobene (it will all be fine)

Editor’s note: Click and its sister brands have joined with our community of photographers to #clickforourheroes. This is our way of showing gratitude through photos to the healthcare workers and frontline helpers during the Coronavirus pandemic. Please join us by tagging #clickforourheroes on IG. We’ll feature select photos in our magazine, blog and on our social media channels.

3. Use familiar photography skills in a different way.

As days turn into weeks of staying home, things can begin to feel monotonous and uninspiring. If you are feeling up to it, use this time as an opportunity to shoot differently than you have before. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Flat lay

Use your kids’ school books and supplies, handwritten notes or even toilet paper to document your new normal as flat lay photos. Start simple and add things in. Allow your flat lay to evolve as you get creative.

Gather up some of your magazines and recipe books for inspiration. Or, check out the Fascination of a Flat Lay breakout in the Click & Co. store for more help.

Food photography and still life

Have you heard of the Quarantine 15? Yeah, it’s a thing now. If you find yourself baking more, try your hand at food photography!

I’ve found that I love photographing food with off camera flash. It highlights the textures beautifully and I can create an added sense of drama. Looking for more help? Check out The Inspired Table breakout.

school work flat lay during coronavirus new normal

Changing light

Study the way the light changes in your home as the day unfolds, and challenge yourself to shoot in all conditions!

For a little creativity exercise, try photographing the same subject in several areas of your home or at various times throughout the day and observe the different results. I love to move things from direct light in our south facing windows, to diffused light in our north facing windows and observe how the mood of the image changes.

You might like: 28 Unexpected places to create amazing photos at home

child looks out window during coronavirus new normal

Drone photography

Looking to practice composition in a new way? Put your drone pilot hat on and start flying! If you bought a drone but it’s been collecting dust, now’s the time to dust it off. Or, if you don’t have one yet, you honestly don’t need to spend thousands to get started. I was gifted an inexpensive DJI Spark last summer (her name is Leia; yes, I named my drone… and gave her a unique hashtag: #leialookingdown) and it’s been perfect for learning.

Although the Spark has been discontinued, you can purchase an entry level drone that’s similar for about $400. Truthfully, I’ve already got my eye on an upgrade, so If you’d like the next step up, you can also check out the Mavic Air or the Mavic 2.

Note: Shipping times may be delayed, but as of the time of writing this article, these were still available for online purchase through the manufacturer as well as several other large online retailers.

Pro tips for drone photos:

1. Watch your horizontal and vertical lines as you are shooting. I have found that because of the slope of our driveway, I usually have to do a fair bit of adjusting to the vertical and horizontal transform tools in Lightroom to make my image appear straight.

2. Remember that you don’t always have to shoot down! I’ve also flown my drone right outside a window to capture my children looking out.

You might like: Everything you need to know about drone photography

Drone photo of new normal during coronavirus pandemic

Self-Portraits

Self-portraits can be a therapeutic way to work through emotions. Sometimes I don’t have words for how I’m feeling, and self-portraits help me tremendously to express myself. I’ll admit, my first attempt felt awkward. But, as I continue to do them, I have found that self-portraits help me to say how I’m feeling in a way I couldn’t otherwise articulate.

You might also like: 5 Simple steps for amazing photos of YOU

Self-portrait tips

It’s ok to be vulnerable, especially while working through this new normal. Let yourself just BE in front of the camera. To start, find a place in your home free of distractions. I take a lot of self portraits during my kids’ nap and quiet times. Let yourself feel and think about what you are going through and what you want to portray.

While I often like to use the phone app paired with my camera, I find that sometimes I can be the most “real” when my hands are free, so I will use the interval timer on my camera. This way, I can work through what I’m feeling without having to tap a phone screen or hold a remote.

Try stopping down your aperture a bit to give yourself a little more room to move in your focal plane.

4. Look for the silver linings.

Honestly, I’ve had many moments of fear, panic and sadness as this pandemic unfolds. I’m scared for my family members and friends who work in healthcare. I’ve witnessed death and a funeral of a loved one all while having to practice social distancing. But, I’ve also experienced joy in beautiful little moments, like sibling sleepovers, more time spent baking with my family, my youngest child learning to pedal her tricycle without assistance (which means that our evening walks now take a little longer because she insists on riding her bike and moves at a snail’s pace!). These are moments that I will fondly look back on that will bring a smile to my face.

I encourage you to find the moments that are meaningful to you and capture them. Whether it’s a child learning to ride a bike, or using extra time at home to finally potty train (wishing you all the luck on this endeavor if this is you!), or the simple moments gathered together around a board game or puzzle — these images will become the keepsakes that will mark your journey through this unique time in our lives.

Girl riding tricycle during coronavirus pandemic new normal

5. Shoot like you are writing history, because you are.

What we are living now will be in history books tomorrow — remembered by future generations — and I feel an obligation to be the historian of my family. When we are on the other side of this pandemic, I intend to print a book of all of the images I’ve taken during this time that will be passed down in our family. However you choose to preserve your memories, remember that you are leaving a legacy and your photographs will be the history book for your family.

How to photograph your new normal during Coronavirus pandemic

Photos by Jill Carson

5 Inspired ways to photograph your new normal amid the Coronavirus pandemic

1. Photograph the things you are you doing now that you might never do again.