Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
Coronavirus
J. David Buerk - Photography’s Coronavirus Response:
Page Last Updated: November 23rd, 2020
J. David Buerk – Photography has been monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, colloquially known as Coronavirus, and is actively taking precautions to keep clients, as well as myself, my contacts, and all’s loved ones, safe in this uncertain time.
Classified as a Professional Service operating in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with no brick-and-mortar (retail) presence, J. David Buerk – Photography is still legally able to provide certain limited services in certain circumstances under the social distancing and enhanced sanitization health standards as set forth in the current Executive Orders in effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia. That said, the following precautions and limitations to available service go beyond what is mandated by law, to ensure everyone’s safety and to help flatten the curve.
See the current Executive Orders in effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia the full legal text.
See the Why This is Happening: A Note From David at the bottom of this page for a detailed summary of these Executive Orders’ impacts on J. David Buerk – Photography.
Changes to Service:
Out of an abundance of caution, the importance of delivering the best quality products, and per Virginia Executive Order 53, the following changes to service have been made:
All photoshoots will include and follow the following safety precautions:
Photographer wears an N99-rated mask during all portions of the session, from arrival to departure from session location.
Disposable masks are made available for clients for use.
Regular use of hand sanitizer and hand-washing best-practices.
Hand sanitizer is made available for clients for use before, during, and after photo sessions.
Disinfection of all camera equipment before and after every photoshoot using antiviral and antibacterial cleaning products.
Standard social-distancing and COVID-19 best-practices in accordance with current Virginia Executive Orders and Guidelines for All Businesses.
All non-commercial photoshoots will be conducted following precautions meeting or exceeding those listed in the current Virginia Executive Order as described below.
This includes any and all photoshoots of / for individuals, couples, families, and / or groups such as portrait sessions, engagement sessions, weddings, parties, events, etc.
Outdoor Photoshoots: Limited to gatherings of 25 individuals or fewer, including staffing (eg: photographer, assistants, vendors, etc).
Indoor Photoshoots: Limited to gatherings of 10 individuals or fewer, including staffing (eg: photographer, assistants, vendors, etc).
Only photoshoots that J. David Buerk – Photography deems safe to execute will be considered. Outdoor photoshoots are preferred.
Any PPE required to conduct duties, beyond / exceeding a disposable mask and hand sanitizer, including, but not limited to respirators, gloves, face shields, and eye protection, must be provided or reimbursed for.
J. David Buerk – Photography provides the PPE listed in Item 1 to photographers and assistants. Client is expected to be responsible for providing required PPE to photoshoot guests / attendees, however J. David Buerk – Photography is equipped to provide basic PPE as listed in Item 1 to up to 25 individuals should Client have a shortage; PPE provided to Client by J. David Buerk – Photography will be billed for.
All commercial photoshoots will be conducted following precautions meeting or exceeding those listed in the current Virginia Executive Order as described below.
This includes marketing, advertising, PR, corporate events, headshots, architectural, industrial, and any other commercial photoshoot.
Only such photoshoots for businesses legally operating under the current Executive Order guidelines AND J. David Buerk – Photography deems safe to execute will be considered.
Any PPE required to conduct duties, beyond / exceeding a disposable mask and hand sanitizer, including, but not limited to respirators, gloves, face shields, and eye protection, must be provided or reimbursed for.
J. David Buerk – Photography provides the PPE listed in Item 1 to photographers and assistants. Client is expected to be responsible for providing required PPE to photoshoot guests / attendees, however J. David Buerk – Photography is equipped to provide basic PPE as listed in Item 1 to up to 25 individuals should Client have a shortage; PPE provided to Client by J. David Buerk – Photography will be billed for.
Outdoor Photoshoots: Limited to gatherings of 25 individuals or fewer, including staffing (eg: photographer, assistants, vendors, etc).
Indoor Photoshoots: Limited to gatherings of 10 individuals or fewer, including staffing (eg: photographer, assistants, vendors, etc).
Client is strongly encouraged to limit their total attendees.
Photoshoots that can be conducted with little or no Client presence are encouraged.
Examples: Products, food, architectural, industrial.
Clients can optionally ship items to be photographed to J. David Buerk - Photography.
This includes products, food, drink, etc.
Item(s) to be photographed must be safely shipped and delivered to J. David Buerk – Photography’s non-public office.
Open / exposed / cooked / served / poured / etc food / drink / etc cannot be returned to client after photoshoot.
Items such as products, or unopened food and drink (such as wine bottles, etc) can be returned to client after photoshoot.
Size and background restrictions may apply - contact david@jdavidbuerk.com for details.
Events should have a significant business purpose that cannot be feasibly delayed and abide by all applicable local laws and COVID-19 safety best-practices.
Photojournalism assignments for news outlets will be considered on a case-by-case basis dependent on assignment.
Assignment must be for a reputable news outlet.
Press pass must be issued.
Only such assignments J. David Buerk – Photography deems safe to execute will be considered.
Any PPE required to conduct duties, beyond / exceeding a disposable mask and hand sanitizer, including, but not limited to respirators, gloves, face shields, and eye protection, must be provided or reimbursed for.
Travel / Interstate commerce: Travel photoshoots are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Travel / interstate commerce is defined as any photoshoot taking place outside the Commonwealth of Virginia.
This is due to differing and changing laws in different states and territories. J. David Buerk – Photography is based in Virginia, but other states’ laws may variably disallow operation. For legal simplicity, only photoshoots located in the Commonwealth of Virginia will be considered.
Photoshoots falling outside of commercial photography or weddings are non-preferred.
Products as outlined in Section 3 may still be sent to J. David Buerk – Photography for remote photography.
New bookings for all types of photoshoots are still being accepted, but only with the agreement that such photoshoots may need to be postponed due to changing laws and Executive Orders and / or safety precautions.
Digital work not requiring any in-person interaction is still being accepted.
This includes print and design services, retouching, video editing, copywriting, consulting, etc.
Note that due to disruptions in the paper supply chain there have been some delays in delivery for certain print products – contact david@jdavidbuerk.com for details.
These service disruptions to service are subject to change.
Additional restrictions to photographic services may be added or changed without warning due to changing laws, safety concerns, and / or other unforeseen circumstances.
If we’re lucky, these restrictions will be eliminated sooner than expected safely. Applicable laws and situational safety are being followed daily.
Note that lifting of an executive order does not guarantee safety or availability of service.
Why This is Happening:
A Note from David:
By now everyone knows about the COVID-19 global pandemic. But not everybody knows the applicable laws.
There is a lot of misinformation being shared without legal basis and / or based on directives from different states than J. David Buerk – Photography is based pertaining to the definition of “essential” and if / how certain types of businesses are allowed to operate; armchair, knee-jerk opinion is not law.
The fact is that Virginia, by legal Executive Order, has restricted or shut down specific retail (classified by Virginia as having a brick-and-mortar presence) businesses focused on entertainment, public areas and certain operations of dining businesses, explicitly named specific industries essential, and then laid out guidelines for all businesses that are not otherwise explicitly addressed or directed under the Executive Order.
J. David Buerk – Photography is one of those non-retail businesses providing professional services which is allowed to operate under current Executive Orders, which requires teleworking when possible, and social distancing & health guidelines be adhered to for duties unable to be performed via telework (in J. David Buerk - Photography’s case, this means photographing). Classified by Virginia as a Professional Service, these are the legal bounds under which J. David Buerk – Photography is working within.
This means that J. David Buerk – Photography must telework all duties that can be performed off-site (planning, telemeeting, editing, etc). Those duties which are impossible to telework (photographing) must be conducted in accordance with the social distancing and enhanced sanitization health standards as set forth in Virginia’s current Executive Orders; in other words, I am permitted to photograph (as it requires a physical presence), and I am required to adhere to all safety protocols including proper social distancing, using PPE, abiding by occupancy limits and any other applicable regulation.
With the health risks posed by COVID-19, safety is my number one priority and duty. Not only am I concerned about you, my clients’ safety, but it’s personal for me as well, as a primary caregiver for an ailing family member at very high risk. We all must stay safe. This is why I’ve enacted numerous safety measures meeting or exceeding current safety regulations, which I abide by without exception, both in professional capacity, and on a personal, day-to-day basis; this keeps me safe, which keeps my family safe, which in turn keeps all of my clients safe. I have the same duty and desire as you to protect my loved ones, many of whom are family members in COVID-19’s high-risk group.
Together we’ll flatten this curve, and we’ll capture those memories once the World has healed.
Wishing you all health and happiness,
David
Resources:
Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 Case Data
Center for Disease Control COVID-19 Portal
University of Virginia - Biocomplexity Institute COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard