Until recently, I had no idea how handy it would be that I have been working from home, in one form or another, for the past 20 years. Before we all sheltered in place, I would try to work at home a day or two a week, scheduling calls around my three-year-old’s nap time or excursions to the park. I was all too familiar with the increased noise and interruptions (and energy!) that came with the arrival of the school bus and my older two sons. For the most part, the system worked. My home office was set-up with reasonable computer speed and wifi connectivity, my archives were accessible, and my biggest hurdle was navigating the stop-and-go nature of work with three young “colleagues.”
And then . . . the world changed. Suddenly, working from home was more than an opportunity to shorten my commute and wrap up early to join the family dinner. Now, like most of you, working from home is the only choice. It would be easy to focus on what I have lost in this arrangement, but working side-by-side with Asher and Lucian online learning, Shane potty-training, and Robert juggling everything has turned my creative energy in an even more personal direction.
I have always processed things through my work, and while the subject has changed, the perspective and introspection it provides haven’t. I have come to realize that this custom content I am shooting at home is generating images that capture this immersive social experience that is playing out in every home across the country. Through my camera, and our daily interactions, I’ve been able to notice that our oldest, an introvert, is calmer now. Our extrovert, and middle child, is struggling to express his anger. Our youngest - at age 3 - has launched a silent protest against this home isolation by refusing to bathe, wearing pajamas all day, and staying up until midnight. Hmmm . . . preview of the teen years?
Amidst all this, we are still open for business and estimating on shooting custom content of my home and family. We are also helping clients find solutions involving more retouching. Below are some samples of this new project, but I will be creating more for myself and custom requests. We are also researching options for licensing my existing library where possible. I’m grateful Trevor is still with me and we are looking forward to finding new solutions to our current challenges.
Meet our new cast:
Robert:
Chief juggle officer, proud stay-at-home dad. In-demand park playmate before COVID-19. Currently teacher, principal, recess monitor, and Lego judge extraordinaire.
Asher (age 9):
Automobile aficionado. Hyper-focused project (aka Lego) manager. Currently playing the recorder (I know!) and developing his wicked coding skills, which will hopefully be used for good.
Lucian (age 7):
Goes big or goes home when it comes to people, messes, and snacks. Karate-chopping lover of snuggles, video games, and podcasts.
Shane (age 3):
Resident comedian, obsessed with animals and is also a walking bird encyclopedia. If you don’t know what sound a red-winged blackbird makes, just ask him.
Our Space:
A down-to-earth, lived in, single-family home in Glenview, IL. Trees are budding with the promise of full greenery by mid-May. Outside features a play structure, trampoline, fire pit, and grill. Outdoor activities include swinging, gardening, washing cars, riding bikes, and building outdoor creations. Neighborhood walks meander by ponds, fields, and trails, but also along suburban sidewalks. Inside time is marked by schoolwork, fort-building, art projects, and flying dropkicks (yep, three boys!). Dinosaurs and stuffed animals abound. Movies, video games, and podcasts rev up as the sun starts to set. Harry Potter read aloud features prominently in the nighttime routine.
