Cancelled weddings and a worldwide travel ban: A challenging time for a self employed photographer and co-editor of a travel magazine

Germany, Munich, Jelena, German, 40, Freelance Photographer / photo editor, –

Photo: © Petra Fritzi Hennemann

General

How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
At the moment the numbers are rising more and more. No one is speaking about a 2nd wave yet though.

How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
At first people were very concerned about the overall situation and complied to all the measures the government decided/took, but with time I felt people got impatient and now there are the ones still being careful and keeping their distance and then there are the ones who are feeling that they have already endured a lot of hardship and they want to return to living their normal life.

How are you and your family?
Thankfully all my family is well and nobody fell ill. I am also healthy.

What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
As a self employed photographer who mostly shoots weddings and as co-editor of a travel magazine the situation was very challenging because of many cancelled weddings and the travel ban. During the lockdown-time when I couldn´t go and visit my family or my friends I felt kind of cut-off from the world. A very strange feeling.

During the lockdown-time I felt kind of cut-off from the world. A very strange feeling.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
It was mid-march when every time I read the news something new and terrible had happened, a lot of new infections, countries closing borders, travel bans, people dying.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
Germany decided to close borders and we had a lockdown (curfew) of a few weeks where we couldn´t meet other people.

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
Overall I am okay with the measures being taken but what bothered me a little was that Germany didn´t act as a whole country a lot of times. There were different rules for different regions (Bundesländer) of Germany which was a little confusing and often didn´t seem well thought out. But I guess that the overall situation was just overwhelming for everyone.

What would you like to say to your government?
Well first of all I am proud to have a Bundeskanzlerin who doesn´t need to make a big show about herself but who focuses on solving problems. And thanks for not making a big fuss about helping companies in need. But please don´t forget the self-employed people – there are so so many of us and the measures being taken feel like they were not really well thought out for our needs. But then again – we never had such a situation before and I totally get it that one can just drown in so many tasks lying ahead.

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
Merkel said: “Die überwältigende Mehrheit der Menschen hat verstanden, dass es jetzt auf jeden und jede ankommt. Dass jeder und jede seinen Teil dazu beitragen kann, aber auch muss, das Virus aufzuhalten.” which translates into: “The overwhelming majority of people have understood that it is now up to each and every one of them. That everyone can and must do their part to stop the virus.”

Please don´t forget the self-employed people.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
No, thankfully not.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
I have done a test this week because I was on vacation in Croatia with my family and I just wanted to make sure (and to assure everyone around me) that I´m well and okay.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
Afraid is a strong word but I certainly am concerned a little and I don´t want to get infected. And I wouldn´t want to spread the virus to my family or friends.

I have done a test this week because I was on vacation in Croatia with my family.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
On March 21st began the lockdown and the most strict time was until 6th of May if I remember well. It went on for a few weeks. We were supposed just to have contact to the people living in your own household or your partner. Schools were closed, gatherings, concerts, parties were not allowed any more and we could only leave the house for grocery shopping, work or doing sports/dog walks outside.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
No, I´m living alone so I couldn´t go and visit anyone. So I started jogging, working out and even started baking my own bread and trying out new recipes. I also attended a few zoom meetings and talked a lot on the phone with family and friends. I read a lot and I was happy to see how winter turned into spring. A beautiful time in the year.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I really missed being able to hug my family and my friends, being physically in the same room and being able to look them directly in the face instead of seeing them on the screen. But at the same time I was endlessly grateful for the tecnology which helped connecting us. Holy internet! 😉 So WhatsApp/Skype/Zoom video calls felt like salvation.

WhatsApp/Skype/Zoom video calls felt like salvation.

Changes

How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
I am self-employed, so I don´t have to go to an office, my office is right at my home or wherever my jobs take me. But as I am mostly shooting weddings or family photos there wasn´t much to do for me. Most of my weddings got cancelled or postponed. I´m also co-editor of AFRICAN-The Fine Art of Travel, which is an Africa dedicated travel magazine. We had to postpone our second issue, too.

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
Due to less work and more time I was able to stay in touch with all of my family and friends, which was really nice. I felt like we were all in this together and we were all supporting each other emotionally.

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
It certainly isn´t easy this year but I hope next year everything will be better again.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
I still try to avoid going to crowded places, like shopping malls or wherever people gather and meet. I´m trying to keep my distance wherever possible. But I´m dreaming of being able to go to salsa dance nights again, as I totally fell in love with dancing and I really miss it.

As I am mostly shooting weddings or family photos there wasn´t much to do for me.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
All the people working in health care, the people who started initiatives to help other people in need and the people who tried to keep calm during these crazy times. And the people working long and hard hours in the fields and supermarkets, ensuring we all have enough to eat (and toilet paper of course 😉

What did the crisis show you?
That we can be strong, that we can overcome obstacles and at the same time be kind to each other. That there are people out there willing to help. And that in every challenging time there can be opportunities for change to the better.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Uh, after the crisis, I will hug everyone I see, haha 😉 I will appreciate being able to dance again, to be able to just be with my friends, with my family, being able to work and appreciate life.

Which images will you never forget?
Empty places and streets, empty trains, abandoned airports, supermarkets without noodles

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
When I saw that in Italy the army transported the dead bodies in trucks because there were so many. A really shocking picture. And when I read/saw that many elderly people couldn´t be visited any more by their families and they had to endure this time alone. This really broke my heart.

After the crisis, I will hug everyone I see. 😉

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
I´m mostly concerned about catching the virus without knowing it and spreading it. I would really feel guilty about it.

What gives you hope?
That there are people still caring for people in need, that the world is working as one by trying to find a cure / vaccine.

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Yes, there is one research trip pending (to Rwanda) and I hope we´re going to be able to fly.

If they find a vaccine, would you take it?
I probably would.

What can we all learn from this crisis?
That we´re nothing alone but everything together.

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
Where is the reset button?

I would really feel guilty about catching the virus without knowing and spreading it.