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Cochrane photographer offering 'porch portraits'

A Cochrane photographer has joined the #porchrait movement, offering portraits of families who are staying mostly in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bill Marsh is among a group of professional photographers in Alberta who are conducting photo shoots with his subjects in front of their houses. The idea has caught on as families continue to self-isolate and practice physical distancing.

“I saw it first on Facebook, from a colleague named Lori Creech,” said Marsh, who is offering his services in Cochrane and Calgary. “Some people said she was the first in the world to start this idea – she often has some very interesting marketing ideas. Then, Neil Zeller, another colleague of mine in Calgary, picked up on it really quickly.”

Though the portraits do not come with a fee, Marsh said he is encouraging subjects to donate to the Big Hill Haven Women’s Shelter in Cochrane or a charity of their choice. He said one family donated $300.

He said the photos capture a snippet of what life is like during the pandemic, later serving as a reminder of what people went through.

“I think in a year or two – or five or 10 – people will look back and think, ‘Wow, this is what we had to do,’” Marsh said.

“They’ll be able to use these photos as a personal documentation of their own lives and how coronavirus affected their lifestyles.”

Feedback has been enthusiastic, according to Marsh, who said nearly 200 people reached out to him within the first hour, requesting their family’s photos be taken.

“I think it’s a way for families to show they’re thriving and not just surviving,” he said.

Having done more than 20 shoots as of April 2, he said his goal is to take photos of more than 200 families. Marsh said some participating families have added creative elements to their portraits, such as donning costumes or creating a theme.

“One family next week, they’re going to do a parody – they’re going to stack up all their beer empties on their porch, and they’re going to put makeup on their kids’ faces to make it look like they’re dirty and neglected, [while] the parents lie next to the empty cases of beer,” Marsh said.

“There’s a lot of humour being put into this and I think that’s what comes out of these tough circumstances – gallows humour.”

Primarily an events photographer, Marsh was one of thousands of Albertans who saw their livelihoods impacted by the pandemic.

“All the large corporate events I would be doing at this time of year have dried up,” he said. “That’s a large part of my income for the family, which has gone from X amount of dollars to zero, in one week.”

For more information, visit Cochrane Porch Portraits on Facebook.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.

Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19

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