The purpose of this blog to spread awareness of the unprecedented situation and this is our first-hand experience of shooting events after the pandemic started spreading across the country, last year around this time of the year.
If you are that introverted guy who does your best to avoid weddings and other social gatherings even when you are personally invited, then “You are a role model today!”
Plenty of weddings that were supposed to happen got postponed. as a result, the first three months of 2021 were pleasantly hectic for the entire wedding industry, not just wedding photographers.
So we had back to back weddings among other events like babyshower, birthdays, and baptism shoots going in full form. in fact, we had already shot more weddings than the total number of weddings we had shot in the previous year! Just when things we getting back to normal, at least that is how we all thought for a while, things took a U turn.
When WPJA awarded this picture in their Diamond awards category, we didn’t know that it was for predicting the future! Shot in a pandemic free Era!
Everyone one of us took things for granted. Warring a mask, (which was compulsory for our entire team) is not everything, you can wear a mask and still behave irresponsibly by shaking hands and pulling it down when talking to someone and we are paying a huge price for the unpardonable compliance.
Not just the virus even the public psyche is highly contiguous.
When we are entering a hall where most of them do not wear a mask, we tend to get carried away, we forget that we are living among the pandemic and suddenly we start to believe that covid is the thing of the past and some of us who would have heard a few things from the conspiracy theorist would be convinced by looking at such huge gathering. How can there be a virus when things look normal, we wondered!
We at incognito frames as a team of responsible wedding photographers and videographers have done our best while attending events, be it a small gathering in a house with just 3 members or a wedding in a hall, we have always made sure to wear masks, maintain distance as much as possible and avoid touching unnecessary things while shooting and many times we have avoided taking mobile phones from guests when we were asked to take pictures and on a couple of occasions we avoided events from other districts and states.
It is important to wear a mask, maintain social distance, and other things that you are supposed to do in a public place even if you its a small gathering
Avoid public gatherings as much as possible
Now, this may not be a popular statement to make from a wedding vendor but it is the Truth! Since the cases have hit an all-time high in our country, it is best advised to stay indoors and avoid public gatherings as much as possible. Most of the wedding photographers in Chennai and even smaller towns are offering live streaming of the entire event which you can enjoy watching on your mobile with your entire family. It's totally fine to miss that important wedding of your friend or your friend’s family which you have been waiting for for years.
You will get to see the pictures in a few days when shares them in all his social media handles, your friend will share that wedding montage on your WhatsApp but the most important thing at the moment is you and your family being hale and hearty.
if you are hell-bent to make it, then make sure you are following all the rules that you are supposed to follow when you are in a public gathering
These are some of the most common mistakes that we have seen among guests
Never shake hands and hug someone even if it is your long lost friend whom you may meet during a wedding.
Do not give your mobile phone to the photographer or anyone and ask them to click a picture when you are already standing for a group photo.
Maintain social distance even if you are visiting the venue with your gang of friends which we would definitely not recommend.
Never pull down your mask when you are talking to someone, even if you are not audible to others.
Small gatherings in a small place are equally vulnerable since there won’t be much space to maintain distance from others.
Wish the couple and make your best efforts to leave the hall as early as possible.
Stay safe, stay indoors, never travel unless it’s necessary, avoid public gathers as much as possible, take the vaccine if you are eligible.