MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Photographer and Owner of Amurica, Jamie Harmon, has been taking portraits for 10 years in the city.
He is most famous for his America-themed photobooth, where anyone can rent it, and have photos taken in it. This photo-taking hotspot is a 1950s camper that he converted into a mobile photo studio.
Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Harmon was worried about how he could take photos while still abiding to the recommendations of social distancing and smaller gatherings.
"It made me concerned like, should I even be going out and taking these pictures of people," he says.
Turns out, it was a small adjustment and now he still finds ways to snap some portraits and spark joy during these uncertain times.
Harmon has started taking appointments for photos online where you can put your name, your address and what time is best for him to swing by and photograph your family through windows.
"There's doors between us, there's walls between us," he says.
"What I've been doing is getting in my car, only touching my gear, standing on their property and not touching anything they own," he tells Local 24 News.
Jamie has decided to do all of these photos for free. He says the joy that everybody gives is what makes it all worth it.
Weddings, large events, and shoots of all kinds are being put on hold for Harmon until the COVID-19 pandemic settles.
In the meantime, you can catch him driving around the streets of Memphis keeping his distances and making the city smile.
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Coronavirus in Context:
The symptoms of coronavirus are similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80-percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.