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Photographers hold neighborhood photoshoots while social distancing

 

Photographers in the area are doing their part to keep people’s spirits up while many are at home practicing social distancing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Lory Groe of Lake Mills and married couple Lizzie and Logan Meyer of Albert Lea were inspired by a viral social media post about a Tennessee photographer who was organizing neighborhood photoshoots amid coronavirus shelter in place orders and social distancing guidelines. The photographer took photos from the curb or their car of families posing and orchestrating different scenes in the yards and driveways.

“We thought this would be a safe way to interact with the community and hopefully brighten their days,” Lizzie Meyer said in a message. “They could choose to be as creative as they wanted and were encouraged to have fun for this session.”

The Meyers went around Albert Lea on Sunday to take pictures, and have decided to do more weekly throughout the pandemic.

“We will be doing these sessions each week, and all we ask in return is that you do your part to stay safe and don’t spread anything but a little happiness,” Lizzie Meyer said. “We would love to have as many community members and businesses join this as possible. Let’s come up with more unique ideas, hashtags and bring smiles to as many people as we can.”

Groe initially planned to go around Lake Mills on Sunday for her photos as well, but postponed to this weekend due to weather.

Groe is turning her photoshoots into a way to raise money for those in need. Everyone or any business who joins in needs to raise a minimum of $20 and donate it to the charity of their choice — whether it’s a food bank, Girl or Boy Scouts, Future Farmers of America, a booster club, senior citizens’ meals on wheels or the Lake Mills scholarship fund, among others — Groe said in a social media post.

“I am trying to just give everyone in Lake Mills something positive to think about and at the same time raise some money for charities of their choice,” she said in an email.

For both the Meyers and Groe, the ultimate goal of the shoots are to lift people’s spirits during an unprecedented time.

“COVID-19 is something we didn’t see coming, but we will get through it,” Lizzie Meyer said. “Sometimes that’s hard to remember. We want people to stay positive, have some laughs and see their friends and family, even if it’s only through silly photos.”

Groe’s photos from her upcoming photoshoots can be seen at Lgphotos.smugmug.com. The Meyers’ photos can be seen at https://lizziemorganphotog.wixsite.com/albertlea under the blog section or on the LM Photography Facebook page.