Photographer creates amazing series of portraits using Facetime during lockdown

Tim Dunk is a Leeds-based photographer who is used to being close to his subjects to stage the perfect pictures.

With the introduction of social distancing guidelines, Tim, who normally does wedding and portrait photography, faced losing work.

He was worried about how he could continue to be creative during life in lockdown.

Tim explains: ‘How do we continue to feed that urge when you can’t get close enough to your subjects to safely photography them, and keep our own minds healthy during a very difficult time?

‘I hit on an idea to sustain myself creatively and socially, and threw it out to a few contacts – maybe with the use of some common apps and bits of tech I could continue to make work.’

Tim decided to Facetime his subjects, him using a Macbook Pro and them using an Iphone. He gave them instructions on how to stage the pictures and then snapped the results on his screen to create compelling portraits of what people are doing in their homes during this time.

Wanting to do something positive as well as giving him a creative outlet, he decided to ask for £10 for each portrait to go to The Trussell Trust.

‘I didn’t think too much about it to be honest,’ says Tim. ‘It stared out as a way of socialising with my mates and keeping creative at the same time, now I’m staying up past my bedtime to work with people 3000+ miles away.’

He has already shot over 50 people, with his subjects posing in different lighting and with different objects.

Some of the people involved in the shoots said it was amazing to be part of the project.

Canadian opera singer Wallis Giunta said: ‘Having the chance to work creatively on a project with Tim, and to have a fun, lighthearted activity to look forward to in this crazy, isolated time, was a real lift for me. And the bonus is these really dope, original photographs as a result. Win win win.’

Jill Mills, from Pasadena, Maryland added: ‘It was really great to have something to look forward to for a change – a reason to put on real clothes and a little mascara.

‘It’s heartwarming to feel like while we’re all separated, I could connect with someone across the world and make art.’

Sally Thurrell, a photographer in the UK said: ‘Our shoot lifted me out of my tired, grey isolation funk that morning and it was like a little escape through FaceTime.

‘Such a fab idea and it really lifted my spirits. I’ve loved seeing all the other sessions pop up too – all so different and some really beautiful shots. Thank you! I loved being part of this project.’

If you want to get involved, you can book a session with Tim on his website or follow more portraits on his Instagram.