Porch-Traits with Brian V Photography

PORTRAITS Porch

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY BRIAN V PHOTOGRAPHY

One local photographer is giving his neighbors a reason to get dressed in the morning.

Laid off from his job as a physical therapist, Brian Van Sise, like so many others, started spending more time on social media. “It was all pictures of doom and gloom – it was everything that had been closed and shutdown. There were too many of them and it was too depressing,” he said. That’s when he decided to do something about it.

STAYING CONNECTED WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING

Across the country, photographers are offering at-home photography sessions for free. They are documenting this unique moment in time while also giving people something to look forward to. “These are nice, happy pictures of people smiling and making it through. For 15 minutes of their lives, they get to do something fun. Many of them haven’t had a family portrait in a while. There’s nothing else to do. This gives them a way to stay socially connected when they can’t see their family and friends in any other way,” said Van Sise.

Inspired by similar movements like the Front Steps Project, Van Sise, the photographer behind Brian V Photography, began taking both formal and more laid-back family pictures for his neighbors in Ballston Lake but now travels between Northway Exit 8 and Exit 11 for the shoots. “I’m just one guy with one camera trying to raise morale in his community,” he said.

CORONA CASUAL

Part of the fun is finding unique ways to document and remember this exact time in people’s lives, said Van Sise. He calls it “Corona Casual.” Some families pose with their masks, pets, or digital devices while sitting on their stoops. Others have turned the session into a full-on socially-distanced lawn party. “A lot of people just want someone else to talk to. They’re trusting me to make it fun. That’s part of the exchange. What I learned from being a physical therapist is that if I’m funny and entertaining, that’s part of the therapy. It’s the same thing here. My job is to help them feel relaxed and engaged,” said Van Sise.

STAYING YOUNG AT HEART

The designated man behind the camera at family functions and his son’s soccer games, Van Sise started a side-business, Stop Motion Sports Photography, three years ago. This experience taught him how to shoot outdoors, pay attention to the light, and catch the shot amid the action. Which is exactly how, at one session, he was able to perfectly capture a family playing Monkey in the Middle with a roll of toilet paper.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR

Van Sise will continue to offer free porch-traits as long as there is a need, he said. He does request that you take the money you would’ve spent on the session and instead be a good neighbor and use it at a local business. Supporting local allows businesses to survive during this difficult time. For more information, find Brian V Photography on Facebook @brianvphotos