Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Photographers

As the threat of coronavirus spreads around the world, photographers are grappling with the potential for severe economic impact on their livelihood. Although a prolonged outbreak will require significant federal intervention, a number of groups have already started to provide useful information or financial support for freelancers. We’ve compiled the following list of resources for photographers that we’ll continue to update.

The newest items appear at the top of each section.

Articles on COVID-19 and Photographers

• SBA EIDL Loan Walk-Through (via John Harrington 5/14/20)
• Q&A: U.S. photographers navigate a new reality under COVID-19 (via CPJ 5/2/20)
• Your COVID-19 related legal rights: From drones to unemployment benefits (via National Press Club Journalism Institute 4/23/20)
• Photographers Shares Her Struggle to Access Coronavirus Relief Funds (via PetaPixel 4/23/20)
• The New Normal for Fashion, Celebrity Shoots at Hearst Magazines (via WWD 4/17/20)
• Art for Assistants (GoFundMe projects via PetaPixel 3/17/20)
• Updated Paycheck Protection Program Loan Regulations: What The Self-Employed And Independent Contractors Need To Know (via Forbes 4/15/20)
• What to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Your Finances (via Mint 4/14/20)
• How Gig Workers Are Weathering the Virus Shutdown (via NYT 4/7/20)
• COVID-19 GUIDE FOR VISUAL JOURNALISTS (via The Everyday Projects 4/7/20)
• 11 questions about the coronavirus economic crisis you were too embarrassed to ask (via Vox 4/3/20)
• Mental Health for Photographers (and everyone else) ( via PhotoShelter 4/2/20)
• I Used My Drone to Take Fun Portraits of People in Self-Isolation (via PetaPixel (3/28/20)
• NPPA Coronavirus Town Hall (via Facebook Live 3/26/20)
• Advice on Handling Contract Cancellations for Photographers (3/25/20)
• 3 Freelance Photographers on Covering COVID-19 (3/24/20)
• How an Event Photographer Unwittingly Spread Coronavirus in MA (via PetaPixel 3/24/20)
• How Photojournalists Are Documenting the Coronavirus Crisis (via Wired 3/24/20)
• How to Disinfect Camera Equipment and Spaces (via Lensrentals)
• Lessons learned from journalists covering global pandemics (via IWMF)
• COVID-19 GUIDE FOR VISUAL JOURNALISTS (via The Everyday Projects)
• ‘You are not alone’: Photojournalists share tips from the coronavirus frontlines (via National Press Club Journalism Institute)
• Coronavirus disease wipes out work for those that lean on sports for income
• How Freelance Photographers Are Dealing with the Economic Effects of Coronavirus
• Freelancing in the Age of Coronavirus: A Survival Guide
• What do sports journalists do when there are no sports to cover?
• Tips for freelance photo0graphers affected by the Coronavirus outbreak (via PopPhoto)

Grants & Crowdfunding Initiatives

Note: We have not vetted every item in this section. Please do your research before applying.

• CCI Relief Fund for L.A. County Visual Artists (5/14/20)
• Getty Images Announced $40,000 for 2020 Reportage Grants (4/24/20)
• NPPA/NPPF COVID-19 Relief Fund (4/23/20)
• Save Small Business Fund (via Chamber of Commerce 4/16/20)
• Artist Relief Fund (via Americans for the Arts 4/13/20)
• 10+ Emergency Funds to Help Artists Impacted by the Coronavirus (via MyModernMet 4/10/20)
• Firecracker Photographic Grant (4/7/20)
• Women Photojournalists of Washington Emergency Fund (4/7/20)
• LIFEBOAT is a platform to connect photographers with those who want to support their work (3/31/20)
• Freelancers Relief Fund (via Freelancer’s Union 3/28/20)
• NatGeo COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists (3/27/20)
• IWMF Journalism Relief Fund (3/25/20)
• The Photographer Fund (via Format)
• $1 million in grants to support coronavirus news reporting (via The Lenfest Institute)
• The Creator Fund (apply for financial assistance up to $500)
• NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund (GoFundMe)
• Dallas Artist Relief Fund (GoFundMe)

Economic Relief Plan, Small Business, Freelancers & Banking Support

• U.S. will cap how much each bank can lend (via Reuters 4/27/20)
• Free Money For Small Business: Two Loans You May Not Have To Repay–That You Should Apply For Now (via Forbes 4/6/20)
• Paycheck Protection Program vs. Disaster Loan: Which One Is Right for My SMB? (via Zenefits 4/2/20)
• SBA COVID-19 Disaster Loan Assistance (3/30/20)
• Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act (via U.S. Senate 3/30/20)
• Withdraw $100K from your IRA — and repay in 3 years with zero tax liability (via Marketwatch 3/28/20)
• Chase COVID-19 Update (3/28/20)
• F.A.Q. on Stimulus Checks, Unemployment and the Coronavirus Bill (via NYT)
• How freelancers can claim paid sick leave in a coronavirus emergency (via Freelancers Union 3/24/20)
• SBA To Provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans For Coronavirus Related Economic Disruptions (via U.S. Small Business – Office of Disaster Assistance – Field Operations Center – East)
• Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) (via Small Business Administration)
• Assistance & Guidance for Businesses Impacted Due to Novel Coronavirus (via NYC Small Business Services)
• List Of Banks OfferingRelief To Customers Affected By Coronavirus

Photo Trade Organization Info

• ASMP Town Hall Q&A (3/28/20)
• NPPA’s COVID-19 resource guide: @NPPA is here for you
• Strictly Business Webinar Video: Potential Business Ramifications of Coronavirus (COVID-19) (via ASMP)
• Contract Cancellations webinar video (via PPA)
• CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the coronavirus outbreak
• COVID-19 Safety Help Sheet (via NPPA)

Technology, Distance Learning, etc

• Online Visual Educators (Private Facebook Group)
• Adobe to provide free ‘At Home’ access to students and educators who currently use Creative Cloud apps
• Academic Continuity Planning (via Yale Poorva Center for Teaching and Learning)

Artist Assistance Lists

• List of Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak (via Creative Capital)
• List Of Banks Offering Relief To Customers Affected By Coronavirus (COVID-19) (via Forbes)
• COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources (not particularly oriented for visual artists)
• COVID-19 Resources (via Gig Workers Collective)
• Resources for Film Productio
• n Freelancers During Covid-19 (via Castifi)

Health and Wellness

• CreativeLive is offering free streaming of all their Health & Wellness classes
• Peloton offers free 90-day subscription trial for its at-home workout app (via TheVerge)

Inspiration & Distraction

• Nikon School Online – Free in April (4/6/20)
• #StayHomeWithLeica (4/6/20)
• The Best of Nikon LIVE
• PPA is offering free access to its 1,100+ classes amidst COVID-19 quarantines (via DPReview)
• Quarantine (or otherwise) Photography Recommendations (via Punctum Magazine)

In this week’s episode of the PhotoShelter podcast “Vision Slightly Blurred,” @sarahjake and @allen3m discuss the virus’ impact on freelance photographers, how photo editors can support photographers during this time, and how the media is using photography to document the outbreak.