GET THE FACTS

 from the CDD and WHO

We at Rogers Photography are 100% vaccinated, boosted and wear masks in all indoor public spaces because we care about the health and safety of you, your families and ours!

  How an intimate wedding in rural Maine led to the state’s largest COVID-19 outbreak

The Present Situation

(Updated 3-15-22)

Preparing for the "New Norm"

Unless there is a dramatic change in the state of the pandemic we will not be posting to this page on a regular basis. To best understand our "philosophy" and approach to your health and safety please read our previous posts. Thank you for your continued support!

(Updated 12-3-21)

Some good news!

Our transition to our new home and studio is (mostly) complete! We have have just finished the major work on our new studio and we are happy to announce that Rogers Photography is now officially (re)opened for in person consultations! If you will be visiting our studio you must be fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated you have the choice of being masked or unmasked. If you are not vaccinated and boosted then we offer phone consultations for your convenience.

(Updated 7-18-21)

The CDC and WHO have reported that while the effectiveness of all three major vaccinations can help prevent severe cases of the "original" strain of Covid19, the new Alpha (and more prevalent) Delta variations can "break though" and cause illness which may, in certain cases cause severe illness, hospitalization and possibly death. Accordingly we will continue to wear masks in any enclosed spaces and encourage everyone to do the same. We are still not "out of the woods" and it's frightening to think that the majority of people feel we are. There are still unvaccinated people all over CT and the country who may not be able to receive one because of medical conditions. Please be respectful of their situation and others by wearing a mask and continue to social distance in enclosed spaces.

(Updated 5-18-21)

The State of Connecticut will be lifting the majority of restrictions for those who have been FULLY vaccinated on May 19th.

Please understand that even though you are fully vaccinated you can catch Covid 19, be asymptomatic and still transmit the virus to others. A perfect example of this is the New York Yankees organization where even though they had already been fully vaccinated, numerous people contracted the virus.

We are firm believers that in severe world health emergency it's not about the "comfort" or "rights" of the individual, or about their political beliefs. It has absolutely nothing to do with that. It is 100% about the safety and respect of others in your community. Although our family has been fully vaccinated we will continue to wear masks when shooting weddings, and when we are in close proximity to others because we respect the people we come in contact with.

(Updated 4-27-21)

TOTAL Positive Cases: 37,3403 | Tests Reported: 8,556,632 | CURRENTLY Hospitalized: 444 | Deaths: 8,067

We are please to announce that both Lori and I are fully vaccinated. We still have one member of our family waiting on their second shot.  Although the vaccine will aid in helping prevent hospitalization due to Covid 19, it is not permission to let our guard down. People who have been vaccinated can still transmit Covid 19 and possibly catch it. Accordingly we will continue to wear masks and socially distance during any events we photograph. We will continue this protocol until at least 2022 if not longer. If you haven't  received your Covid 19 vaccination (and don't have any medical reason not to) please do so.

(Updated 3-10-21)

TOTAL Positive Cases: 288,657 | Tests Reported: 7,035,653 | CURRENTLY Hospitalized: 390 | Deaths: 7,752

Ed has received his Covid 19 vaccine and we are currently accepting bookings for all events beginning this Summer and beyond.

As an added precaution to our family and yours, we will continue to wear masks and maintain appropriate separation when possible until we see more consistent and positive data. We hope everyone will take the time to read the data and educate themselves as to the benefits of being vaccinated and sign up when it becomes available to you. FYI, Ed received the Johnson & Johnson "Janssen" (1 shot) vaccine and (happily) experienced no significant side effects.

(Updated 2-9-21)

TOTAL Positive Cases: 264,608 | Tests Reported: 6,088,430 | CURRENTLY Hospitalized: 826 | Deaths: 7,298

Not much good news to report regarding weddings & events for early and mid 2021:

All of the numbers mentioned below include staff, guests, photographers, etc.

Governor Lamont's Executive Order 7TT allows for religious indoor gatherings of 25% percent capacity, or 100 people, whichever is smaller and 150 people outdoors provided that proper safety and social distancing measures are employed.
Receptions, whether religious or not must adhere to the following guidelines: 25 people inside or 100 people outside.
It is anticipated that in mid-July, these numbers will increase; indoor private gatherings to 50 people and outdoor to 250 people (if all conditions are met with COVID-related metrics).

(Updated 1-20-21)

TOTAL Positive Cases: 232,219   | Tests Reported: 5,328,928 | CURRENTLY Hospitalized: 1,141 | Deaths: 6,682

The Positive and Negative

The Positive

Today marks the (long overdue) transfer of power to new leadership for our country. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are have been officially sworn in to their offices! We're are cautiously optimistic about the future and especially optimistic about VP Harris being the first female VP of diversity to hold the second highest position in politics and hope this will be the declaration of a new direction for America to include citizens of all color, creed, persuasion and beliefs. We truly believe if we all stop, take a deep breath and think about what is most important in our short lives on earth we will come to realize the answer is humanity and that all human beings deserve basic human rights such as health, education and a fair, sustainable living wage.  It is not an unreasonable request by any stretch of the imagination to work together towards these goals as everyone will benefit regardless of political beliefs. With over 400,000 dead in less than one year, we have only one choice: Come together to stop future preventable loss of life.

The Biden/Harris administration has made the Covid-19 pandemic their top priority and have laid the groundwork to ramp up vaccinations in the next few months and we are hoping against all hopes that "the stars align" and everything runs smooth for them and the country. That being said we want to emphasize the even though you may receive a vaccination, you absolutely must still wear a mask and social distance until the CDC and medical professionals around the world agree it is safe to do otherwise. If we don't we will prolong this well into 2022 and the economy can not sustain that.

The Negative

There is a new strain of Covid-19 here in Connecticut which is 70% more contagious and latest guidance from the CDC now suggests everyone wear adopt a dual mask protocol along with social distancing and absolute minimum contact indoors or out with people not living within your household . As always we are keeping a very close watch as this may require yet another round of rescheduling wedding events.

PLEASE: Wear TWO masks, social distance and stay safe!

(updated 1-14-21)

TOTAL Positive Cases: 220,576 | Tests Reported: 4,815,233 | CURRENTLY Hospitalized: 340 | Deaths: 6,536

Since the last update on our site cases have risen by 3x and over 2,000 more of our fellow citizens have perished off the face of this earth yet there are still people out there going about their "normal" daily routines like nothing is happening.  People are still eating indoors at restaurants, gathering in groups outdoors (without masks) and worse of all, having family, friends and hosting parties at their homes. All these unquestionably unsafe activities are contributing to a never ending rise in cases and deaths and only serve to prolong our situation.

On a positive note : Vaccinations have begun across Connecticut starting with "essential" workers and working it's way down from the oldest to the youngest. This is great news HOWEVER there is a misconception floating around that once you are vaccinated you are "in the clear" and don't have to follow the current safety guidelines which is completely false. If you are vaccinated: YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCE.

Wear a mask, social distance and stay safe!

(updated 11-02-20)
TOTAL Positive Cases: 73,858 | Tests Reported: 2,363,962 | CURRENTLY Hospitalized: 1,148 | Deaths: 4627

ROLLBACK TO PHASE 2

• No more than 25 people for indoor weddings & events.
  
• No more than 50 people for outdoor weddings & events.
• Masks must be worn at all times when not distanced or eating.
  

  This rollback does not come as a surprise to us as we have, unfortunately, observed first hand that people are not following the recommended CDC guidelines of distancing and/or wearing a mask. We have observed reception venue workers not wearing masks at all and also wearing masks but not covering their noses. We have observed DJs not wearing masks in enclosed areas in close proximity to the dance floor and guests. We have observed Brides, Grooms, family members and guests completely disregarding CDC instructions.

If you refuse to acknowledge and abide by Science, common decency for your fellow citizens and ignore plain common sense then this pandemic will be prolonged well into 2021 and possible 2022 with the current restrictions of phase 2 (or Phase I) in place.  You will contribute to people getting sick and possibly dying. Please have the common decency to respect others and follow the rules of distancing and wearing a mask. We all want to remain healthy, be able to work, and get back to the things we enjoy and the people we love. It's not about you and your "wants and whims". It's about everyone coming out the other end alive.

For a point of reference: Neither of us have seen our parents in the past year because of the pandemic. We love and value their (and others) lives enough not to put them at the slightest possible risk. For now, phone calls will just have to do so we can keep them safe and be able to see them in person for years to come when it becomes safe again. But it won't if we are all selfish.

(updated 10-15-20)

TOTAL Positive Cases: 61,861 | Tests Reported: 1,503,114 | CURRENTLY Hospitalized: 72 | Deaths: 4,537

"Phase 3" has been implemented and the positive cases have dramatically risen just in the past few days especially in New Haven and Hartford counties.

All CT residents remain subject to COVID-19 safety requirements as follows:

For restaurants, personal services, hair salons, barber shops, and libraries which require the use of masks indoors along with social distancing. Masks must be worn at all times except when consuming food.

Please be aware that we will be following all mandatory and CDC recommended precautions as they relate to Covid-19 . For the remaining 2020 events still taking place, we will be removing ourselves from any indoor situation where guests are not wearing masks (dinner) and when we feel our own personal safety is at risk. We will not be touching anything during wedding events including but not limited to gowns, favors and table settings.

(updated 9-25-20)

TOTAL Positive Cases: 56,472 | Tests Reported: 1,503,114 | CURRENTLY Hospitalized: 72 | Deaths: 4,499

Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Moves Toward Phase 3 Reopening

on October 8

Click on link above to read the entire press release

Please note that Phase 3 is subject to COVID-19 safety requirements – for restaurants, personal services, hair salons, barber shops, and libraries which require the use of masks indoors along with social distancing. Masks must be worn at all times except when consuming food.

9-18-20

TOTAL Positive Cases: 55,527 | Tests Reported: 1,419,839 | CURRENTLY Hospitalized: 77 | Deaths: 4,492

Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order fining people who refuse to wear a mask or who violate mandates on crowd sizes to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Fines range from $100-$5.

Gatherings:

The current rules for gatherings, which went into effect on July 3, 2020 and will remain in effect until further notice , is as follows:
    Indoor private gatherings – 25 people
    Outdoor private gatherings – 100 people, one time exception for graduations at 150 people
Outdoor organized gatherings (e.g. fireworks, concerts in municipal parks) – 15 feet of space blanket to blanket, cap of 500 people. Event organizer responsible for compliance with guidance.
Outdoor event venues (e.g. amphitheaters, race tracks) – 25% of fire capacity and distancing
Fairs, festivals, and carnivals – up to 25% of last years attendance

8-26-20

"Executive Order No. 7BB, Section 2, issued on April 17, 2020, is repealed. Effective immediately (8-14-20), any person in a public place in Connecticut, whether indoors or outdoors, who does not maintain a safe social distance of approximately six feet from every other person shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face-covering. In addition, individuals shall use a mask or cloth face covering when using the services of any taxi, car, livery, ride-sharing or similar service, or any means of mass public transit, or while within any semi-enclosed transit stop or waiting area. "

August 1, 2020

We have successfully completed several engagement shoots using "social distancing" and masks (they're on our Instagram & Facebook) and will be accepting appointments for Engagement Sittings for August - October . We will, however, not be accepting any inquiries for 2020 wedding events as the risk is just too great even in outdoor settings .  As reported by the CDC, even if a person has the mildest of symptoms, subsequent heart damage may occur which can affect a person the rest of their lives. It's time to do some deep soul searching and ask yourself: Is it really worth it or can we wait?

2021 wedding dates are becoming a "premium" due to all the rescheduled events from 2020. If you are one of the "holdouts" or are considering booking us for 2021, we strongly suggest booking now.

June 27, 2020 Update:

The State of CT has just issued a mandatory quarantine of 14 days minimum for people coming into the state from States experiencing a significant increase in positive testing.

JUNE 19, 2020 Update:

As of today, June 19, 2020, the state of Connecticut has been moved into " Phase II " which does not include indoor gatherings of more than 25 people but does include outdoor private gatherings of up to 100 people with proper social distancing. July 3rd tentatively finds the indoor count the same but increases the outdoor count up to 150 people and in mid July indoor up to 50 people and outdoor up to 250 people. Beyond that has been undetermined but it is a safe bet that indoor events will be capped very conservatively since that is how the Covid 19 virus spreads the easiest.

We are taking the Connecticut "guidelines" into consideration and (very) closely monitoring States which are pursuing a more aggressive "reopening" strategy which does not look promising as the infection rates even higher than when the virus first came to light. That being said, we are considering requests for 2020 wedding events on a case by case basis.

Modus Operandi

The current health crisis has been devastating to so many people and small businesses world wide, ours included, but we remain grateful for our health and that of our family, friends and clients.  This entirely unexpected situation presents us with quite a few unique and overwhelming challenges in the months and year(s) to come, one of which is balancing the the "needs" of our 2020/2021 wedding clients with potentially serious and far reaching health concerns for all involved. We have spent a considerable amount of time researching and preparing realistic and safe guidelines. Below you will find important updates as they relate to the crisis and also our "Modus Operandi".  If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Effective immediately for all services for 2021 events and beyond:

1. First and foremost, above anything else, health is our most important concern. We deal with hundreds if not thousands of people every weekend and it is our job as professionals to make sure we are maintaining a healthy environment for not only our clients and their families but also for us and ours. Until their is a viable vaccine we will maintain a strict ritual of wearing masks and social distancing at all events regardless of size and location.
   
2. Events scheduled for times when there is a Federal and/or State of emergency which includes mandatory social distancing the event must be rescheduled for a later mutually agreeable date and any monies paid will be applied to that future date* Exceptions are for wedding events which will contain less than 25 individual people (including Bride & Groom) that will be held at an entirely outdoor location.
3. For 2020 events wishing to reschedule we are working hard to find compatible dates which fit into everyone's schedule. This presents a considerable logistical challenge as we now have to fit them into a limited 2021 season. All monies paid will be transferred over to the new, re-scheduled date and there will be no fee to transfer your date.
4. For events that would like to retain their wedding date and our services but scale back their event, we have developed packages to address the needs of smaller, more intimate weddings. Details of these packages are available here .
5. For all events in 2020 and (at least) into mid to late 2021 we will be wearing masks (and sometimes gloves) throughout the entire event and be hyper vigilant about keeping distanced from large ceremony gatherings and crowded dance floors.
6. We will be following the CDC and CT State Covid-19 guidelines to the letter with no exception.
   
7. For couples that would like to proceed with their 2021 event (if allowed by the local/state/federal government), we have established these guidelines:
   

• For your safety, ours and your guests, without exception, we will attend all events wearing protective masks and at times gloves.
• We will practice social distancing protocols and maintain a 6 ft+ distance when photographing.  We may choose to employ the use of longer lenses and for extremely crowded spaces such as dance floors we may opt to photograph remotely or choose to shoot overviews only.
  
• We will not be touching bridal gown (trains). If gowns need to be "styled" you may have a family member attend to it under our guidance.
  
• We will not enter a crowded dance floor (as determined solely by us) for any reason. We will not enter a "dance circle" for any reason. Dancing images will either be taken at a safe distance with a longer focal length or by overview.
  
• It will be up to family members and members of the bridal party to decide their comfort level with regards to the posing of formals for which there must be a consensus. It may be the case where you and some of your family and friends feel comfortable getting close together, which is solely your choice, however if anyone is expresses discomfort or concern about their safety we will work together to find a reasonable and creative photographic solution to accommodate them.  Without exception, we will be asking everyone participating in formal/group photographs if they are comfortable not wearing masks or being in close proximity to those not wearing masks. We will not make anybody participate in a situation where they feel uncomfortable.
  
• We will require the name of your reception hall and ceremony contacts (if applicable) in order confirm your venues are taking the necessary steps to keep us, you, your family and guests as safe as possible.
  
• You absolutely must inform us if you will be having any guests attending from outside of CT and which state they will be coming from.
• Any State/Federal mandated quarantine procedures must be adhered to without exception. This includes making sure your guests are sufficiently quarantined and are wearing proper PPE and remain socially distanced at your event.
  
• In the unlikely event that the guidelines of wearing PPE's and socially distancing is not adhered to by you, your guests or event vendors, we will reserve the right to distance or, in extreme cases, remove ourselves from any potentially harmful situations.
  

The Future:

We don't like this or any health crisis anymore than you and ike everyone, we moving into uncharted territory. As experienced professionals we will do our very best to help you navigate through an already "hectic" process of planning a wedding by doing our best to keep you and your family as stress free and safe as possible while providing you with the quality and professionalism we are known for.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact us and we will address them as best as we can.

Stay Safe and see you soon!

Ed & Lori Rogers

Epilogue:

Our background as experts in our field:

We have been a full service professional photographic studio for over 30 years and Ed was working as professional photojournalist years before that. Our longevity and experience speaks for itself. Our work has been featured on magazine covers, has traveled all over the world in showcases and yes, we have photographed celebrities and even the President of the United States (41).  Over those years we have become experts at what we do not only from a technical standpoint, but also a "psychological" one as it pertains to photographing people and events. We have been in almost every type of scenario possible and have learned to not only help ourselves but also to help our clients navigate through very stressful and difficult situations.

Finally: This health crisis affects every single person on the planet regardless of gender, race, or political affiliation/beliefs. We personally and professionally have made tremendous sacrifices to do our part in stopping the spread of the Covid 19 virus. We unequivocally do not condone or tolerate those who feel they do not need to wear a mask, socially distance or have disrespect for the health and safety of those around them. We will not sacrifice the health of ourselves, our families or anybody else for any reason. If you are not of the same inclination then we politely and respectfully suggest there are other choices out there for you which may better align with your views.

*The cost of services already provided will be subtracted.

Stay up to date with the latest Covid-19 information at these sites:

CDC  |  CT Tracker

Latest Ct. Emergency Orders as per the Governor