Supporting Our Customers Through COVID-19

Is the membership still free? It wont let me click the free membership today

Aw wow that’s amazing to do that 💕

Thanx that means so much at the moment

💖

Thank you 🙏🏽 xxxx

Well take pictures on your phones get you hubby's to take pictures use an app and edit your own images for the time being till after lockdown. You can do it .

Thank you so much for this. Much needed at the moment.

Thank you 🙏🏽

Thank you PP, absolutely love it here, photographers and models alike are all so kind and helpful x

Mine won’t allow me to send a message?

Thank u x

Gracias aunque no lo pueda parecer es de gran ayuda un saluo Raquel

Gracias

Thankyou!

Dear PP Team I have just launched a new studio which is large enough to deal with Covid regs , with the free VIP at the moments it helps enormously. I have a VIP on my own Photographers page and will continue to keep that going. Thank you so much for the Free VIP Every little helps on a new adventure Thanks Rod

Thank you Purpleport for your very kind gesture. This is the best platform I have been on. I have recommended it to 2 of my photographers, who are now using your service and seem to be enjoying it. I'm looking forward to meeting new, creative photographers on here ☺️

thank you purpleport for your very kind token, it will always remain in my hair. I would like to mention that being hit real hard by covid and now reading your blog post. I have more confidence that I can remain a member of purple port, in a safe and appropriate way. Thank you for putting my safety first.

This is wonderful, thankyou to the Purpleport team for doing everything you can to help people out during these crazy times.

let all stay safe

Here in the UK, all travel except essential services has been suspended, so the lockdown is pretty well total. I don't envisage anyone doing any photography or having any social contact except with their immediate houshold members.

Be patient, follow the guidance, that way we get through this quicker, The NHS needs our support so we need buy them time, so they can manage the situation. Meanwhile improve your skillsets, plan and challenge yourself to be better. This could last a year or more so be positive and be creative. Be kind and keep safe

Can you please send this a around The chief medical officer to the governement has done your local MP apperars to done nothing.Senior NHS seem to ignore.THe spread of the virus is been every 7 days how many times a day I dont dont Legally.The Mayor of London and the the head of Transport for london Should be charged with Manslaughter.They are doing nothing to help every one who is working and risking their lives and family also the the people they trying to help.closing stations hindes people go to and from work.Less trains means over crowding which have been told spreads the virus.More trains shorter time limit open stations will help front staff to fight this then clapping.Is their a partial media ban on London transport No television news radio news and talk shows Have covered this topic.Testing could be a waste of test a health in the morning then going to get on a crowded train at night.try get this message across the people above are not doing so.

Thank you PP for this thread.. It helps us all at this scary time we are going through... PP definitely showing it's the absolute Best Site to be with showing Lots of Care and Support... Look after yourselves there and Stay Safe - We Will All get through this together xx

It sucks that we are all have to postpone doing any shoots in the UK and rest of the world due to social distancing and self isolation. However health should always come first before getting your kit off for the camera. In my day job I am considered an essential worker as I work for a shipping department of a big manufacturing company. They are making pressure equipment now for Virus testing kits and other medical parts among other things. I have lots of stress and pressure from my bosses to hit financial targets as this crisis fell during our end of quarter. Hoping when this is all over I can make more of my creative ideas a reality and work with more amazing beautiful models. Stay safe everyone and come back stronger and more determined.

Excellent gesture. Well done for supporting the photographic community.

A lovely gesture, and I agree with @Gerry99111 Its a shame that a few photographers have to be so whiny and negative about this. Well done PP!

That's the reason why PP still ruling, thanks for existing.

Great idea. Thank you!

A rapid response, thank you. You didn't have to do anything, so all appreciated. Considering the situation I am grateful for the free account and sadly see no reason to go VIP for now. However, what is the position on accounts being downgraded and FPI's and images being lost?

Ella an me !....my favourite home grown lingerie company have been asked to produce masks by the government. They come in pretty pink or navy I got mine today and support everyone's health as well as our industries !!! Best Wish's

As a full time professional photographer (not in modelling work before anyone slates my work) who has had their diary wiped clean until the end of July, I appreciate your offer, but find it a bit unfair especially when a lot of the models etc will possibly have jobs outside their modelling. I know a load on here who have, and are less financially vulnerable than myself.

Thank you for this. However professional photographers should be taken into account as well. Like many others all my work has been cancelled.

Thank you all at PurplePort for this thread. It makes great sense, and supporting financially vulnerable members with the membership extension is brilliant. Just goes to show why PurplePort is definitely the best site to be on.

I'm in Paris and it's a real "twilight zone" here. Having read your blog it has given me a sense of hope, and your sense of humanity in these capitalist times is admirable and noble. Bravo!

Also lets not forget we can also " gift " memberships to each other

"The photographer can also wear a mask, thereby protecting both of them from each other if one is infected and not showing symptoms yet, is completely asymptomatic, or has recently recovered from Covid-19 but is still infectious." NO, NO, NO. Masks don't work unless medical grade. Anyone 'still infectious' should be totally isolated. Anything less will risk spreading further and put the under pressure health service under greater burden. Everyone should be following official distancing guidelines.

Amazing! Thank you and take good care of yourselves everyone! We will overcome this together !

Love u purpleport

Some positive stuff in here - good call......

Congratulations on a well written well considered post and gesture. I feel greatly for those who earn a substantial part of their income from photographic activities: our lovely models, our wonderful studios, our dedicated MUAs and those professional photographers amongst us. My thoughts are with you all at this time. Alan

Well done, PurplePort, it is things like this that help us to keep going!

Good job

Great Post.

Superb contribution and a heart warming message. It's beautiful to see.

Everyone should forward this to other market places like: amazon, ebay and etsy. Well done purpleport. I give u a great big virtual salute and round of applause....

well thats great to hear.. PP is a great platform & to get that support right now is very much appreciated .. im out of work & rent a studio ... so am feeling it .. stick together people we can & will get though this ..

Please amend your comment about masks. A mask does not provide protection if you are contagious or you meet someone who is contagious with a viral infection. Unless you have medical grade personal protective equipment which covers the whole face and body! Masks only provide a physical barrier for large droplets of saliva or blood, and help you avoid touching your own face with contaminated hands as frequently as you would without one. Please update your advice to be in line with accurate NHS or WHO information. I would not wish to attend a shoot with any collaborator who had symptoms or was recently recovered "but still contagious". If you are still contagious, stay home. Further, if a particular individual was identified as being the source of a later infection they could be legally liable (check how your current public liability insurance provider interprets this under present circumstances).

What a great gesture Purpleport, thank you. Stay safe everyone

What a lovely idea - thank you PurpePort

While it doesn't benefit me, it seems like a good gesture however should be extended to all models. I know of one part time model who was using the money from shoots to pay for her wedding later in the year. Also how do you know who is genuinely cancelling because of the virus. Having seen a lot of models cancel because they can't be bothered showing up, what's to stop them saying they are suffering the effects of the virus

I can't believe a handful of the photographer comments on here. The site owners have given something back to the community out of their own pockets and others are moaning like they have had something taken away or they should have been helped also.

As a Pro photographer my business has been hit massively, I run regular Workshops that have all been postponed so I've cancelled my subscription for the time being. Nice to see that pro togs aren't considered a vulnerable group!

Super gesture for those that most need it, Brilliant idea PP. Good articles too about being sensible and safe if you or anyone close to you is in an at risk group.

Clear!

As a small business Purpleport, and Russ's decision to support members that are struggling through these uncertain times shows care and consideration for the PP community. If we the members all share this attitude and look out for one another hopefully we all come out the other side stronger and closer. Bitching about not being included doesn't help anyone.

Fantastic post and support to the vulnerable members of PP!

Absolutely brilliant response - Thank you

Good Job, Russ (& Team)

wow, imagine belittling photographers like that. Wow, just wow.

Can we put this bit in bold please? "If a model and photographer meet each other at the venue and maintain good social distancing then there is no more risk than going to the shops" as i feel this would be a great help I plan to continue to shoot on location at a distance and I have asthma

Excellent blog admin, thank you guys.

Great initiative. I hope this kind of common sense becomes more common globally

Nice touch but not quite sure why photographers are thought of as being loaded. I might have to change my account to studio as I own one, I haven't got any bookings (due to cancellations and postponements already come in) until the end of April but suspect it will be even longer than that. No income for me until this blows over.

Thanks for providing some positive action that is targeted where needed most. Thanks for not letting the few who want the site to unilaterally go far further than the Government has asked the population to do so, dictate how we should all behave

To the Team at PP and everyone Everyone has to jointly support each other however possible. The Covid-19 is not going away for some time and we are just going to have to deal with this. Russ, I have a high regard for PP and the models that I have worked with. It is a worrying time for all so I have chosen to support everyone throughout as for me I believe it the correct choice. After all we are all in this together.

Bravo

Well done for showing leadership Purple Port

I am 73 in a "so-called" at risk category. Luckily I am fit and healthy BUT the Government Cofid-19 recommendations do not want me to mix with people, hence I cannot arrange photoshoots. I have had to cancel 2 this week and not planning anything until at least September. Walking on my own and taking landscape photos is my only option for 4 months

Wise words and a really lovely gesture. I’m taking the opportunity to sort out my archives a long overdue task that I have been putting off. Sending best wishes to everyone at this difficult time stay safe xxx

Nice to receive a message from you Russ but I’ve had two photographers cancel late on me..They did text me personally but I don’t want to book with anyone because of this happening twice in one week.

Keep wash your hand with hot water and soap and face mask in public and stay two metre from person near you....

Just don't feel that this is thought through enough. can just about deal with this right now.

Thanks Russ.

So photographers clearly are loaded and have no financial commitments such as studio mortgage/rentals that sit mostly empty whilst this situation continues ? How have you determined that only models, Make up artists and stand alone studios are the only ones affected by all of this ?

Nice one, Russ. 4 references in 6 years kinda suggests that IRLGLAM doesn't use PP as a revenue stream anyway so their comment can be discounted! Keep on keeping on, Russ.

Thanks Russ. Sensitively handled with solid practical suggestions

Good stuff, Russ! Keep safe and well.

Its great to hear photographers are not financially hit or vulnerable!! Seems pretty unfair not to give togs this vip pass too, how else do we work to try and earn money to pay the models??

Thanks for the reassuring words

Thanks very much for the information, Dave photojoe670

Thanks PP so kind in these tough times, stay safe

Super sweet, stay safe yall❤

Wise words! Stay safe everybody! I will still continue to do photoshoots while I’m still fit and healthy unless there’s a confirmed lockdown. I don’t think the lockdown will be happening anytime soon... 📸☺️

How incredibly kind of you PP. It's so heartwarming to see the solidarity and kind gestures going. A really big thank you to Russ and the team.

It is a great sentiment, and shows a genuine level of empathy and support. However, using a mask is NOT going to remove any risk, there are endless accounts of this and the CMO himself has confirmed they offer no protection. So please, please re-consider the advice you are giving above.

Excellent news in this difficult time.

A great gesture. For me, basic membership works well enough. Is there a way I can buy a month's VIP and 'put it in the pot' for the accounts more in need?

I appreciate this but I don't see the point of this, as shooting should not be supported in any way as it involves one person meeting (and traveling to) another in the best case scenario. "Currently, in the UK, we have been advised to self-isolate, but that doesn’t mean things need to crash to a halt, as long as everyone applies good hygiene and common sense with regard to social distancing." This is what will kill this country: not having understood yet that a complete lockdown and total isolation is vital and this will be paid in thousands of deaths in the coming weeks. Any person, business or institution inviting to a 'gentle push' as long as some (insufficient) basics are observed is actually helping the infection to spread, helping the NHS to collapse and many deaths to occur. I understand business is important, but shooting in any form should be discouraged. It is already too late to say isolate yourself and stay at home! https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d

Nice words, and great idea!

Well said and thanks for the reassurance!

Very good decision! Stay safe everyone.

Fantastic Russ, this has been so helpful and it's great to see the Purple Port team helping as much as you can.

Excellent respose. Everyone stay safe.

This should help many.

What a very kind gesture, Thankyou very much, these are very worrying times but it’s lovely how much it has made us all realise how connected we are and that we can help those who need it :)

Thanks so much love and light to all and stay safe x

Well done Russ. Great foresight and support.

Great plan and will hopefully help just a little with those who are going to be most affected over the coming months. Keep safe everyone!

Excellent

Thanks Russ and the PP team. A fantastic gesture👍💪

Very well written and important to keep in mind how many members that this is their main source of income.

while I fully support the aim of the plan. I think it needs also reflect the responsibility on everyone to reduce social contact and protect ourselves and others. Hard choices need to be made and stopping modelling work may have to happen. The risk of infection is real and necessary precautions must be taken to respond to the problems we all face

Stay safe peeps

Good stuff. I applaud the sentiment and action. Fingers crossed you get the positive reaction that IMHO this empathetic initiative deserves. Thanks and well done

This is excellence Russ!!

Thanks, Russ - this is a really sensible, positive post

As you say, maybe small in the scheme of things, but an excellent response from yourselves which can only be applauded

Thanks Russ and your team for a good communication

Wow! Thank you to all the team at Purpleport. Its things like this that show how we can support each other in times of need.

I for one would be happy to sponsor an impecunious PP member. No strings attached although I would rather do it through 'the management'.

Thank you

Thank you very much, Russ and team! Take it really serious! If it seems not yet very serious now, it will be in one or two weeks! The number of infections increase amazingly fast. You may multiply the publicated number of infections by ten to hundred because they represent only those cases that were infected about ten days ago (not included a high number of unknown cases). We are talking about a process of months, not of weeks! The highest number of infections are expected for July/August, and that can be millions! Help to keep them low!

Nice message which leaves a warm glow. Thank you!

Well thought out. Yes, we all need to look after ourselves and others.

"The photographer can also wear a mask, thereby protecting both of them from each other if one is infected and not showing symptoms yet, is completely asymptomatic, or has recently recovered from Covid-19 but is still infectious." Absolutely not! Simple masks, such as you might use for DIY, provide no protection against the virus - just a false sense of security. They are deprecated by the medical advisers. The only suitable protection is a properly fitted respirator. These should not be bought now by members of the public because it deprives health professionals who really need them and cannot get them. If you feel you need to wear a mask then avoid the activity that makes you feel that. The best breathing protection is cancelling the shoot.

Thank you so much Russ and all the PP team x

Thanks for the article but you should be careful about the masks advice: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/51881555/coronavirus-do-face-masks-actually-work

what a great post, to be commended, well done.

Well done, thank you.

Most welcome.

This is as much a surprise to me as many others. Thanks for making the offers you have but please, please please keep the information coming. For us that are not dependant on the studio as an income stream we do not need a refund that is small enough to make no difference. However can I suggest to all studios that we ask Russ and the team to pay any monies we would be paying to go to a charity that supports the really hard hit. That way the few quid we each pay can be consildated into a hardship fund that could help those that really need it.

Massive thankyou for this advice , we all need re assurance and to pull together

Thank you to all the team for taking the time to write a well worded and informative article related to the Coronavirus Outbreak in the World, we all live in difficult times and I hope everyone manages to come through this ok. Thank you again for your explaining this for the benefit of those who are more at risk from the results of this virus, lets hope things get back to normal in the not too distant future.

Nice ideas here, but please don’t think any mask will do. As a virologist mentioned on the radio, not all mask are safe from viral droplets.

Nice one, well done Russ and PP.

dear russ and family/team, thanks for being pro-active and jolly well done! regards, alex

Nice touch team PP, good to see some old fashioned community spirit being dished out 👏👏👏

This is something I never imagined I would be writing either! Some very sensible and pragmatic advice here. Along with a kind and generous offer that I am sure will be appreciated by those that need it. Thank You and Well Done

I’m bemused as to why PP think that photographers ( 95% of which have regular jobs ) are somehow immune from CV19 and yet the expectation is that it is us that will continue to fund the whole stream. Few on here are Pros and do this as a hobby with our few remaining pennies and make nothing from the images we take , yet all else apart from us seem to be deemed more important.

Very comprehensive

Brilliant.

Thank you very much Russ & Team, I am sure I speak on behalf of a lot of models that keeping our accounts VIP will mean we can continue to plan for the future and stay in contact with photographers, models studios etc to plan for future shoots and creative projects. x It is nice to have some positive news in an uncertain world right now. Jade Stacy Maria xo

This is SO NICE Thank you so much for this

I am just getting known a little, this free VIP will be a great help. Thank you.

Nice gesture, well done :-)

Cheers Russ and thanks

Great gesture and well said, thank you.

Great gesture here Russ, hopefully it will help to ensure that there is still an industry left for us to enjoy when this is all over. My sympathies to those in the community that are no doubt struggling through these circumstances.

A sensible and mature response to the current situation, and I for one applaud you.

Well done, and thank you.

Thank you so much, this has been such a relief to read this as a full time model as it has been a very worrying week so far!

great gesture for the models etc.who will be hardest hit by this chaos, keep positive, keep well, good luck.

Makes a lot of sense!

Well done PP! Hope everybody stays safe and continues to create great images and interact with each other in a caring, common sense and mature way :)

Thank you Russ, it is appreciated.

Well done Russ and PP. thank you.

Something good is coming out of this already as so many communities, families, businesses and individuals are stepping up to the plate with genuine wish to help, and communication between us all is better than I have ever seen it.

Thanks guys, this is exactly the kind of response that will help pull people through this very difficult time. Let's all help each other as much we can and let's all try help others who are less fortunate. Hopefully we can take some positives out of this whole situation, and come out the other side a more tolerant and caring community. Once again well done for the kind gesture.

Many thanks for this

Thanks for taking into account all the suggestions I have made regarding extending VIP privileges and trigger-happy no-show references by some.

Definitely a nice gesture! Well done and a thumbs up from me. Best wishes Bo

thanks for the advice, well done

Very thoughtfull and appropriate. A wonderful jesture for those in a vulnerable position and thats a huge thumbs up from me.

Very nice indeed.

@Russ Freeman .... This sounds like a good plan you are introducing, but have you?, and will you ? make sure that models can confirm to you that this is their legitimate job/source of income before you allow them free V.I.P. membership ? I think it is kind and generous of you to allow full time models to have this benefit, but should it extend to hobbyists models ? and part time models ? I suspect I'll get attacked by some for saying this but looking at the bigger picture it is worth thinking about don't you think ?

Spot on! A lovely gesture for sure. We photographers are lucky in that (at least for amateurs like me) this is not our main income stream. My heart goes out to those who rely on shoots to pay their bills.

Great gesture and good advice!

Well done pp team a kind gesture

Thank you, Russ. Really good stuff, and sensitive to the pressures that models and studios face. Can I add a suggestion? Where photograpehrs (or, indeed, models) know of other Purple members close to them who may have to self-isolate, maybe they can offer to shop and deliver, collect prescriptions, and so on? Churches are setting up this sort of scheme (no doubt mosques, temples and synagogues, too), but the more people who are offering and joining up to support people the better. And simply keeping in touch by Purple message, email, text or sometimes Skype will help the more vulnerable members of our community through. Looking forward to when it's over and we can get back to normal may just help, too!

Some good sense & nice gestures too, well done PP

Well done Russ . I’m sure a lot of members will appreciate what you’ve done . Thanks .

Well done

Very thoughtful and practical advice. Very good advice and thank you for your support of the tog & model community

Thanks everyone at PP for this kind gesture and the advice given.

superb initiative

Huge thumbs up for this !