We speak to Annabel Juring (42) from Enschede while she is at home with her family (four children aged 2, 6, 8 and 10). Her youngest daughter of two is just in bed. “Otherwise this interview will be nothing.”
Looking for structure
Since Sunday, the family stays at home as much as possible. “With four children, three of whom go to school, it is quite a challenge to let everyone finish their tasks while ensuring that the household does not explode here,” she says.
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“Of course I don’t have to be busy all day, but somehow it feels like I have to do a lot. I didn’t know I was so attached to routine, but I’ve been really looking for structure the last few days. “
‘People photographer’
Annabel started out as a photographer in 2005, immediately after completing the art academy in Enschede. “I don’t want to say that it is a vocation, but photography is a matter of course for me, something I love to do and where my talent lies. it soon became clear to me that I would become a photographer and I also worked very hard for that. “
She has been successful as an entrepreneur for fifteen years now. “I do all kinds of things. Especially many portraits, I am really a people photographer. But it can also be business portraits, or fashion. It is very diverse, but I have had more than enough clients for many years.”
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Assignments canceled
But as a self-employed person, Annabel is also strongly affected by the spread of the coronavirus in the Netherlands and the subsequent measures.
“One by one all my planned assignments disappeared. Sometimes by the client, but I also canceled a lot of jobs. If the RIVM asks the Netherlands to maintain social distance, then I think you have to comply.”
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And so Annabel ended up with a house full of children and an empty agenda. “Panic is a big word, but my husband is also an entrepreneur and we are renovating another house so we have had double burdens for a while now. So that doesn’t feel good.”
Peeking in
Not knowing where to start, Annabel contacted her ‘virtual manager’, Maryke Mondria. “That’s my remote coach. I asked her if she could think with me about how I can still do my job and generate income or exposure. She came up with a whole list of ideas, including photographing families who like me in the same boat. I was immediately enthusiastic and so I started working it out. “
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The idea of peeking inside people appealed to her: “I wanted to portray families in their own homes, but behind glass at a safe distance and without direct contact.”
That same day Annabel went out. “I called a number of families that I thought I could drop by and they immediately responded enthusiastically.” Annabel’s adventure already yielded a number of beautiful portraits, including those of Nienke’s family:
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‘A beautiful memory of this time’
Nienke Veltman (41) from Enschede is portrayed by Annabel with her husband Jan Joost and their children Ole (11), Pip (9) and Bein (6), see the photo above. They’ve been at home for a week, trying to make the most of it.
“I am a midwife myself, so my work continues, but it is a tough time for the rest of the family,” says Nienke. “With three children at the dining table who are all in a different class and have different tasks from school, it is quite a lot.” The structure in the family is gone: “The hobbies of the children are stopped, they no longer have to go to school so the rhythm is gone. You have lost your routine, that takes some getting used to.”
‘Bright spot of the day’
Meanwhile, the family also sees the benefits of the situation. “We now have a delicious lunch. My husband likes to cook,” says Nienke. “And it is also fun, we play a game together every evening and this weekend we are going to bake a cake.”
The family participated in the photo project of Annabel because they think it is a very nice initiative. “It is a very creative idea, and nice to have something positive in these times when people are still insecure. When I saw the photos, it was really a bright spot for me. We are also very happy with the end result. This photo will remind us of a very crazy but also special time. “
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‘Curious how we will look back’
“I think it’s great that I can capture this special period as a photographer,” says Annabel. “I am very curious how we will look back on this time, if everything is hopefully back to normal. These are also very valuable times for families: you spend a lot of time with your children, play games, have more conversations. I hope that we will be there will soon also have nice memories, and I try to capture them. “
However, she also doubted whether it is wise to go out as a photographer. “I thought that was doubly about this project. I wanted to make sure that I could do my work in a responsible manner.”
Measures
But it works well: Annabel takes a number of precautions when she goes to photograph the families. “I go by car, knock on the window when I get there, I give directions through the window and then I leave again. I don’t get in touch with people, so that’s how to do it. And suppose I I don’t feel fit for a day, then I’ll stay at home. “
View the entire portrait series here:
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New applications
Annabel is concerned about the coronavirus in the Netherlands. “Yes, I honestly find it quite exciting. I also wonder if the people in the Netherlands take it seriously enough, I often see enough people standing or walking close to each other while it is now really not recommended. I just hope that the Netherlands Follow the advice of the government. Hopefully we will get it right at the end of the ride. But I honestly don’t think this situation will be over in a few weeks. “
In the meantime, Annabel hopes to further expand her project. “There are now more and more families who approach me with the question whether I can come by. I started the project because I no longer had any assignments, but in this way applications are still coming in. That’s nice, that’s the circle around a bit. “
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