Here we are on Day 22, at least for me, of social distancing, sheltering in place, and generally avoiding human contact. Along with the city and statewide restrictions, I had to go and catch the flu in mid-March, so I had one glorious night of being out in the world before it all shut down again.

Suffice to say, as a portrait and event photographer, business has been … what business? But I was fortunate enough over the past couple weeks to finish up a long-term product photography project for Columbia Fragrance Company that I could shoot from my own home studio.

Though I’m not new to product photography, trying to cobble together unique settings for Columbia’s 6 scents using only items I already had in my home was a new experience; An inability to throw things away verging on hoarding behavior came in handy.

Dorene, the sweet creative genius behind these scents, gave me plenty of room to run in using an end-of-the evening speakeasy setting for her “Gatsby” scent, a jet-setter scene for Safari Sensation that would make Jules Verne weep, and a delicate, naturally lit windowsill for her wedding-inspired Lily of the Valley. Vintage martini shaker? Check. Miniature globe and wooden giraffe keepsake? Double check. Fake flowers and lace left over from my scrapbooking days? You get the picture.

I miss photographing faces, places, and spaces. But I’m really getting the hang of this.