Hudson Valley Diners By Andrew Paquette

Last March, I was planning a shoot in New York City. The lockdown hit and it was off. Everything was off. Clients were unavailable, or in my case, potential clients, as well as everyone else needed for a shoot. Makeup artists, stylists, models, hairstylists, assistants, studios, and portfolio review events were all suddenly off-limits. The streets of Manhattan became a ghost town. People were fined for walking around on the streets without an absolute need to be there. I thought I was on the verge of getting my foot in the door as a commercial photographer but for now, the door was shut, hermetically sealed, and locked. In between then and now, I found my way to my first two clients, one on either end of the so-far year-long lockdown. The first was a sale to a big advertising client for a TV commercial, the other a small sale to a small magazine that I happen to like. Not enough to cover more than a month’s expenses, but better than nothing, and I had broken in. I was gratified that th...