Tucson wedding photographer shifts focus to stay afloat during pandemic

Payne said before the COVID-19 pandemic, he would shoot a couple of weddings each month.

Since March, he has only shot about half a dozen.

FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS THATSPECIALIZE IN WEDDINGS ... THEPANDEMIC IS DETRIMENTAL TOTHEIR BUSINESS.

-- BUT ONEMAN, QUICKLY PIVOTED BEFORE ITWAS TOO LATE.

-PKG- JUSTINPAYNE'S PASSION LIES BEHINDTHE LENS.

JUSTIN PAYNE/ECHOSIN ETERNITY LLC PHOTOGRAPHER -"I REALLY LIKE THE PRESSURE OFGETTING IT RIGHT ON THE FIRSTTRY." THAT'S THE REASONSTARTED HIS OWN BUSINESS TOSHOOT SOUTHERN ARIZONAWEDDINGS ... BUT IN THE PASTYEAR THE MARKET FOR IT HASDROPPED OFF SIGNIFICANTLY.JUSTIN PAYNE/ECHOS IN ETERNITYLLC PHOTOGRAPHER - "IT'SDEPRESSING REALLY TO SEE HOWMUCH BUSINESS HAS CHANGED."PAYNE SAYS PRE- PANDEMIC HESHOT A COUPLE WEDDINGS AMONTH.

SINCE MARCH, HE'S SHOTABOUT A HALF A DOZEN.

JUSTINPAYNE/ECHOS IN ETERNITY LLCPHOTOGRAPHER - "WE'VE HAD ALOT OF CANCELLATIONS ANDRESCHEDULING HAS BEENDIFFICULT.

THERE'S ALSO BEENOPPORTUNITIES IN OUR ECONOMY'STRANSITION TO DELIVERY OFSERVICES AND MAIL ORDERPRODUCTS.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TOREACH OUT TO SOME VENDORS ANDSMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVENEEDED PRODUCT SHOOTS." BYTRANSITIONING HIS FOCUS, PAYNEHAS BEEN ABLE TO KEEP HISBUSINESS ALIVE.

JUSTINPAYNE/ECHOS IN ETERNITY LLCPHOTOGRAPHER - "I'VE DONEPRODUCT SHOOTS FOR MERCHANTSTHAT ARE SELLING THINGS ONAMAZON OR EBAY.

I'VE WORKEDWITH BUSINESS THAT AREOFFERING SERVICES THAT WEREPREVIOUSLY DONE IN PERSON THATARE NOW BEING DELIVERED." ...BUT HE SAYS THERE'S NOTHINGQUITE LIKE SHOOTING A COUPLE'SSPECIAL DAY.

JUSTINPAYNE/ECHOS IN ETERNITY LLCPHOTOGRAPHER - "IT'S SUCH AFUN AND EXCITING DAY.

IT'S ONEOF THOSE HIGH WATERMARK DAYSIN SOMEONE'S LIFE.

IT'S JUST AREAL JOY TO BE A PART OF IT."PAYNE SAYS WEDDINGS DURINGCOVID CAN STILL GO TO PLAN IFTHE RIGHT PRECAUTIONS ARETAKEN.

JUSTIN PAYNE/ECHOS INETERNITY LLC PHOTOGRAPHER -"THERE'S JUST A LOT THAT'SCHANGING.

I'D SAY BE FLEXIBLEBUT STILL GO AHEAD AND GETMARRIED.

THIS IS A GREAT PLACETO GET MARRIED AND THERE'S ALOT OF GREAT VENUES TO GETMARRIED HERE."