Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Before restrictions were eased Chloe Ellis was hotfooting it anywhere within walking distance of her Gorleston home to capture family portraits.
The 28-year-old, who has just returned from a year in Australia, said it was a way of keeping active and honing her skills with the lens.
Miss Ellis who is working on the children’s ward at Gorleston’s James Paget University Hospital said the idea had taken off via her Facebook page when she offered to take family photos of anyone within walking distance of Links Road for free.
On occasions it meant a string of bookings, whereas at other times it would be a long haul for just one portrait.
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
In return people who were asking to pay her can make a donation or buy a keyring or fridge magnet with all proceeds handed to the children’s ward which is close to her heart.
So far she has taken some 70 pictures of families on their doorsteps providing a documentary record of life during lockdown.
It was about giving people a reason to dress up and lifting spirits, she said, as well as documenting an unprecedented period of enforced confinement.
Chatting on the doorstep at a distance had also been good for her physical and mental health, she said.
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been sharing doorstep portraits of people during lockdown and within walking distance of her Gorleston home Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
“It is definitely lifting my spirits,” she said.
“Going from house to house is lovely.
“How many people have a family photograph, especially with teenagers?
“For some people this is probably one of the only pictures they have together.”
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Miss Ellis had previously worked at the hospital for nine years before branching out into photography.
Having had success with pregnancy portraits and received numerous requests for work she took a year out to shadow wedding photographers based in Perth.
Living in an outback goldmining town she also took on a string of jobs including bar work and fleet management and always planned to come home in March.
As it was all her wedding work here was cancelled so she returned to the wards and took on the doorstep project to help her photography and fitness.
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
“I just said on my Facebook page that if anyone wants a photo I am happy to walk to them, and its just gone crazy,” she added.
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis who is raising money for the hospital children's ward where she works by taking a series of doorstep portraits during lockdown Picutre:Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Photographer Chloe Ellis has been taking doorstep portraits of families and rasing money for the JPUH children's ward where she is working as a nursery nurse Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
Lockdown doorstep portraits taken by Chloe Ellis in Gorleston are providing families with a memento of their time at home during the coronavirus pandemic Picture: Chloe Ellis (Image: Archant)
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