SPRING HILL, Kan. — Amy "Rye" Ashurst loves the camera, particularly being behind the camera.
She runs The Rye Studio out of Stillwell, Kansas.
This time of year, Ashurt would be photographing weddings, senior pictures and other portraits. But stay-at-home orders meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 forced her to close her studio and cancel most other shoots.
So, Ashurst got the idea to join the "Front Steps Portraits" movement sweeping the area.
Here's how it works: Ashurst drives to the client's home, but stays on the street. Her clients pose on their front porch and Ashurst takes their pictures from an approved distance.
“They say thanks for making me get dressed today,” Ashurst said of many of her clients.
Ashurst decided not to charge people for the service, she would do it just to put a smile on people's faces who have had their lives disrupted by the virus.
But the donations came in about as fast as the bookings.
“That’s helped us pay the mortgage on our building. People have been very generous. So this has been beyond a Godsend for us," Ashurst admitted.
Now, she is smiling as much as the people in her photographs.
We've created a Facebook group, We're Open Kansas City, where members of the community can post businesses serving their community.
