A PHOTOGRAPHER has documented ‘lockdown through a lens’ with her intimate doorstep portraits while raising funds for Worcester’s hospital heroes.

Laura Truby of St John’s, Worcester has so far photographed 138 families, mainly in the city, capturing what she has called ‘a moment in history’ - and the life (and home haircuts) of Worcester families during lockdown.

The 31-year-old photography graduate who has her own business, Laura Truby Photography, proved popular for her newborn shoots but was forced to adapt to the social distancing restrictions while still capturing intimate portraits of people in Worcester and further afield in Pershore, Evesham and Inkberrow.

Miss Truby, who also works at Malvern Spa, but has been furloughed during the crisis, said: “It’s nice because it’s quite personal - it’s your home and where you spend your time. It’s also capturing a moment in history.”

When she put some of the portraits on the Laura Truby Photography Facebook page she said it ‘all went a bit mad’ with people in the city asking to be photographed.

Miss Truby said the doorways of people’s homes helped to frame the photos. She is donating £5 from every £25 photoshoot to the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity. Miss Truby has already secured £600 for the cause, helping towards the £187,000 so far raised as part of a Covid-19 Appeal to support doctors, nurses and other staff, including at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.

Miss Truby added: “It has been really lovely to meet people. They seem really excited to chat because it is something different in their day. A lot of people have commented that it’s been nice to brush their hair and put a bit of makeup on. People have been living in their pyjamas and gym clothes.

“I think people generally have seemed very understanding and quite calm about it all, a case of ‘keep calm and carry on’.”

The photographer, graphic designer and baker has been building a greetings card business featuring photos of food she has made with a recipe printed on the back. She has also been making note cards with quotations and ‘positive feel good vibes’ which have proved popular in lifting spirits during lockdown.

For more information visit Laura Truby Photography on either Facebook or Instagram. Another young woman - Olivia Parson of Wichenford, near Worcester - used art to capture life in lockdown. She was working fulltime for a property development firm in London before she was furloughed during the coronavirus crisis two weeks ago. The 26-year former King’s Worcester student has been isolating at her parents’ home where she decided to create her ‘isolation illustrations’, teaching herself techniques on website Skillshare. The project gained impetus when she fainted, knocking out three of her front teeth (she has had no front teeth for the last six weeks) and began painting the bouquet given to her after the accident. Miss Parson had not created any art work since finishing her A-Levels but, after receiving positive feedback about her work, set up up an Instagram page for specifically for them - @isolation.illustrations. She now does commissions in exchange for a donation to a charity of their choice helping with Covid-19. She asks for proof that a donation has been made which has ranged from £20 to £500, including to Worcester Foodbank.