Photographer Captures Life In Lockdown To Benefit LA Food Bank

PALOS VERDES, CA — Ute Reckhorn wanted to use her skills and give back when the stay-at-home order began in March. She started in her neighborhood of Palos Verdes, photographing families living in lockdown from their front steps.

Reckhorn is a Los Angeles photographer who recently launched a photo project to benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. She's partnering with families in the South Bay and across Los Angeles County to create images and help support people in need. So far, she's raised about $3,000.

The effort was created by Cara Soulia and Kristen Collins in Needham, Mass., who dubbed the project "The Front Steps Project." The friends started it to keep photographing their community and loved ones from a safe distance during stay-at-home orders.

"I was looking for something to do with my photography because I couldn't go out and take photos like I used to," Reckhorn told Patch.

She wanted to do good and give back to the community. Reckhorn learned about the project and reached out to Soulia to see if she could do the project in California. With their blessing, she started March 21.

Now, Reckhorn is among many photographers working together on the photo project nationwide.

"Altogether so far we've raised over a million," Reckhorn told Patch.

"In the beginning it was a little slow, to a point where I almost wanted to give up because it wasn't easy to make those connections," Reckhorn said.

Not only was she physically distanced from her photo subjects, but she had to get to know people to share her project. It took a few weeks, she said.

"We have to adopt a new lifestyle and for some of us it's really hard, we feel isolated," Reckhorn told Patch. "But I started hearing the stories."

The stories mean a lot to her, and the projected evolved to documenting the community. She started to incorporate the images and photos with her daughter, Peninsula High student Clara, creating the @facesofsouthbay Instagram account to share the photos.

"It has a bigger meaning for me than for someone who grew up in a neighborhood and stayed there,"Reckhorn said. "I'm kind of doing it for my kids, too, to be a good role model."

Reckhorn and her daughter capture South Bay families and businesses, sharing the stories behind local businesses. The project is something they do together, and Reckhorn said her daughter mentioned, "'Mom I really love that, I want to be part of that.'"

"She is my muse, and normally she's not involved, but when we started the @facesofsouthbay that was a different story," Reckhorn told Patch. "The interviews are inspiring."

"It's fun to have even more purpose behind it," Reckhorn told Patch.

Reckhorn isn't just taking the photos because she feels bored—she's inspired and wants to share her own story and connect with other people, too.

"I came to the U.S. 14 years ago," Reckhorn told Patch.

Reckhorn is originally from Germany and has three children ages 15, 20, 23. She moved almost every year for about 20 years with her family.

"We did well as a family to stick together, but it was hard," Reckhorn told Patch. "It was hard to leave your old country, learn new traditions."

"I have had sessions in Beverly Hills. I have had sessions in Studio City," Reckhorn said.

She asks people to connect with their neighbors when she visits neighborhoods.

"They really have these relationships and they allow me into their houses and world," Reckhorn told Patch.

"We have talked to dentists, to garage owners to people who run restaurants, make candles, own corner stores," Reckhorn told Patch. "I have my heart in it. I love what I do."

Families can contact Reckhorn to schedule a photo session and visit her website for more information.

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@total_office_support is a small business in the Torrance area. Steve’s store has been serving the South Bay area for a little over 25 years. He services, sells & repairs copiers, printers and consumables. They are currently open by appointment only to come to your office, while practicing all the recommendations of using face masks, gloves, etc. They are also doing curb pick up for online orders and curb drop off to service small machines. Behind him is this cute family of 4! Plus a senior dog, a crazy cat and bunch of fish! by @californialover
A post shared by @ facesofsouthbay on May 2, 2020 at 10:18am PDT

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These #thefrontstepsproject pictures are my current lifeline. I love connecting with friends and neighbors from a safe distance. We’re so close to hitting $1000 on our GoFundMe! Book your session today. Life during the COVID-19 quarantine will hopefully be a distant memory, so we should capture it while we can! DM me to book a shoot now. . . . . . #WeAreInThisTogether #lobk_letsallbewell #theteenage_hub #tth_Positivity #loveourbigkids #mmm_AtHome #becstayhomechallenge #tsap_AtHome #dym_StayHome #LLB_Home #cai_BetterTogether #sc_theme372 #tsj_LifeAtHome #cw_StayHome #shareyourlove_Siblings #siblinghoodlove #Illuminate_Connection #cai_BetterTogether #tpn_Together #sf_StayHome #jjitskids_dads #honestly_TheNewNormal #palosverdesfamilyphotographer #palosverdesmagazine #palosverdespeninsula #palosverdes #palosverdesphotographer #palosverdesphotography #southbayphotos
A post shared by Ute Reckhorn | Los Angeles, CA (@californialover) on Apr 21, 2020 at 6:02am PDT

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