A local photographer captured resilient Las Vegans pivoting to new ventures
I started this photo series in hopes of reflecting how a city that hosts large-scale events could adapt after the onset of a pandemic. My interest was personal: During COVID, I lost 80 percent of my business (conventions and weddings), and I wanted to see how others were pivoting. The goal was to showcase subjects who’d lost Vegas-specific jobs, and capture each of them in their new and old occupations — in one image. The hardest part was finding people willing to tell the world about how they were surviving; many didn’t want to admit that the change was real or potentially permanent. Some were even emotional about being back in their old uniforms or costumes, because it had been a year since they had put them on. (I was having the same experience after having to take a part-time job at a local golf course.) However, it’s been so rewarding to see the excitement and hope they have with their new ventures — and life beyond COVID.
Jesse Garon worked as an Elvis impersonator for 27 years. After COVID hit, he began delivering for DoorDash — in his Maserati, no less.
Moody Elragaal lost his job as an MGM nightclub host, but transitioned to a new profession: cleaning and sterilizing buildings.
Sean Baker, aka DJ Kid Conrad, was faced with a challenge when Vegas nightlife venues closed. He took a temporary job at Costco, and started helping out at his wife’s family’s dessert store, Fluff Ice.