Fernandina Beach woman uses photography skills to help local businesses

Jacksonville, FL — The normally bustling streets of downtown Fernandina Beach are quiet after businesses were forced to close because of COVID-19.

“I was actually biking around our historic downtown, which is so cute, and to see it jut completely closed, nobody walking around none of the businesses open. It just breaks your heart,” Megan Maines said.

Maines told Action News Jax she wanted to help her community out the best way she knew how, through her passion, photography.

She got the idea to photograph store owners in order to let the community know these are the businesses that need support right now.

“That’s so powerful that people can see there’s a real person behind these businesses. You know there’s a family, there’s people who are really struggling,” Maines said.

Some of the stories are so emotional it's nearly brought her to tears.

"One was a single mom who this is her sole income and I wanted to hug her and of course you can’t right now and I told her I felt like I was going to cry, I said I want to give you a big hug and if I can do anything to help you get through this I will do what I can," she said.

Maines posted on her community Facebook page that she was taking these photos for free.

Comments started pouring in with small businesses eager to share their story.

Amelia Linen and Wood, the Beauty Bar, and Driftwood Surf Shop are just a few of the businesses Maines has photographed.

Although many people are struggling, she’s tells Action News Jax she’s closer to her community than ever before.

Maines has already photographed 11 businesses so far and she’s still taking requests because she wants to make sure all these businesses are still standing after the pandemic.

If you have a small business in Fernandina Beach and you would like to be featured in one of the photographs, send Megan an email at fb.business.photoshoot@gmail.com