July Fourth

With the Fourth of July approaching and after watch the Military Channel too much I just had to express a few views of mine. Independence Day is the name give to the Fourth of July. Just what does this mean to me. First it means that I have the right to worship my God when ever and where ever I choose with out fear of danger. This also means that all others have the same right. Second it means that I have the duty of serving my country. For me it meant being in the Navy during the Viet Nam war. I was never close to a combat zone but I was around many who served in Viet Nam. I know this war wasn't popular with a lot of people but I have a lot of respect for those that served their county during this war. Third it means that I follow the law of the land and have respect for those that provide my family and I with the safety they provide. Police officers and firemen are true heroes. The risk they take for my safety should be enough for them to have a National holiday named for them.

Last summer my brother and I went on the Battleship USS North Carolina on a afternoon when the temperature was about 95 degrees. I had been on board twice before when the temperature was much cooler. This time after being on board only a few minutes I begin to have much more respect for the crews that served on board all the WWII ships. I was soaking wet head to toe. There was good ventilation, only a few people present not the 2000 that made up the crew, no steam boilers fired up, no kitchen stoves, no laundry going, nothing but it being a little warm outside. I don't know how the crew didn't go stark raving mad, but they didn't. They were just doing their job and I am sure that history will never see another generation that gave as much for their country. A few days ago I stopped at the War Memorial at Armco Park. While standing there looking at all the names listed I felt very small and overpowered by what the freedoms that these men have provided for me.

Yes, I know that regardless of whether we serve our country or not that everyone has the right and freedom to speak our opinions and worship as we please and to act however we want. I feel that if you haven't done anything to serve my country, then when a military veteran, police officer, fireman or anyone else that has served and is serving my country is present please take a step or two to the rear and stand there and pay your respect to those that have.

Haley 2010 "BCHS"

We had so much fun during the session with Haley!!! She brought in very nice outfits with lots of variety, but most importantly she brought that fantastic smile of hers. I know that they had put a lot of time and effort into getting things ready for her session, and it really shows! I'm sure that packing for her trip to Equador was much easier after all the preparations for her senior portraits. Every little detail was carefully thought out, all the accessories for each outfit from head to toe. The different jewelry & shoes for each outfit, hair accessories, and her sports memorablia along with softball & swimming gear made for some great images. Sometimes people don't think about all the stuff to go along with each outfit. It's very easy to overlook little things for instance like belts, socks, or certain types of necklines (strapless & halters) needing different types of undergarmets. Also it's easy to remember the uniform & school jacket, but don't forget the ball or equipment that goes along with your particular sport. Don't you just love the profile pose of Haley in the yellow top? The detail work on the back of it was simply gorgeous and we just had to show that, and she didn't forget anything......... LOL!!! And how about the one in the green top laying down on the sofa?!?! It really makes for "AMAZING" results when seniors like Haley come in, she had all basis covered. Haley mentioned to me how excited she was and how much she had been looking forward to coming in for her senior session. This makes our job so rewarding and reminds us why we love photographing SENIORS!! I hope you enjoy this little sneak preview of her senior images.

ANDY "2010 Distinguished Leader"

Andy came into the studio for his senior session as one of Boyd Counties "Distinguished Leaders". This is basically the same thing as most schools call their SENIOR SALUTE. We had photographed Andy over the years several times for basketball, proms and other high school dances. So I definitely knew his face and name but had never actually got to know him. He was so great to work with, his laid back kind of personality was so easy to be around. Seems like he told me that he wanted to go into medicine and I think he would make an outstanding doctor if that is what he choses to do. It really takes someone not only with the intelligence to get thru med school but also the patience and personality goes a long way as well. I know from mine and Bill's experience with our health problems over the years, a doctors bedside manner really means a lot when you aren't feeling well or are worried about what's going on. Andy strikes me as a person who would be geniunely concerned about people and take the necessary time with everyone to make them feel at ease. Anyway, he is such a well rounded person and has lots of things going for him, he is able to juggle his studies while playing 2 Varsity sports at BCHS. There is unlimited possibilites for his future and I know that he will be very successful in life! We really enjoyed talking with his Momma as well and I hope that you all enjoy this little sneak preview of his senior portraits............

Alex "SENIOR 2010"

Meet Alex, he is a high senior this year at the Gatton Academy of Mathmetics & Science at Western Kentucky University. This will be Alex's second year attending "GATTON" and he's among an elite group of students who are chosen to participate in this very prestigious program. He also will be graduating from Boyd County High School in the spring of 2010 along with his former classmates. He explained to us when he actually enters college weather or not he would technically be considered entering as a Junior, but I can't remember all the details. Anyway it was such an honor for us to have the opportunity to photograph Alex as a "BCHS Distinguished Leader"! I know in the beginning of the session Alex was a little shy and didn't know what to expect but just a few minutes into it he really loosened up. I think he realized right away that Bill and myself were friendly and wasn't gonna be grouchy or anything. But I did ask him to do something that lots of you who have been photographed here at Whitlock's know what I'm talkin' about........yes, and that is the famous "WHITLOCK SQUATTY/KNEELY" pose!!!!!! LOL!! I came up with that name somewhere back a few years ago and when I ask people to do it most people just know what I'm talking about. And Alex looked really good doin' it in the first image with his 2 hoodie's from both BCHS and Gatton Academy. I hope you enjoy this little sneak preview of his session!

Clothing

Here it is mid-summer already and we are in the middle of another busy high school senior season. As always we see a great variety in how each senior chooses to dress for their session. If you look back through our blog I think you will see clothing styles from dressy to just everyday clothing. Each has it place in your session. Especially for seniors we encourage clothing from all the seasons. I feel that winter clothing often photographs better than summer clothing for the traditional part of your session. So we like the 2 season (summer and winter) approach to selecting your wardrobe. One good suggestion about what style of clothing to bring is to be a people watcher. If you see someone that is wearing a certain style of dress or outfit and they look alot like you then decide if you want their look. The camera will photograph both of you with the same results, so if it looks great on this other person then it'll look great on you.

I think that the guys have an advantage when it comes to selecting their outfits. The dress shirt and tie, the suit, the casual outfit and the sports gear doesn't seem to have the problems that the ladies have. (That's my view)

Families. This is where clothing is the most important. The right clothing always makes the portrait better. Most of the time following the basics proves to be the best. We have seen great looking familes bring in the wrong clothing choices and it made it very hard to get good looking portraits. So we always talk to the family about what kind of clothing that each member will be wearing. This conversation can make the difference between having a great portrait or just a photograph. We encourage a planning session for families and groups, it's free so please take advantage of it.

My final though of today is: THE SUN TAN/BURN. A moderate tan looks and photographs great. Too much tan and you might not photograph the way you want your portraits to look. Care needs to be taken to avoid the unwanted tan line. Above all the sunburn is to be avoided. Not only does the sunburn not photograph good but you have probably done permanent damage to your skin and increase the chances of cancer someday. We can do alot of retouch and other print enhancement with the digital image, but by following my suggestions you will photograph great and we won't have to charge extra to fix a problem that we don't want you to have to begin with.

Is it a Gold, Silver or Bronze?!?!

I don't think Michael Phelps looked quite as good as Kali does in this pose, don't you agree? LOL!! No seriously Kali is such a well rounded person, not only is she super smart and won lots of medals competing on the "Boyd County Academic Team" but also has won numerous ribbons and medals for the "BC Varsity Swim Team". Then to top it all off she has a terrific personality and her own unique style in the way that she dresses. She is so petite and cute, no matter what she puts together she comes out looking fabulous!!!! It seems that the students who are able to juggle sports, practices, community service, besides the regular school work like Kali and maintain an exceptionally high GPA end up being being very sucessful in life. I know that she is probably having a blast right now as she was chosen a GOVERNORS SCHOLAR, she will be spending the next 5 weeks there. I hope that she and her family enjoy this little sneak preview of her "Distinguished Leader Session".............

Family Time

Father's day has come and gone. This year we had the joy of Natalie, Damon, Isaak and Jason coming home. Jason lives in Lexington and Natalie's family lives in Wilmington,North Carolina. They had some car trouble on the way home and had to rent a car for part of the trip. They were able to get their car to a trusted garage in High Point for repairs.

Isaak is now 17 months old and has lots of energy and is strong as an ox. He enjoys running, playing, getting into everything and giving his Granna all she can handle.

Jason helped me put together a new gas grill that I had been hauling around in the car for a month. Then he cooked a great meal for us Sunday evening. By 2 Pm on Monday they had all left for their own homes. Yes, we had a great Father's day. It has been very hard for all of us to get together and to have it happen on Father's Day made it very special!

The only sad part of the holiday is that it has been almost 4 years since my father passed away. There are some things that will never change and although Dad was a great father and Christian who had dedicated his life to God as a young man during WWII there are some days that he is really missed. I have always been proud to have a father like James H. Whitlock and I think it is the reason that my family and I miss him so much. As children growing up and even as adults it was always important for us to consider what Dad would do, not out of fear, "as he was a very gentle man", but out of love and respect. The world wouldn't have many of it's problems today if everyone had a father like I had.

" K E L C I E "

Somebody should call Tyra Banks and tell her that her search for America's Next Top Model should just be over..........I think we have her right here in BOYD COUNTY!!! No, seriously I think Kelcie has the most natural beauty and presence about her. If anyone is wonderin' what they should wear for their session, just take lessons or tips from Kelcie. She had the best clothing selection for her session and lots of variety for many different looks! She chose styles ranging from classy & timeless to hip and fun, oh and then there was her "ROCKER DIVA" outfit complete with the stilletto heels and skinny jeans. Her Momma had made her a jacket with the feathers on the shoulders like the guy in Killers, that she wore to their concert. We had such a blast working with Kelcie and as you can see we finished up her session on location. This is something new that we are offering to the CLASS OF 2010 this year. We still do the majority of the session here at our studio but if you have some place in mind where you would like to go, just ask us for all the details.............it's lots of fun! I hope that Kelcie and her family enjoys this little sneak preview of her session, I think you guys are gonna love 'em!!!

Trey "FHS SENIOR 2010"

Trey is a senior at Fairview High School, we did his "Senior Session" last week. And OMG, isn't he just the best lookin' thing?!? He has a smile that is just amazing, but his serious ones turned out GREAT as well. I hope Trey doesn't mind me putting up the ones of him without his shirt on. Sorry girls he is taken already, and how I know this is because Laken, his girlfriend came along with him for his session. We even did a few poses of them together. Also we enjoyed visiting with all of his family that came and I'd say we probably did more visiting than we did photography. I've known his grandmother for a very long time.........Bill always gives me a hard time about not being able to take me anywhere that I don't run into somebody from Fairview!! Where Westwood is such a small community everybody there knows everybody.........and from the current seniors coming in the studio the close knit bond between the student body seems to be just the same as when I went to FHS back in the 70's. I had a really hard time narrowing down my fav's of Trey that I just went ahead a put a few more than I normally do. I hope that you guys like this little sneak preview of Trey's session ,ENJOY!!!

Ryno Does " M U D"

One thing this rain is good for and that's making lots of mud holes, and going off road with a four- wheel drive Jeep lots of fun!! Ryan or Ryno ( sorry if I'm not spelling it right) had his session done earlier this week. He had recently been out ridge runnin'/muddin' and had his Jeep all muddy and he wanted it photographed that way in his session. The only problem was it rained so hard on his way here that it washed off all of the mud. By the end of the session it had cleared up and was sunny, just like Bill wrote about the weather in his blog the other day. Bill told Ryan that he thought they could find a mud hole and it would be no problem fixing that. I think Bill was jumping at the chance to get in on the fun......................so he hopped in the Jeep with Ryan and off they went into the hills behind the studio!! Years ago Bill used to ride dirt bikes and his brother even had a bush buggy, I went with him one time 4-wheelin' back in the strip mines in Carter Co............and if I remember right we got stuck in the mud and had to walk about 3 or 4 miles to get help. So I think the finish of Ryan's session really made Bill's day and brought back some memories of his adventures. Actually the whole entire session went smooth, Ryan is the most likeable kind of person and has an amazing smile to go along with his great personality!!This is just one of the reasons why we love photographing seniors! I hope that you guys ENJOY this sneak preview of his session.

To the new pro

Since the switch from film to digital cameras there has been a lot more people entering the professional world of photography. Although most people think that digital is a lot easier to use than film. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Yes there are advantages to digital and it is a lot more fun to take pictures than in the dark ages of film. For the professional photographer the changes have meant investing in a fast computer, a professional monitor, lots of software and mega time in learning how to use everything. Most professional photographers used cameras that took 120/220 film. The nice thing about this equipment was that it was precision professional quality cameras designed for years of trouble free work. In the rare event of needing service there were several options to getting it repaired or serviced. Also a 10 year old body or lens was probably just like the new ones at the retailer.

Now digital comes along and cameras have a life cycle of 2 to 3 years before they are superceeded. Digital technology has begin to mature in the last year or two. The manufactures are reaching the point where things other than pixels are going to be important. If your are going to spend the money to buy professional or mid-level cameras you need to buy professional quality lens. Cheap lens will defeat the advantages of a super camera. For most people the consumer grade cameras is a better choice. They are easier to use, don't require professional quality lens and the images straight out of the camera require less adjustments.

I have said all this to tell the new professional photographer about a wonderful photographer in Bowling Green, Ky. Alan Davis & his wife Saundra own and operate a beautiful studio. You will never meet nicer people and their photography is excellent! Alan has won about every award possible in the photography world. Throughout the years they have attended tons of workshops and been very active in several professional organizations. They have paid their dues and worked the long hard hours to reach the level where they are today. Yes, they have been our friends for many many years. Theresa & I have enjoyed numerous afternoons attending some of the same seminars with them as well as visits to their home and studio. I am saying this to let you know how much respect I have for both of them as fine people and great professional photographers.

I have heard new photographers say many times. Oh, look how good I am. I have such a eye for photography and I know everything that I need to know! I know how to set my camera on "P" and the world is good. No you don't, and the only way you will learn is to do what Alan and all other experienced professional photographers do. This is to learn the craft of photography from A to Z. Once you do this there is no need for you to brag about your ability because you will hear the comments of your clients. One of the best places that I know of to learn photography and the business of photography is at: THE KENTUCKY ACADEMY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS. This school follows the Professional Photographers of America guide lines and most of the instructors are part of this fine organization. The Kapa calendar is at: http://www.kapaclasses.com/. The July program will benefit all pros especially the new pro that is struggling with learning how to pose, light and operate a business that you will enjoy and be profitable for years to come. No, I am not affiliated with and have no part of KAPA. Alan doesn't even know that I am writing this. I would love for someone to read this and tell him how they heard about Kapa and then listen to his comments. I just know what Alan and Kapa can do for your photography and your future. There is no membership fees, you just pay for the class or classes you attend. If anyone wants more info the phone number for Kapa is listed at the website above. I know Kapa is the fast track to success in the world of photography.

Special Needs Students

One of my recent assignments was to photograph the Boyd County High School graduation. There is always lots of excitement with the Seniors getting closer by the minute to joining the real world. I don't know the attendance but I would guess at least 4000. Now that the gym has air condition this is a real nice place for graduation. Every year it seems to be on a rainy and humid day, now the weather is no problem.

With the VIPs seated, the guest in their seats and the band playing, the Seniors start to march down the center aisle. Coming in two by two there was a mild stir amoung the guests. As one young man entered the gym the Seniors, student body and all the guest started to cheer. This particular graduate was a special needs student. Later as he recieved his diploma the same thing happened again, I believe there was even a standing ovation. I am amazed at the genuine compassion and kindness shown by the student body for the special needs students at BCHS. I have talked to several students at Boyd Co. and it seems that they really do care about these young people. We have been given the opportunity to photograph a few of these students over the years. It tears at my heartstrings when photographing them and working with them. Some of them are real close to being independent and others need more care than would seem possible for any couple to give. Yet, we see the love and pride of the family and how they always seem to have more to give. So when you see any of the staff and students that are involved with these very special young people, please take the time to thank them for giving their care and love. For the family I feel that my words are inadequate in conveying what truly special people they are and how much are hearts are warmed by knowing them. I hope that "THANKS" is a good starting point.

Kameron

Here is just a few of some really, really GOOD images of Kameron, and not just because the photographer is my hubby. I tell you what, she had so many strong images that I couldn't hardly narrow it down to just a few to for the blog, so I just thought I'd put several of my fav's. Kameron has such a fabulous personality and smile that we could've photographed her all day long........and I think we almost did! I'm sure her parents thought we had kidnapped her, LOL!!! No in all seriousness, it makes our job so enjoyable when people like her come in for a session. Kameron is really into Theatre & Drama and I think her acting skills and stage performance experience really made her a dream to photograph. Then when you add in the fact that she is also a cheerleader she just was really easy to work with. We even had a little more excitement than I care to have during the outside poses with her car.......... all I'm gonna say about that is - I'm scared of worms & terrified of snakes! I think Zack, her boyfriend ran over it with the car so I don't think we'll have to worry about that. Kameron we hope you & your family enjoy this little preview of your senior session!

Sessions and weather

Weather and how it affects our photography sessions. When talking to someone about booking a session that includes outside poses, we always ask that the session be kept even if it is raining. Quite often the weather will change during the course of the session. We start our sessions doing the inside portion first. If there might be a weather issue we keep a watch for the changes and try to time the outside poses to avoid bad weather. We like doing location work and don't do as much as we would like because of the beautiful outdoor area we have to work in here at our studio. We have a quarter acre pond, several large trees, park benches and we've built several different sets outside. Sometimes we even have some of the local wildlife want to be in some of the sessions. It's not that we have very many snakes around here, but a local black snake choose to make his presence yesterday during a senior session. We just walked around the spot where we last saw him and no one on either side had a problem. The time of day is also very important when planning outdoor photography, whether here at the studio or on location. If you want outdoor poses let us know when booking your session and we'll suggest the best time of day for that particular location . We also have suggestions about the type and color of clothing for outdoor photography. Later in the summer the heat and humidity can take some of the fun away for the outside, especially for the girls hair & make-up. We have been suprised by the number of sessions that people want during the winter time when it has snowed. We're photographers and will try about anything because everyone knows that a professional photographer "ain't got good sense" or they would be in some other business. Man, I love what I do so I think that explains pretty much why I am like I am!

Boyd County 2009 Graduation

Whitlock Photography will be at BCHS Graduation on Thurs. to do "Cap & Gown" portraits on a studio background before the ceremony begins. You will find us set up at the main entrance lobby to the middle school. We will also be doing candids before, during and after graduation. The packages and products available to order for the Class of 2009 is listed above. If you need further information please call the studio at 928-5854.

"And Here's Hannah"

Hannah is also a Fairview Senior Salute student from the Class of 2010. I think we have almost photographed all of the ones who made in on the panel this year, just a few more left. We had such a good time and I think she did too, Bradley her boyfriend was there for her session and that might have had a little something to do with it.......LOL!!! We actually did a few poses of them together outside with his truck, they turned out so good. Hannah is such a sweetie, she was so easy work with and would do anything I asked her to do. Sometimes that can be a real challenge, what I actually say and what I really mean can be completely different. After about the second outfit change I think she was able to read my body language instead of relying on how I was asking her to pose.............sometimes I'm sure it sounds like a game of TWISTER! LOL!!! We enjoyed meeting Hannah & her Mom was so nice too, I know Bill really enjoyed the conversation they had. Sometimes we get a little carried away talking, but I guess that's just how we are around here. I hope you all like this little preview of your session and it won't be much longer on your DVD.