Thankfull Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving and the Whitlock family has been blessed this year. Several days ago Theresa started getting ready for Thanksgiving. This included new exterior doors, having the reception room and hallways in the studio painted, new light fixtures for the kitchen and livingroom, painting the livingroom and hauling off several loads to the dump, plus she gave several loads of useable items to Mr Hall. Mr Hall works with several local churches that provide things to those that need it. While the above list seems short we have worked really hard to get everything done.

Jason and his girlfriend came in from Lexington, Natalie and her family came in from Wilmington, NC. We enjoyed meeting Jason's girlfriend Ashley, she seems like a truly great person. Jason cooked a great Thanksgiving dinner for us yesterday. We will be having dinner with the Whitlock family this afternoon and are looking forward to an enjoyable time.

Our Thanksgiving will be complete when they return home safely.

Natalie and the family will be moving to Townsville, Australie in Jan of 2010. She has gotten a really good job at James Cook University. While teaching there she will also work on her Phd. I can see how excited she is. This is a major move for them. Townsville is in the hot northeast corner of Aussie. It will mean that Theresa and me won't get to see them but once a year, but we understand what this move means to them.

We hope that everyone has a Thanksgiving with as much love and joy that we are having.
Bill

"FHS" Matt 2010

Here is such a super nice senior guy from Fairview who came in for his session a week or so ago. Matt definitely works well in front of a camera, I think he could seriously be a model for Abercrombie!!! I especially loved the ones when he put the hat or toboggan on (not sure if that's what they call it or not). There are several others in this series that turned out GREAT! His Dad brought in a framed 16x20 of his older sister and wanted us to do something to match up with hers. I think the close-up pose will be perfect and look awesome in a black & white. I am sorry that I have been kind'a slow in getting these posted but we have been in the middle of a really big painting & redecorating project at the studio and also at home as well. So I really appreciate everyone being patient with us right now and hopefully in just a few days things will be back to normal. I don't know what I was thinking when I decided to do this right in the middle of our busy season, you might say my timing was off a little bit!!! LOL!! Our Son & girlfriend, Daughter & family will all be coming home in just a few days for Thanksgiving & I can't wait to see them all. Well I have so much to do and it's getting kind'a late so I'm gonna make this one short & sweet.....ENJOY the little sneak peak at Matt's session everyone!!! :)

Winter Camera Equipment Care

Summer has come and gone and now the cold of winter is coming. Taking care of your photography gear is slightly different than in summer. Your gear will be exposed to wider temperature ranges. Unless your camera gear is kept in a moist area there should be no problems taking cameras outdoors. Most modern camera equipment works just fine at local temperatures. Keeping the batteries warm is important because as they run down the cold will affect them. If you get things wet, do not store them in your camera bag. Anytime a camera is exposed to moisture it is best to place it out in the room and leave it there, until you're sure that it is dry. Moisture inside a lens will cause problems. Sending the lens to be repaired may be required. Where I use my gear on a daily basis I very seldom have anything stored in a sealed space. Also since I use it frequently I don't go on vacation with gear that hasn't been used for several months. Please try to avoid touching any contacts with your bare skin. Your body oil may cause problems with the contacts. While it's probably not the best advice, a pencil eraser lightly rubbed across a contact has been know to clean contacts. Winter is just as good for taking photographs as in summer. So bundle up, wait for a snow, find a water fall, go out and take some pictures & enjoy the greatest hobby in the world!

Austin "BCHS 2010 Sr."

Last week Austin came in for his senior portrait session, and we had such a good time during his session!! He was just super easy to work with and was just so nice & helpful the whole time he was here. I think we have photographed him many times over the years,ever since he was in JFL football or little league baseball. But the senior portrait session is quite a bit different from all of those sports type pictures and for dances like Homecomings & Proms. We actually get to spend so much more time one & one and get the chance to have a little bit more fun! Austin brought in his motorcross/dirtbike with him & I don't know who enjoyed that more.....I think Bill probably did! LOL!!! I know as they were unloading the bike Bill was really taking such an active part in helping Austin & he even suggested they bring the bike inside the studio. That was definitely a FIRST!! I think Austin said the battery was run down and they weren't able to get it started but that didn't stop Bill from tryin anway.....I think it brought back so many good memories for Bill of all of his days of dirtbike ridin' in the strip mines and all over Boyd & Carter Co. Well I think Austin has sooOOOo many really good images, I especially loved the one in the white & navy striped shirt. I think that was the very first pose Bill took of him too, and normally it takes several minutes before people begin to losen up & feel comfortable. But I guess Austin has been around us to know us a little bit and he was ready right from the start. I also loved his famous "WHITLOCK SQUATTY-KNEELY" poses, the one in the t-shirt plus the one with his dirtbike. This is just a pose that I have given that name to and most everybody that comes here is asked to do it. So everybody better practice that pose, and if for some reason I forget and don't ask you to do it, just remind me! LOL!!! It doesn't matter if you're a guy or a girl wearing stilletto heels..... I know that Austin and Zack were leaving going to EKU right after his session and I hope we didn't make them too late getting there. Also his Mom Debbie was just so sweet and helpful too & we really enjoyed talking with her. I hope everyone enjoys this little sneak peak of Austin's senior session. :)

Allison "BCHS 2010 SR."

We just photographed Allison last week for her senior portrait session, and had so much fun working with her! I can tell you one thing, we sure do have some of the best lookin' girls around right here in Boyd County. Isn't she absolutely beautiful,and that smile of her's just lights up the room. Until recently when she was here for Homecoming pictures I hadn't seen her for a while and it's hard to believe that she is a S-E-N-I-O-R now! I can remember when we photographed her older brother Travis for his senior portraits. Becky had us to photograph Adam & Allison along with Travis in a couple of poses. And seems like Allison might have been in elementary school or maybe at the middle school, but anyway she has definitely grown up since then & changed so much!!! I absolutely loved all of her shoes that she brought in to wear with all of her different outfits. Were those red heels KILLER or what?!?! Also the little black & white plaid heels were so fun too, as you might have guessed I am a shoe-A-holic!!! I think that is something that my Mamaw instilled in me, she always loved shoes too. She would find a pair that she liked and buy it in every color that they made in that particular style. I may never have anything to wear, but I always have a closet full of shoes. The only thing is now comfort seems to play such an important roll these days, but that still doesn't keep me from lovin' all the cute styles that the senior girls bring in. I would still wear some of these if I could only look half as cute as Allison does in everything she puts on!!!( But I probably couldn't even stand up in them, let alone walk.... LOL!!!!) Well I thought her outside poses with the dog tured out grrrreaAAAat!!! And I was taken back to a funny thing that happened when we did her older brothers senior session. At the time Travis had a big Golden Retriever or that type of a dog, and we have a great big pond here at the studio. So I'll let you guess what happened.......yes you guessed it. Luckily, they live right up at the top of Marsh Hill Drive so Adam walked the soaking wet dog home since Becky wouldn't let him ride back home in their car. I think Allison was one of the last sessions who were able to take advantage of the beautiful fall colors. Also the sweater she wore looked fabulous against the brilliantly colored leaves. Well I hope that everyone enjoys the little sneak peak of Allison's session..... :)

"Courtney & Tom "

Engagement sessions are always a lot of fun to do but this one was especially enjoyable for us. Courtney & Tom came in the studio a few days ago for their offical engagement portrait session. We have actually photographed Courtney many times before but it had been several years ago, back when she was in high school. We did her senior portraits and she always came here for all of her Prom & Homecoming Dance pictures. It is so nice when someone like Courtney comes back to us years later after she's been off to college & gotten her education. And are at the point where their starting their lives together with a very special someone they've chosen to share their hopes & dreams with. I always have to ask during the course of a session, how the couple met (I guess I must be nosey like that or something?!?!?) LOL!!!! Bill & I met at the "BLUEGRASS" about this time of year back in 1977, & yes he was cruzin' but I wasn't (Ha-ha!!) Since this iconic hot spot is no longer in Ashland I don't understand how people meet each other anymore! But it was funny how Tom & Courtney both actually attended BC high school at the same time, but never really knew each other till later. They were so sweet together and I wish them the happiest life as they begin their journey. The formal ones of them were fantastic & the ones in the sweaters were so good & I particularly loved the one of her looking into Tom's eyes. And doesn't that one show off her ring quite nicely??!?! I think Tom has excellent taste & did very well with his selections, the engagement ring was absolutely stunning and then choosing Courtney as his future wife. I know that their session lasted a little longer than normal but we just enjoyed talking with them and getting caught up on what's been going on....and we're so sorry Mamaw that we made them late for supper! I know they couldn't hardly wait to get there to eat and did somebody say somethin' about MEATLOAF?!?! (Y-U-M-M-O) But somebody wouldn't stop talking their leg off, & I won't mention any names. Hee-hee-ha-ha! I hope that everyone enjoys this little sneak peak of their engagement session. :)