Portraying the First Lady, Laura Bush

Every now and then I get a chance to photograph someone special. A couple of weeks ago, I was asked by Park Officials of the local Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site to create a photographic record of the historic visit of First Lady Laura Bush. Of course, I was happy to oblige their request. The last time someone from the White House came for a visit was when Eisenhower came in the 50s. Several times it has been close but no cigar for the Birthplace of one of our most famous presidents. It wasn't the first time for me to photograph a President...but some time back...in fact, it was when Jimmy Carter was running for Pres. the second time around....Oh I remember the day well, passing through security, cameras inspected, Secret Service, Armed security everywhere....well, I digress...

Laura Bush was another matter. Security was stiff but handled differently. A lot of things to do before the big day...Anyway, I checked in at the desk and recieved the coveted "White House Press Pool" badge. The real thing. A momento to keep forever. Laura arrived on a cold November morning and greeted kids from the local Abraham Lincoln Elementary. After all, the first lady was promoting an Abraham Lincoln Parks fundraiser with the History Channel. All the local politicos were in attendance and all in all it made for a very memorable event. I think I enjoyed it more than Jimmy Carter...yes...much more.

Of course, this is not the first contact I have had with the Pres. and Mrs. Bush. A few months back, we were able to deliver to the White House one of my Lincoln prints from the Boyhood Home...Cabin in Winter...where the framed print hangs, I do not know...perhaps the Lincoln Bedroom...wouldn't that be cool. However, a nice letter from the president was thanks enough.

Being a photographer can be kinda cool sometimes...that is if you are on the right side of the fence. Paparzzi, I am not and I plan to keep it that way...People are so much nicer when you are seen as being a friend and not a foe.

Draggin n Screamin into 2009

Don't you just love change?...I do sometimes...and other times...not so much.  Photography has been full of change in the last 5 years.  Digital has brought this all about. Some of it has been good change for the profession and other things not so great.  For instance, we can do things here with digital that we only dreamed about a few years ago.  Downside is...we had to invest in the technology, hire more people, and face a huge learning curve.  And then buy more every few years or so...just to stay competitive.  Oh well, that's the world we live in like it or not.

I have been working on creating a presence in Facebook and My Space.  Just trying to stay current in the marketplace, you see.  Luckily, I have my daughter and others to help me understand the process.  So 2009 will bring us farther down the road and new challenges await. The old ways of marketing photography are a changing and it reminds me of an old Bob Dylan song...The times they are a changin....

Just because you are 50 something doesn't mean you are ready to be put out to pasture.  After all, I think my creative abilities are the best they have ever been...after all...you don't get 30+ years of experience without the 30+ years...so I really think I am doing the best work of my life at the moment...just need to change the way we market it to a new generation.

It's kinda like preaching to the new generation...The message of Christ doesn't change but you surely must change the way the message is delivered.  In the same way that our studio is brought into 2009 draggin and screamin, the church will have to do the same if we are to reach the next generation.  The ancient Christians faced hardships that we can only read about...but we will face hardships as well.  2009 will bring some of those hardships and we will try to weather the storm...Business as well as Spiritual.  God Bless us Everyone.

Branding

The above brands are the Batterton family brands from Tucson, AZ.  The one on the left is the W Diamond.  Suzann, my wife, just got this photo from a long lost relative in Tuscon.  Her grandfather Batterton was a rancher and cowboy from back in the day...the real day...Family history is so interesting sometimes.  Several years ago, we discovered the W Diamond and had the brand registered in Indiana so we could use it on our Texas Longhorns on our farm in Greensburg.  We had no idea the actual historic branding iron was still in existence but here it is.  We actually have a photo of the cowboys branding some longhorns on the ranch in AZ.  Someday we've got to go back to Tucson and find where the ranch was located...somewhere near the Catalina Mts, Oracle...

I get an image of cowboys riding around in the Saguaro Cactus', octotillo, rocks, rattlesnakes....the old west as it once was.

Branding is a term used frequently these days in marketing.  I think the McCoy's Image Studio has a good brand.  Thirty plus years is long enough to get established.  Most photographers will go out of business in 5 years...looks like we made it over the hump...but still, with all the changes in the industry we still have to be on our toes.  In fact, I would venture to say that we have to work harder now than we did when we started out.  

Everybody thinks they can be a photographer these days...get a good automatic camera and a computer and you are in business...but is it really good professional photography.  You know what they say...you can put a monkey in front of a keyboard and eventually they will type out Shakespeare...same thing with photographers.  With the expense of film and processing being eliminated... photographers can shoot hundreds or thousands of images and get a few good ones.  The test of a true professional is to do the same in a few images and get it right the first time.  There simply is no replacement for good solid professional photography.  Sure you can get by cheaper by using someone with no experience, but have you really done yourself a favor?  I don't think so.  Most newcomers have no idea of what it is to properly pose, light and expose and image.  Not to mention the timing necessary to capture just the right expression at just the right moment...this only comes from years of experience.  Shooters these days that call themselves professionals rely on high speed cameras to do the job for them...hit the button...rip out a dozen images and pray the camera caught the right expression...not a good way to go for a true professional....  Now maybe if you shooting sports it might be the way to go...but not portraits.

A good brand needs to stand for something.  It is showing the world who you are.  A name can stand for a lot of things and a good brand has value.  The value of an image that has been thoughtfully and professionally created is priceless.  The value of an image that just happened to be captured because of happenstance is just plain luck and nothing more.  The real professional can deliver the goods consistently and over a long period of time.  Luck may happen just once in a while...

You know, I am pretty good with a knife or a scalpel...I have skinned a lot deer but would you want me to do brain surgery?...I think not.  I could crack that skull open but I surely wouldn't know what to do with it...Now, it seems to me there are a whole lot of hacks out there claiming to be photographers but you might want to consider if they really know what they need to know to get the job done.  Having a good sharp knife does not make you a brain surgeon.  Have good camera and computer does not make you a professional photographer...nuff said.

The Beginning

Welcome to my blog. I may talk about anything and everything...including photography, religion, Jesus, hunting and my art. So thanks in advance for stopping by. As I write this, it is on the verge of snowing here in KY. I have a nice wood fire going and I am thinking about retiring to bed for the night. However, I must lay down a few words in order to get this thing started.

We are working in the studio to create some new things in 2009. The economy has everyone stirred up but we are forging on. After 30 years in the business you can get used to the ups and downs...although the whole digital thing has kinda been a downer in itsself...but more on that later. We are going to have some really cool things next year. I am looking at painting some new backgrounds, trying out some new lighting techniques, offering some new products, and generally trying to bring some excitement into the studio. So stay tuned for more.

On a personal level, Suzann and I will be busy with a new project at church for the first part of the year...we attend First Baptist in Hodgenville. I have something else simmering in the pot that relates to church and if the good Lord wills, I will begin a new work sometime this year. For those of you who do not know...I have a Masters in Theology (MTh) from Campbellsville University...and I am praying that I will be able to use that knowledge for the advancement of the Kingdom....God's Kingdom.

Stay tuned for more.