This year will certainly bring some changes not only to our studio but in our communities and our country. I have been pondering some things that we want to bring to the studio to better define who we are, how we look, and how we will better serve our clients and our community at large. My photographic style continues to evolve as it has over the many years we have been doing photography. There has always been a need for the timeless quality of classic portraiture. Images that are well posed and lit on an appropriate background will certainly stand the test of time. Images that are hip and current are needed as well but in the framework of time, they will certainly be looked at differently as the decades pass. I can do both, and our clients should know that we understand the times and are mindful of the need to create well done contemporary images. With that said, all types of images and image styles will benefit from a knowledge of lighting, posing, etc that only comes from years of experience.
So what can you expect to see this year? We are currently photographing the 2010 Youth Leadership Salute. Undoubtedly, there will be some outstanding students involved in this program. We want every student that qualifies to be recognized. As always, no student is required to purchase anything to be included in the Youth Salute Program. All sales of the display go to support the program. The Lincoln Trail Youth Salute, Inc. is incorporated in Kentucky as a Non-Profit corporation. As a part of the Youth Salute, we will also be expanding our Young Achievers program this year. Our current Young Achievers recognition display will appear later this month at the Towne Mall. The Young Achievers are comprised of 5th and 8th graders and are nominated during their 4th and 7th grades.
In the works is a new recognition program for Adults. Tentatively, I am calling this "The 20: People Who Make a Difference". I am looking for nominations of adults to be included in this Photographic Recognition program. These adults should be the pillars of our community. They should be involved in programs that are making a difference, helping people, and making our community a better place to live. Each person selected will be portrayed by me in the manner of my choosing that shows each person engaged in their respective activity. This portrait will be created in a manner above and beyond the standard "headshot"...Creative will be the operative word here. Next fall, a community display of these Fine Art Portraits will be arranged. The location has not been determined as of yet. I hope to use a portion of the proceeds of this exhibit to benefit the Earthquake Victims of Haiti...so please stay tuned.
Yes, we still do Weddings...however, they are on a strictly limited basis. You should see the albums we are now using that are printed and assembled in Italy. They are absolutely AWESOME! I firmly believe that our wedding photography is the best that it has ever been. Very few wedding photographers can match the quality and creativity that we routinely produce. Our brides are absolutely thrilled with with the images and service that they receive from us. We care deeply about our brides and know them personally. Many of them have been coming to our studio since they were babies.
As the year progresses you may see us become involved in new and different areas of photography. With our experience, we are able to provide professional service to a variety of clientele. However, we will probably become more focused on the areas that we do best...and that is a good thing for everybody.
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For now, let me say that we greatly appreciate our clients. You are the ones that make this studio possible. I want you to know that we care about you, not just for the business that we do but for you as a person. In the course of conversation we find out many things about our friends and clients and we want you to know that we may say a little prayer for you at the end of the day or even celebrate with you when you you have something great happening. We have done that many times over the years.
And that's it for today. God Bless you everyone.
2010 is upon us. The Professional photography industry has undergone tremendous change in the last decade. Some of it is good and a lot of it not so good. Where we go in the next decade will be interesting to see. Digital photography has literally changed the landscape of professional and amateur photography. The ability to take images at will with no cost of film and processing opened up photography to the masses. Photo-sharing on the internet and facebook has changed the way people view photography. In many ways this has devalued the perception of photography's worth. And at the same time, good professional portraits are just as valuable today as ever. All the technology in the world simply cannot replace talent. All the technology available to people today cannot replace experience. It is very easy to just say...oh well, I can do this myself...or we can get so and so because they are really cheap and they have a decent camera. That response could be one of the biggest mistakes anyone could make in getting good photography. A camera is only as good as the person operating it. That person must have talent, a creative vision, experience, the ability to consistently repeat good results...etc. Those kind of people are rare in the world of professional photography today. I have heard it said before: If you can't afford to do it right the first time, can you afford to do it over? Good professional photographers have a track record. This is more important than the latest camera or computer. So, consider this when you are making photography decisions.
Talent and experience rank very high in importance but there is one more thing that enters into the mix that is equally important: Customer Service and Satisfaction. The professionals that you choose to work with should care about you. We have always made it a priority to be very aware of our clients needs...both professionally and personally. By this, I mean that we care about our clients as people and whatever is going on in their lives. You won't get this kind of service everywhere you go.
If you have never experienced the level of professionalism we offer here at McCoy's, I invite you to give us a call, stop in and talk with us for awhile. You will find that we can truly deliver the goods and you might gain some new friends in the process at the same time.
Well, I guess I am going to blink and the holidays will be here. This time of year, it just seems to fly by and I never have time to really savor the fall and all the pretty colors and crisp fall air. It reminds of how fast time flies when your children are growing up and the next thing you know they are gone from home and having their own families. This last weekend I was on a fishing trip with some old college buddies and it really hit home how much time has gone by since those days and how hard it is to stay in touch and keep relationships alive. I guess I am just having a bit of nostalgia or whatever you might call it but it just makes me even more aware of how quickly things go by.
Photography plays such an important role in bringing back those memories. I can look at the portraits hanging in my house and see my babies that are all grown up now...I want to go back and relive those great times we had but, you know, it's only memories now. I wouldn't trade those portraits for any amount of money. I guess I am just getting old or something but I can remember grabbin up those babies and just giving them a big ole hug....man that would be hard to do now...have to wait for grandchildren now. Point is...you just don't realize how important those pictures are until you have them for a long time and then they are priceless.
Well, I hope to see you sometime soon. Drop in the studio and say hi and maybe we can remember some old times together....or maybe I'll be out on the lake trying for a bigger Musky with my friends.
I love beagles. We used to have a beagle named Cricket. She was a happy dog and lived to be very old. She would get very excited to smell rabbits that had been in the yard. One day she was riding home with me from the studio and when we arrived at home, she saw a rabbit in the back yard. When I opened the door of the truck, she was out like a rocket and nailed that rabbit before you could say Peter Cottontail...well, I rescued the rabbit but Cricket was happy.
This week I had the opportunity to portray a couple of beagles named Harley and Chopper. Harley was getting kind of old and slow and her owner thought she needed a friend...enter Chopper. Miraculously, Harley lost 11 lbs and the use of her arthritic leg after Chopper arrived. What a story. Harley puts up with the little upstart but down deep you know she loves the little rascal. So here you are...portraits of Harley and Chopper. They won't appear on Orange County Choppers or get into arguments like Paul Sr and Jr Teutel but they have their love-hate relationship going.
Pet and animal portraits are one of our specialties. We have been working with animals for many years. At one time we were the only studio that allowed animals in the Etown area (and may still be for all I know). It takes a special understanding to work with pets. You kinda need to speak the language...I have been known to bark, mew, and make strange squirrel noises to name a few... Anyway, we are having a Pet Special here at the studio through October. Basic session includes time here in the studio with your choice in 11x14 for only $89. Of course, we can go on location, which is pretty cool and your animals may be more comfortable in their own environment. This morning, Suzann and I had a great time portraying "Sandy" a golden retriever who owns Nora and Mike Sweat here in Etown. She was great to work with and such a happy tail chaser.
Dogs can be great to work with. Cats have their own agenda and may or may not decide to participate...but you never know...haha. But we also have worked with horses, cattle, pigs, hedgehogs, snakes, and all manner of creatures that go bump in the night...so give us a call and come in for a personal consultation. We will give it our best shot.
What's the difference, you might be asking yourself? In today's economy it is only natural to be looking for ways to save, I do it myself...believe me. There are a lot of people out there claiming to be photographers and even hanging a shingle out proclaiming themselves professionals but having a good digital camera and a computer does not make one a truly good professional. Cheap prices usually translate into poor quality, a limited understanding of what goes into great photography, and poor service. There is simply no alternative to experience and ability when it comes to great photography. Too many so-called professionals these days simply turn their camera to "P" and voila...they are a professional..."P" does not stand for professional...hint-hint.
I do not intend to downplay others in this blog but simply want to lay it out there that there is a big difference in quality among photographers. So here is what makes us at McCoy's truly different and unique.
Experience: Over 30 years operating one of Central Kentucky's top rated studios. We have served clients in many areas including portrait, wedding, and commercial. Our work has won awards at the national level and been exhibited at venues including the International Photography Hall of Fame. We also operated our own color lab for over 10 years. We understand the mechanics behind good photography. I have personally studied with some of the top photographers in the country. We have been published in many fine magazines. The list goes on. I can safely say that no one has the depth of experience we have.
Service: We will bend over backwards to give you a great experience and the finest in photography. Our guarantee says it all--"We guarantee that you will be thrilled...not just satisfied...with your photographs or you owe us nothing." We will do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Lasting Value: When you consider that portraits are a lasting memory of a person, family, wedding, etc...something that you will hold dear for many years...doesn't it make sense that you should find the best portrait photographer that you can possibly afford? The heartbreak of poor quality can linger a lifetime. A child's sense of self worth can be bolstered or demolished by great or poor portraits. A senior's portrait will be a defining moment that is nearly as important as the wedding photography. Loved ones deserve the best and when you consider the years of enjoyment that comes from great photography...I believe our portraiture has extreme and lasting value.
Artistic Merit: Creativity is something that is hard to measure. You know it when you see it....so take a look...I think our creativity is matchless.
Quality of Prints: Our photographic prints come from a great lab in St. Louis. Having printed ourselves for so many years we have a great understanding of the printing process. If the print doesn't match our quality standards we have it redone until it does. You receive only the best in image quality.
Friendly and Understanding: The Session--Your experience during one of our sessions is important to us. We take care to make you comfortable and relaxed. We want you to have fun and we welcome your input. We do our best to insure that you are not rushed and do our utmost to help you look your best. If you are relaxed and having a good time...good portraits will result. Everyone is a little different and we look at each person and family to understand where you are coming from. We understand how to adjust for little things like weight issues, blemishes, unique situations...this is another time that our experience makes a huge difference in how you feel and look.
We Care: Sometimes I think we could open a counseling service.....this is funny but we know things about many of our customers because we just care about them.
More and More...etc. There are a lot of things that make us different and truly unique and I hope you will see that difference. I hope you follow this blog and as time goes on you will see that we are different and that difference has value to you. Thanks and God Bless.
Hey everybody....this is my first official blog on the new website. We are in the middle of summer and things are always hot here in the studio. Recently began our Young Achievers photography sessions and if you are not familiar with the program...it is basically a Youth Salute for middle and junior high kids. We have some outstanding young people in the lineup and we are excited about portraying them in an artistic and thoughtful manner.
Summer is also the time for senior portraits and wow are we getting some great stuff. Some of the seniors are opting to go downtown for the "urban" look and we can do some really cool things to spice up the images....look at our facebook page and see what I mean.
Well...got to go for today but I hope to be back often...stay tuned and see what develops...haha...that's an old photographers term for sure.
