Let's Talk, Photographer to Photographer

     

    How many photographers do you know? I know lots of them. Some are professional and do it for a living, some are like me and just getting into the professional arena, and others are people who just love taking photos. Guess who I support, encourage, and cheer for the most?  All of them! Yes, that's right. All of the them.  Why? Simple, it's good to support other people and their passions. That sounds weird coming from someone starting out in a business that has lots of competition huh? I don't view others as competition. Do I want you to use William Gore Photography? Absolutely, but if you like another person's style of photography or feel more comfortable with someone else, that's fine too. There is no need to be rude, bad mouth others, or any of that negative stuff. There is already enough of that going on in the world.  Let's just stick to encouraging each other, helping each other improve in skills, and capture these special moments that our clients have trusted us to capture.  

    Oh, and a piece of advice for anyone that is starting out in Sports Photography, or any photography for that matter.  Make sure you pay attention to your surrounds.  As an Elizabethtown, Louisville, and Central Kentucky Sports Photographer, I can't stress enough how important it is to keep your eye on the action. It's so easy to get tunnel vision looking through the view finder of your camera. 

    See the photo above? It's blurry, yes, but it's also proving why I say keep your eye on the action.  While I was at the Windy City Classic in Chicago, I had a puck fly at my head.  The photo is the last one I took right before it came at me. You can see the puck coming.  I never realized how good my reflexes were until then. Thank the Lord, that puck missed my head and my camera.  If it had hit me, it would have been a bad day for sure.  So, take my advice and keep your eyes open and don't forget to TAKE THE PHOTO! 

Travel, Ice, Snow, Hockey!

 

    I'm really slacking on this thing, but it's been a LONG couple of weeks.  For starters, I went to Chicago with the Louisville Metro JV team for the Windy City Classic. I was able to get some great photos from a bunch of different teams. Even though the tournament didn't go the way we wanted, it was still a lot of fun. Well except playing Birmingham JR Bulls outside... In 8 degree weather... With the wind blowing... Really? The two most southern teams in the tournament and they put us outside like that? Anyway, huge shoutout to the JR Bulls. Not only did they win the tournament for the division, they are also some of the nicest kids I've got to meet. 

Once we got back from Chicago, I guess the weather decided it wanted to follow us home. We received a few inches of snow and ice back in central Kentucky. School has been out, I had to work from home for a week, and my poor chickens were not very happy. We did get to play a little hockey on our street though, which is something I never thought I would get to say.

  

    So what's new with William Gore Photography? TONS of things are in the works right now. For starters, I'm currently working on a new website.  Don't worry, my current site is not going away. I am in the process of combining it with another. So, don't worry. All the photos will still be available.  I'll just have a new look. In addition to the new look, I have new artwork that can help highlight your photos. Do you want a 8X10 of the team, with a log, and an individual photo of your player? I gotcha covered. Do you want a Facebook banner from the Senior Session? I gotcha covered.  What about using your Engagement Session for announcements? I gotcha covered on that too! Lots of different design choices. I love being your go to Sports Photographer in Elizabethtown, Fort Knox, Louisville, and all of Central Kentucky. As always, TAKE THE PHOTO

Why even bother with photos?

 

    William Gore (left) and Scott McIntosh (right) before our deployment to Iraq in 2007. SPC Scott McIntosh was Killed In Action on 10 March, 2008.

    Have you ever gotten annoyed at someone saying "get over here and let me get your picture?"  I have, tons of times. Growing up, I would feel so silly standing there waiting for the camera to go, click. Then I joined the Army, and I was on a tank! To quote the movie Furry, "Best job I ever had." But I don't have very many photos to show for it.  I mean, after all, I was on a tank and it's not masculine to take photos right?  My same thoughts occurred while I was deployed to Iraq. Now the only photos I have are the ones that I was forced to be in. If I could go back in time, I'd yell at myself "Take the Photo!" 

    Having a photo session may feel annoying.  You have to meet up at a certain place, at a certain time. Your significant other wants you to dress nice. I get it.  However, I also know how much you will cherish these moments for years to come as well.  One day, your grandchildren will be over and point at a photo and ask about it.  You'll look at the photo and start smiling because a flood of memories just came back. All of a sudden you remembered how "annoyed" you were, but you'll also remember how amazing your wife looked.  You'll remember how afterwards you went to eat at your favorite restaurant. Then the stories around that time keep coming.  You'll have so much to share and it was all thanks to one photograph that you were annoyed at taking. 

    I started William Gore Photography because I don't want others to make the same mistake that I made.  I want you and your family to be able to look back and smile at the memories that come flooding back.  That's why I offer all different types of sessions, from Sports Photography, to Couples Photography, Engagement Photos, Weddings, and Maternity Shoots. Before the shoot, we will have a conversation that covers everything from the time and location to how many poses we can do.  I want to make sure you have the confidence that I'm going to capture the moment perfectly.  It doesn't matter if you live in Elizabethtown, Radcliff, Vine Grove, Rineyville, Shepherdsville, Fort Knox, or Louisville, William Gore Photography gladly provide top quality photography services. 

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!  

    My name is William Gore, but most people call me Chris.  (Don't worry I answer to either.) Want to get to know me more? Then keep reading! 

    I am originally from Alabama. After I graduated high school I decided to join the Army.  When I first joined, I enlisted as a M1A1 Armor Crewmember and did my One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  I graduated on July 3, 2003, and as I was leaving the gates I said I would never come back to this area again. God's got a sense of humor sometimes.  During my time in the Army, I was stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and did two combat deployments to Iraq.

  After the second deployment, I was placed on recruiting duty in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While there, I realized there was more to do in the Army than just drive tanks and blow stuff up. So, I switched over to Public Affairs Broadcast Journalism in 2013.  After learning how to do video, I took it upon myself to learn how to do still photography and newspaper style journalism.  Ever since then it's been difficult for me to put down a camera. My last duty station was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I was able to do two 30 day missions to Africa with my public affairs unit.  Once in South Africa and the second in Senegal. 

 You can check out one of my video stories from South Africa here and here are some of my Senegal photos. 

    I was medically retired from the Army and moved around a few times since leaving Bragg.  What brought me up to Elizabethtown, Kentucky was my calling into youth ministry at Immanuel Baptist Church. Even though I'm not in ministry anymore, we decided to stick around because we absolutely love the area. My family keeps me busy.  I've been married for almost 22 years, and I have three kids.  My oldest is my artists, and my two boys is what got me going in Sports Photography.  My middle plays ice hockey in Louisville and my little plays basketball and soccer.  So I get plenty of opportunities to be a Sports Photographer in Elizabethtown, Louisville, and everywhere in between. One of the cool things I get learned to do is Fire Photos.  These are probably some of my favorite ones to do. 

    Sports Photography is not the only thing that I can do. I offer 30 Minute Sessions, 60 Minute Sessions, Engagement Sessions, I can do Weddings, and Maternity Sessions.

The last thing before you go, I want to share a phrase with you and why it's so important to me.  You'll see this phrase in all my Facebook and Instagram post. The phrase is "Take the Photo."  One of the biggest regrets is not taking more photos while I was in the Army and not taking more photos out with my family.  So, everyone I meet, I encourage to Take the Photo.  Memories are great, but what makes them even better is being able to hold those moments in your hand. Everyone has an amazing story. Even if you don't think you do. Let me help you tell your story for generations to come.