For almost 20 years now, I’ve been involved in some way, shape or form in the car industry. In that time, I’ve been mostly concerned with building show quality vehicles. I’m not sure exactly what it is about them, but I never really wanted a beater. For me, a custom car is finished top to bottom, paint and everything, and ready to be put on the floor at SEMA.Even after all the hard work though, I want to drive my cars as much as possible, which always makes me paranoid about getting a ding or a dent. Sometimes, it takes the pleasure out of driving them, which ultimately leads to me selling the ride and moving on to the next one.

Then I met Dino. A few years back, I was called by one of my editors and told to go shoot a piece on a guy who lived in Central Phoenix, and feature the many different trucks in his collection. At the time, he owned quite a few – six, I believe – mostly in the ‘60-’66 C-10 era. He owned one show car, but the rest were just laid out trucks with reliable motors and big wheels. No fancy paint, no shaved handles or roll pans; just pure, simple, drivers. I asked Dino why he never really took his trucks to that next level, and his answer surprised me.

See, Dino lives a different lifestyle than most. His cars live in his backyard, which is also where his 100+ pound rottweiler spends most of his time. On more than one occasion, Dino would go out into the yard and find the dog sleeping on the hood or in the cab, leaving scratches and dents in his wake. Owning a show truck didn’t make sense for Dino, because he didn’t want to worry about an accident with a dog or a ding from a shopping cart. The main thing for Dino is that he owns a mechanically sound vehicle that runs and drives excellently, lays low, and that’s it. Forget the primered shell or the faded paint. For him, it’s about function.

This concept seemed foreign to me at the time, but after spending more time with Dino, I learned that it was just his way. Dino loves his trucks, but he doesn’t hang onto them for years at a time unless he really likes them. Instead, he buys them and flips them fairly quickly, but only once he’s gotten his fun with the vehicle out of his system. It made me see that I don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to have a cool truck, I just need to have something cool that I enjoy, and that’s ultimately all that matters.

Tonight, I went out and shot Dino’s latest creation, a 1953 Chevrolet 150. This gorgeous car sports the original inline six cylinder engine, stock faded paint and a redone interior. It’s mechanically sound, airbagged and rolling on 1949 Cadillac wheels. It’s not only fun to drive, but it’s fun just to look at, and gets tons of stares wherever it goes. For Dino, this car is just about perfect. Sure, he could buy a 350 and throw that under the hood, and yes, he could chop it and paint it with a heavy flake. But for him, this car is just fine as it sits and for now, he’ll drive it all day long.

This car, and people like Dino, are the reason I do what I do. It’s not always easy to find inspiration, and sometimes my job can be downright frustrating. But today, I found it in the faded patina of a 1953 Chevrolet.

I’ve spent a good portion of my life blogging, whether it was on my old personal site back in the day, or on various other paid sites. It’s always been on a variety of different topics, but one constant theme is cars, mostly because it’s my passion. But up until recently, I haven’t had much of a chance to really explore that through writing, at least not via the web.

One of the downsides to writing for print is that you never know when or if your article is going to get published. For me, I have a fairly good track record of getting articles in print, but I’m definitely not 100%. There have been quite a few shoots over the years that although I thought were great, never quite made it to print. And on the other side, there are some of my shoots that did get printed, but not with the images that I really hoped they would use.

Up until a few weeks ago, these shoots just sat on my hard drive, waiting for someone or something to come along and remember they existed. I have a pretty extensive library of photos at this point, taking up a good amount of storage space and I seem to need more every day. Back in February, I bumped into a casual acquaintance that I had met through the scene named Craig. He ran a website named MyRideIsMe.com, dedicated to mostly hot rods and muscle cars. We saw each other at the Goodguys show in Scottsdale, and he asked me if I was out shooting. I answered yes, and then explained how I was full time now with Whipps Industries. He mentioned that he’d love to have me write for the site, I agreed, and we exchanged cards.

Last month he contacted me. Turns out that he wanted me to provide some content for his site, and would really love it if I could get some trucks and newer vehicles uploaded to the blog. I instantly thought about all of those shoots that never came through, and those cars that never got seen the way I saw them, and agreed.

I’m doing one article a week now for MyRideIsMe, and getting articles out there that either never saw print or are getting a second look. For example, check out my feature on Chad’s ‘98 Chevy. My editor turned down those photos two years ago, but I always loved them. They’re a bit non-traditional, but to me, they’re some pretty cool pics. Then there’s Bear’s Hardbody, which was shot in a freshly built enclosed garage, giving it a cool geometric feel. My editor passed, but here it is for the world to see. And finally, there’s my good friend Adam’s ‘63 Impala Wagon. I shot the wagon for a recent issue of World of Rods, but this other shoot was back in 2004, when it was rolling on 20-inch billets. I loved the garage pics, as they were some of my first attempts at long exposure shots, and that interior pic is one of my favorites ever.

I just completed another two for the site (including Andrew’s ‘72 pictured above), and I’ve got another few ready to go. In the coming months, I hope to have quite a few loaded on MyRideIsMe, so feel free to check them out. It’s nice to have a home for wayward shoots, and I know the owners appreciate it as well.

It took me a long time to make the decision to leave my old company. In fact, I was working on making the decision even before I was hired on. But when I was very close to the decision, I was spending my time weighing my options. I figured that I’d do some boring work for a while, but eventually, I’d get to the point where I’d be doing web and magazine work all the time. I even figured that I could freelance for my old company if I wanted to, and make some extra cash. They were reliable, after all, even if they were late.

Around that time, I got a phone call from one of my editors. Although we weren’t friends, he was a pretty cool guy to know, and I really enjoyed working with him. He even interviewed me for a job position a few years back, and he always fed me stories to write. It was a good source of work, because the articles came to me, and I just had to turn them out quickly. I had just done that a few weeks before this phone call, in fact, and I was expecting a check in the mail pretty soon.

Turns out, that check would never come.

That’s because two days before print, the parent company decided to shut down the magazine. Another group of talented editors were sent to the unemployment line, and freelancers were left twisting in the wind. My articles were sent to another magazine, but chances are, they won’t run. And if they do, another author will be on the byline, and I won’t get paid. It’s the way things work sometimes, unfortunately. Thing is, there was nothing I, nor my editor, could do about it.

I got this news just a few days before I was planning on putting in my notice. I had banked on that money to push me through November or December, and this cancellation put my whole plan in doubt. Should I really go out on my own? Should I take that step?

That situation taught me something that helps me in my business today: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. It’s an old saying for sure, but in that situation it really rang true. I was counting on money that I did not yet have – and anything could happen between now and then that could change things. That’s why today, I do my budgeting a little bit differently. That way, I don’t have to worry before things happen.

Which is why the news that my old company filed for Chapter 11 on Tuesday didn’t really hit me that hard. On the one hand, it did – but only because my friends still work there. But on the other, even though I was owed money and it was likely I’d never see it, I knew that things would still be alright. I hadn’t counted my chickens. I knew that this might happen – what with having a bit of insider information – but I still did my job and wrote the stories because they were entertaining to me, and something I wanted to do. The contacts I made from those pieces put me in a better place, and it was really an enjoyable experience. Point is, it wasn’t a waste of my time.

That’s not to say that I’m fine with people not paying me. Fact is, were this not a bankruptcy situation, I’d sue. But knowing that there’s still a slight chance I’ll be paid helps soften the blow a bit, even though it still bites in the short term.

After all, there’s nothing I can do to change the situation. All I can do is keep on rolling forward.

I’ve written a lot of articles over the years, but this latest one means a lot to me for a lot of different reasons. It’s in the latest issue of World of Rods, and it features my friend Adam’s dual ’63s.

I first met Adam about 10 years ago, when we were both in the same car club. He had an Astro van at the time and so did I, so we bonded. He lived in Las Vegas, while I was in Phoenix, but we’d chat on the phone every so often. His most recent child also had a few medical issues that required a specialist, and the only one he could find in the area was down here in my neck of the woods. I was working nights at the time, so I’d pick up Adam, his wife and his kid at the airport, take them to the doctor’s office, then take them back. That lasted a few months, but I certainly didn’t mind. He was a friend and a fellow club member, so I’d do anything for him, just like he would for me.

I was there when Adam first looked at the ‘63 Impala wagon pictured to the left. It was a little rough, and a full-on lowrider, but Adam saw potential. He traded straight across for his Astro and got building.

He was there for my first SEMA appearance, with my 2000 Ford Focus Wagon, although technically, it was more of a SEMA-adjacent appearance.

He was also there when I left that car club, and he was one of the few people who stayed by my side during that time. He really is a good friend.

Over the years, Adam and I have spent a lot of time together. Whether he’s down here or I’m up there, we hang out a lot – to the point where some people asked if we were brothers (although you could make the argument that it’s because we’re both chubby guys with shaved heads). We’ve both had some roller coaster times, but we’ve made it through regardless.

When I decided to go full-time with the writing and photography, Adam was one of my first calls. I figured that if I was able to round up at least 4 or 5 features in a particular area that I could fly out there, get the shoots done and fly out while still making a profit. It meant getting a bunch of features under my belt, and it was a good way to get the business started, although there were risks with weather and time schedules. I knew that Adam knew everyone in Vegas, so I asked him if he had any buddies who wanted shoots. He lined up 5 or 6 of them, and that was good enough for me. By the time I was done, I had 6 features ready to go for my trip.

I quit my old job on October 2nd, and on October 4th I was on a plane, headed to Vegas. I shot several features out there, but the one that really was important to me was the one pictured above, of my friend’s ‘63 Impala wagon, and his ‘63 Buick Riviera.

I’ve been anxiously waiting for this feature to print, and today, I stumbled upon it at the grocery store. There it is, 8 pages and the table of contents, all of Adam’s cars. The layout turned out better than I could’ve ever hoped, and it all turned out really, really good.

This article marks a number of firsts for me. It’s the first article I’ve ever shot with two cars. It’s the first article I’ve ever had published at World of Rods. It’s the first 8 page feature I’ve ever had.

The big one though, is that this is the first article I’ve had printed that was started and turned in once Whipps Industries was formalized. Seeing that picture above reminds me of that October day in Vegas. I was cold, wearing shorts in 50 degree weather, and scared out of my mind. I had no idea if I was going to be able to make it as a writer, no idea if my business would ever work, and no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I had to use my camera to get the best shots I could of my friend’s cars. And I did.

I don’t often ask people to check out my work. But if you happen to be at a newsstand sometime soon and see the latest issue of World of Rods, I’d really appreciate it if you picked it up.

You know, I do more than just write for magazines. I also write for websites. The past few months I’ve been at Apple Gazette, and just recently I started at Forever Geek. I really enjoy writing for the web, as it’s such an immediate medium that allows me to be more personal and express myself.

Want to check out my work? There are two places you can go.

Apple Gazette

Forever Geek

I’m always looking for other blogging opportunities, so if you have one, or know of someone who does, send me a note and we can go from there.

When I go out to do a shoot on a car or truck, I often get asked, “How do I get a copy of these pictures?” That’s an awkward question to answer – or at least it was, until recently.

Every picture I take for a magazine is getting sold to that publication. Until the article runs, I can’t sell a single one of those pictures to a customer unless they want to pay to compensate for the shoot. Once it runs however, I’ll sell a CD of the final product to them for a fair price. The grey area happens when the article hasn’t run yet and it’s been a long time since the shoot. Until the magazine has signed off on it, I can’t do anything with the pictures. They just sit on my server until my editors make a decision.

Now, that’s going to change. I’ve been spending some time recently establishing an account at SmugMug, where soon I’ll have some of my favorite shoots available online. Soon you’ll be able to hop onto whippsindustries.com, head into the shop area and buy prints of any image I’ve put online. From wallet sized to 30X30 box-framed posters and everything in between, it’s all there. Better yet, it’s affordable.

See that guy in the upper right corner? His name is Dino, and I’ve shot several of his trucks in the past few years. The first few galleries that I’ll be putting up are of everything of his that I’ve put in front of my lens; my favorite pics of his many rides. I could fill the site with his trucks alone – trust me, he’s had plenty – but as I do more shoots, I’ll put up selected favorites for customers to purchase. Consider them reserves that don’t go to the magazine, but will be available for prints just a few days after the shoot.

Of course, not everyone wants prints, and I understand that. In those situations, I’ll still offer a CD or DVD of the images from the shoot, but only once the article is published. Sorry, certain things I can’t change.

Although this is for my customers, I do have a selfish reason for this new addition. I’ve taken some shots that I’d love to have framed and hanging on the walls in the office, but local print shops want a small fortune for them. Now, I’ve got an option for myself that’s not only affordable, but the quality is amazing as well.

The way I see it, I just might be the shop’s best customer.

Born at 3:45 pm. 8.2 lbs, 20.75 inches long and healthy.

I’m ecstatic.

I got a call from a good friend of mine the other day, about shooting a truck for one of the magazines I work for. “They screwed this article up royally,” he says to me. “I wasn’t even listed, and neither was another guy. You should shoot it for another magazine and make sure we get the right credit.”

I’ve been in this situation before, and it was a tricky scenario. Back then, I was a young photographer, just trying to make my way in the business. Now that I have a bit more experience however, I know the way this should go down.

Chances are pretty high that there’s a reason why my friend’s credits weren’t given in the tech sheet. Either the owner wasn’t happy with the results, or maybe someone else had to be paid to redo the job. Regardless, the owner doesn’t want to give certain people credit, and as the guy who possesses the vehicle, it’s his right to do so.

This puts me in a weird situation. I want to shoot the truck because I think it’s a great vehicle and I’d love to put it out there. But if I do that, I have to choose between satisfying the owner, and satisfying my friend. Either way, someone is going to get ticked off.

What’s the answer?

I put the truck on my “do not touch” list. It’s not a very long document or anything, but from now on, I don’t touch the truck or anything the owner builds. That way, I don’t risk irritating anyone along the line. Sure, that does rule out me shooting anything he does in the future, but more often than not, I photograph the cars of first-time vehicle builders. Chances are pretty good that I won’t be asked to shoot one of his trucks again, and if I do, I’ll politely decline.

Sometimes it’s more about being political than anything. It’s not a great situation to be in, but by avoiding it entirely, I also avoid the potential problems down the road.

Sometimes shooting a feature vehicle is a bit like playing tag.

Take today’s shoot, for example. I first saw this SUV at the Goodguys show in Scottsdale a few months ago, and I couldn’t find the owner. The event comes and goes, and I’m hunting for this SUV everywhere; I’m checking with my friends, looking at car shows, and I find nothing.

As it turns out, I’m on another shoot a month ago and the owner of said vehicle happened to know the owner of the SUV. See, this guy is a mailman, and he delivers the mail to the owner. After a few missed connections, I finally get in touch with the owner and we schedule a shoot.

30 minutes before the shoot, I get a call: “Kevin, I’m sorry, but the truck won’t go in reverse. We have to reschedule.” so we did just that, for today at 4:00.

I get a call today at 2 p.m. He was going to fly into town today for the shoot, and he missed his flight. So he decides to drive to Phoenix from Las Vegas, just in time for the shoot. It’s 4:22 now, and he should be here in about 10 minutes.

It’s taken a lot of hunting, gathering and researching to find this vehicle, and I can’t wait to finally shoot it. Then once the shoot is done, it’s back to the office to start the search for the next ride to feature all over again.

UPDATE: A sample from the shoot is above. Turned out great.

My first child is scheduled to come just one week from Sunday, and the wife and I are very excited. This does mean a little bit of downtime for the business however, so I’ve taken some extra steps to get thing ready for the big day.

I’ve been banking articles recently, doing photo shoots without doing any editing or writing, so that I can get dome work done from the hospital. Let me say too, that these are some awesome cars and trucks that I can’t wait to get out there. Come February 10th, I fully expect my MacBook Pro to be whirring away, sending files up to the clients via FTP.

As for local work, that just doesn’t seem to stop. I have a shoot for a good friend of mine come the 14th, which should be a lot of fun. Then sometime soon I’ll be heading off to Dallas, where I hope to get a few shoots in as well. That, and hopefully buy that dually I’ve been talking about.

I’ve also worked out a deal with Splashpress Media, and next month you’ll be able to find my work at both Apple Gazette and Forever Geek, which I’m very excited about. I hope to do even more blogging work I the future, as opporunities present themselves.

Don’t worry though, because even with a child on the way and lots of work to do, I’m always looking for new opportunities. Should you have one, send me an e-mail and we can talk it out.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog, and look for pictures of my son in the future!