05/20/2026
We are very saddened by the post and responses on Making Memories Photography page. We had, what we thought, was a very professional conversation with Ms. Eileen last night, and felt that everything was understood. However, the apology post, on her page, did not give the full details.
1) Yes, it was a public event and anyone may make pictures.
2) Absolutely, parents and families may take pictures of their student(s).
3) We know the First Amendment very well.
4) We are friends with Sanderson Sports Images. Our contract covers (2) action sports events, per year, for the yearbook. We make these available to the parents, at no charge. We cannot be at every sporting event.
5) We do not go to other schools and make pictures, unless we are invited and only if no other contracted photographer, is at the event.
6) We have never said that seniors may not go to another photographer for a senior session. Our contract covers cap & gown, formal and casual for the yearbook. Many seniors have had sessions with other photographers and it is definitely not a problem.
The first issue with Ms. Eileen's graduation images, is that they were not just a couple of personal family and friends. The second issue is that they were offered on her business page, with a water mark, to be sold. We told her, in the conversation last night, that her images were great. We have nothing against her at all and that was shared.
We are at many sporting events, recitals, band concerts and other events, with our grandchildren. We are always making pictures. However, we post them on our personal page and make them available, to the other families, through our children.
One last note of interest. When we moved to Pikeville, John was making sports pictures, as a photographer with Max Preps. At the high school, football homecoming, he was told that he could not take pictures of the Homecoming Court and ceremony. This was because the photographer, at that time, had a clause in the contract that forbade other professional photographers from taking the pictures. We totally understood and he was not on the field making pictures, nor did we try to sell any images from that event.
Friends, this is a business matter and again, we are very sad that it has been blown into anything else. We love Bledsoe County and the families, schools and community that we serve.
We reserve the right close post responses, if this becomes negative bashing. As always, we are very willing to speak to anyone on an individual basis.
