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TOP STORY OF THE DAY: Capturing Memories
By IVY JACOBS
Times Co-Editor
Did you know that one of the premier photography studios is in Clay County?
White Pine Manor is a unique photo studio.
“The dream in purchasing this land was to bring back community and family memory making,” said JoAnn Wilkerson, who bought the land a few years ago for the sole purpose. I wanted to provide a place for families to make memories together. I knew this would be a perfect place.”
The 16-acre is a place to slow down and enjoy the scenic beauty of the outdoors while taking the perfect photos. Some special places include a unique glass house and numerous indoor backdrop sets featuring seasonal vintage art to create the most memorable images available for professional and novice photographers at reasonable prices.
Friends Debbie McNinch is an award-winning photographer with decades of experience, and Wilkerson works together to create the award-winning seasonal sets in “Studio 624.”
“We do these together. I get to be creative and artistic,” said McNinch, who loves helping people bring art back to photography. “JoAnn is the detail person. She gets things done.”
“It is amazing how our minds work together to get things done,” said Wilkerson, who urged McNinch to tell a story about why each set is special.
“We were poor when I was a child, but somehow, my mom saved the money to buy my first camera. She encouraged my love of photography,” said McNinch. “To honor her, I put something of my mother’s in each set.”
“Our brains just mesh so well,” said Wilkerson, explaining there are not many photo barns throughout the county.
Both women share a love of “vintage junk,” which works well when designing photography sets.
Last year, White Pine Manor was nationally recognized with a “Most Innovation” award for their photo barn.
“Each one is unique; they do their own things,” said McNinch about the outside-the-box idea. “We are kind of known.”
More than 200 photographers from throughout Indiana and a handful from outside the state have used the facilities at White Pine Manor Photo Barn for photo shoots. Many families have scheduled appointments for family photos and engagement and wedding photos throughout the year.
The mission statement of White Pine Manor is “Capture The Memory.”
the winter sets are available until the end of December, with new ones coming in January.
McNinch said it takes about two weeks to tear down and put new ideas together.
“The new sets should be available mid-January,” said Wilkerson. “People can check Facebook (White Pines Manor photo farm) for details.”
More information is available at www.whitepinemanor.com.