Germantown Hills resident opens Photo-Artistry

Germantown Hills resident Ray King is not a professional photographer. He carries the professional equipment around, he snaps a few nature shots here and there or whatever catches his eye, but he is not a photographer.

“I’ve never taken any classes on photography so I’m just a picture taker with good equipment,” King said.

King has been a picture taker for about two years now, running a business from the kitchen table of his home. But he soon realized that could not be his office space forever.

“My wife is really happy she can have her space back,” he said in reference to the kitchen.

On Oct. 26 at 12:15 p.m., several enthusiastic Germantown Hills residents came to watch Dr. Tim Kaufman, Germantown Hills Chamber of Commerce president and King perform a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome his business “Photo-Artistry” into the community.

“We started the ribbon-cutting with Pizza Hut, and we’ve done three total,” Dr. Kaufman said.

“Germantown (Hills) is a great community. We’re kind of a community with no identity. So any business we can get is great.”

Mayor Kenny Mitchell also attended the ceremony. He and King are long-time friends, which made Mitchell more than happy to spread the word about King’s upcoming business.

King serves photographers who need their photos touched up. He also does some work on the computer to get pictures to look like watercolor paintings.

The price of his services vary depending on what the client wants. For instance, an 8x10 complete canvas costs $25 while a 12x16 complete canvas costs $45. The price goes up the larger the canvas.

The beauty of nature is King’s inspiration for becoming a picture taker. A canvas wrapped photograph of a nest of American bald eagles hanging on the wall of his shop tells this story.

“I was driving up to the driver’s license place to renew my driver’s license, and I noticed in a tree along the river these huge nests,” King said.

“I was wondering what in the world is that. And I came back later and find an eagle sitting on it.”

King’s store is located in the Germantown shopping center two doors down from the Pizza Hut.