Bill's Blog

Good Morning from Destin, Florida!  It’s almost noon on Saturday, June 5th.

Our Facebook pages are filled with questions . . . how are the beaches?  have you seen oil?  have you canceled your trip?  can you still shoot photos?  are the beaches closed?  do you smell anything in the air?  what are the locals saying?  how, mr. bill, do you retain your rugged good-looks and youthfulness?  . . . The questions go on and on.  Normally, this is where I tell you how beautiful the beaches are, how the sessions are going wonderfully, how our kids are having a superb time playing in the sand, that we’re enjoying fabulous seafood, etc., etc.  This year, though, everyone is asking about the oil disaster.  So let me tell you what we’ve seen different this year than in the other 7 years we’ve been in Destin:

Nothing.

No kidding–the beaches look beautiful, the sessions are going wonderfully, our kids are having a superb time playing in the sand, we’re enjoying fabulous seafood, etc., etc.

Not that you asked, let me give you a glimpse into Sheree and my perspective on the situation, and I’ll also try to answer the questions you’re asking.  Remember that I’m no expert, this is just the look from a guy who visits the area once a year–so take this input for what it’s worth.  Let me begin with the “business” side of our time here–how is Beyond Photography handling the oil issue?

As you may or may not know, Sheree and I have just finished 1 of 11 weeks of our stay near the Destin area.  We’re planning to stay the entire time.  We have not seen a trace of oil, no tar balls, we haven’t noticed an odious smell in the air, and to my knowledge, the experts are saying that Destin remains completely untouched.  We’ve not had any sessions cancel.  In fact, just this week we booked 2 more.  I understand the panic that vacationers are feeling right now.  When I listen to the news, it sounds pretty awful.  Who knows?  Maybe it will be bad, but right now it’s great.  I know that oodles of families have canceled plans to visit this summer.  If you’re unable to change plans at the last minute [difficult work schedules, etc.], I understand.  If you’re more flexible, and you can adjust schedules more easily, I’d suggest that you still come.  Our friends here who operate businesses understand the dilemma you’re facing–and they’re all refunding deposits for clients who cancel . . . even last-minute cancellations.  [Check with your Condo, etc., and ask about their specific policy.  Believe me, they have an answer, and they're giving it often right now.]   Naturally, we’re doing the same.  Folks have wondered:  “Will you refund my portrait retainer if we have to cancel?” Seriously?   Of course we will–unless we’d like to be as popular as BP Oil is right now [ignore that our initials are the same].  We’ll either apply the retainer to another session, or refund.

So regarding our business here:  It’s business as usual.  Really–nothing has changed.

Here’s a question Sheree fielded on Facebook yesterday:  “Please be honest.  We’re planning to come down to Destin.  How do the beaches look?”

You didn’t have to even say, “Please.”  Here’s our honest answer.  Again, I’m no Marine Biologist, nor a weather guy, but here is what we’ve seen.

Destin and Miramar Beach [a little further East, where we're staying] looks the same as it ever has–except the water is a little more emerald this year, more brilliantly-colored than normal.  Honestly, we haven’t seen any change.  Honestly, if I do, I’ll be quick to post a blog to that effect.  Now for the less-positive news.  Sheree and I drove to Perdido Key for a session last night [about 67 miles West of here].  The water is beautiful, folks are still swimming and fishing there.  Honestly, though, there is a noticeable smell in the air.  It’s not overpowering, and it comes and goes with the winds, but y0u’ll smell it.  I guess you’d call it a “petroleumish” smell, but not nearly as obnoxious as a refined petroleum, not as distinct as the smell of motor oil, but more . . . vague.  That’s all the effect we noticed, other than boats poised to block the waterway inlets.

It’s been tough to watch the impact on the locals here.  The media panic has crippled some businesses here.  Busineses should be booming right now, but they’re seeing a decrease in visitors, and lots of cancellations.  Not that I know specific numbers, but judging from traffic, Destin seems “really, really busy,” not “insanely busy,” as it often is right now.  I know of a fisherman who lost 11 chartered trips–last month–when he could have still fished anywhere he normally would have.  That’s at least $11,000 for him.  And that’s only one business.

So maybe you’re wondering:  Why are Sheree and I staying so optimistic?

Why wouldn’t we?

1.  We know that we have no control over the oil spill, or where/when it lands.  We can assume that things will go well, or assume the worst.  So we could wring our hands, and pull up and leave tomorrow.   Or we could plan to enjoy ourselves and work as planned, until we can’t.  If we do have to return early [worst-case scenario for us], we’re so, so, so grateful that we can.  We’re able to pack up and continue our work back home, or some other location.  Our local friends here don’t have that luxury.

2.  The waves and the wind have a tremendous impact on the direction of the oil.  Want proof?  Check out one of the links that Sheree has religiously followed: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/01/us/20100501-oil-spill-tracker.html

Right now, we choose to hope that the oil avoids this area.  Will the oil affect this area?  I suspect it will.  In the meantime, we choose optimism.

If you’d like to see more information about the oil, and its impact on this region, let me give you a few links to the folks who really know:

NOAA.com

destinoilspill.com

Until next time, we’ll keep you updated on what we see here.  Thanks for checking in, and we’ll talk to you soon.

Yours,

mr. bill