Interview with Billy Childress

Billy Childress has been photographing the North Carolina skate scene for about seven years.  For as long as he’s been around, skaters always get an extra jolt of motivation when they hear “Billy’s coming to town this weekend.”  If he had no skill with a camera, skaters would still be stoked to go out and shoot photos with him because of his non-stop positive attitude.  Personality is an important quality that filmers and photographers often neglect and we’re glad Billy doesn’t. We’re also glad he’s got skill with a camera. Enjoy the interview.

How long have you been shooting skate photos and what originally got you interested?
I have always shot skate photos here and there, but I didn’t really take it serious until 2002 or 2003 my last year of photo school. That was around the time when were going out every weekend working on Carolina Love. So to answer the question eight years now. Man it doesn’t seem that long.

What do you look forward to the most when packing up to go shoot skaters for the weekend?
I look forward to just seeing all my friends.

In your opinion what is the most rewarding part of shooting skateboarding.
Its when whoever your shooting lands the trick they have been trying and then knowing that you captured that moment and everyone around you is stoked on the trick, the photos, and the footage. That’s the best man because you were there and you know what it took to do that trick.

Skate photography rarely pays well, if at all. How do you support your hobby financially?
Well, I’m a free-lance photographer and photography assistant. So one week I maybe in a studio in Greensboro, NC shooting furniture, I sometimes work on video T.V. commercial shoots, then I maybe up in New York, NY working as a digital tech on fashion photo shoot, and from time to time I’ll shoot weddings on the weekends. Or like next week I head out to Switzerland for a week with another photographer form Baltimore, MD for a week of shooting there. So I have many different photo jobs that pay the bills but I would love to be able to shoot skateboarding full time and make a living at it.

If you could shoot photos of any other sport / activity / subject, what would it be?
I enjoy shooting portraits of people. I always try to shoot portraits of all the people I shoot skate photos of and sometimes incorporate them with the skate photos. I have had two art shows in the past in Winston-Salem NC both shows had fine art portraits of people in them. So, I think thats the subject I choose people. I enjoy capturing people in different moments of their lives and using different lighting tech. and unique locations or backgrounds to tell the story of that person through a photograph.

What are five essential items for your camera bag?
A Camera Body with an 8GB card in the camera so that counts as 1, then a fisheye lens, a 24-85mm zoom lens, a pack of Camel Lights, and a tall boy sugar-free red bull. Thats all I need. I could make that work.

Any last words or advice to up and coming photographers?
Last words to anyone that wants to shoot skate photos DO IT and have fun while you do it. Shoot what you like and don’t worry about what other people say or think just always do it because you love it. Its crazy that a board and four wheels brought us all together but it is that common interest that keeps us all going and connected.

Thanks to everyone that has checked out my blog and all their support for what I do I really appreciate it. Thanks to you James Tupper for this interview. Thanks to Jed Shooter, Chad Shooter, Johnny Randolph, Cameron Keene, Justin Brock, Ross Rogers, Matt Gillen, Sam Buxton, Dan Murphy, Durand Beasley, Travis Knapp-Parsek, Reuben Pickle, Scotty Moore, Brett Abramsky, Sturgil Horn, Josh Bowman, Ty Rohde, Anthony Alcantara, Drew Hanner, Tom Hyson, Bob Reynolds, Conner Champion, Tony Reddington, Justin McLeod, Carvey Crew, Ruckus Crew, MTA Crew, Pickle Brothers, Pink Crack Crew, Raleigh Heads, Winston Heads, Wilmington Heads, Everyone at DELUXE, Roughneck Nick, Johnny Roughneck, Roughneck Hardware, Everyday Skateboards,PINK CRACK KILLS, FTK Magazine, Endless Grind, Exodus Skate Shop, Eastern Skateboard Supply, Canvas Skate Shop, to everyone that has helped me along the way THANK YOU!

For more of Billy’s photos check out his blog.

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