The Winship family is proof once again that a single child can change the world ? or at least turn an electrician into a photographer.
Ken and Gail Winship, owners of Winship Studio, never imagined they would one day be the proprietors of a photography business and active members of the Clarkston community. In fact, Ken worked as an electrician for 10? years before the birth of his son changed everything.
‘I took so many pictures of him as a baby, I was going broke getting the film developed at the drug store,? remembers Ken fondly. ‘I decided to learn how to develop my own film and took classes in photography.?
That love of family and film led the Winships to where they are today.
Ken, a White Lake native, married Gail, a kindergarten/first grade teacher, in 1962. Due to Ken’s job, the couple looked to move to the Clarkston area. The advice of a friend led them to their Clarkston home on Snowapple Drive.
‘Gail was teaching in Waterford at the time when the music teacher there, Bob Grimes, said he knew of a home by him that was going on the market, but wasn’t listed yet,? said Ken. ‘We loved it.?
‘Our starter home that we lived in for 37 years,? joked Gail.
The Winships moved to Clarkston in 1963, and with the birth of their son Kevin in 1964, began studying photography and taking professional photos on the weekends.
‘We did a lot of weddings. Gail would pose everyone and I would do the photos,? said Ken. ‘The first wedding we ever shot was my sister’s in 1967.?
In 1970, the couple opened their first studio in the garage of their home on Snowapple Drive. Soon after, Winship Studio began doing Clarkston High School’s senior photos.
‘It was five years of peanut butter sandwiches and no vacations,? said Ken.
According to the Winships, they credit friend and mentor J.D. Hicks with helping them break into the business. The couple remembers the first time they ever stepped into a real photography studio ? they were visiting their mentor in Flint on March 1, 1970.
‘We met (Hicks) at a photographer’s meeting in Detroit and he told us to give him a call some time,? said Ken. ‘We took him up on that and went to visit him.?
‘He was one of the best photographers in the business,? added Gail.
‘The best advice he ever gave us was when he told us to get out of our house. Even if we couldn’t afford it, find the money, borrow the money, just get out of the garage,? Ken continued. ‘He told us we had gone as far as we could there. We would never be any bigger or better without a studio.?
The Winships took Hicks advice and built their original studio on Sashabaw Road, at the corner of Maybee Road, in 1972. Around 1977, they doubled the size of the studio and in 1980 purchased the gas station which was on the corner.
In 1985, the couple built a leasable area onto the building (now the Dairy Dream). Around 2001, Winship Studio moved to its current location on M-15. The couple still owns the property on Sashabaw.
‘When I describe Clarkston, I say we live in a close-knit community of lakes, and it’s still nice to get up in the morning and come into the coffee shop or Brionis next door. It’s just a nice community to live in and build a business in.?
In 1975, the Winships began offering a unique service to Clarkston children ? private videotaped sessions with the big man in red himself.
‘This is very special to us,? said Ken. ‘We do this every year. I just love seeing the joy in the children’s faces.?
‘We’ve had people coming for over 25 years,? said Gail. ‘We’re into second generations coming to see Santa.?
The Winships described several occassions where parents would bring children, even some in their early teens, for a visit who ‘no longer believe in Santa,? and the youngsters would leave true believers. Even when many of the kids swear Santa looks like Ken Winship, the secrets Santa knows about them says otherwise.
In fact, so many children in Clarkston know that Santa always comes to visit the Winships, they won’t go anywhere else to see him.
Elise Finch-Sophiea has brought her children to visit Santa at Winship Studio for the past 10 years.
‘We keep coming back because its wonderful,? said Finch-Sophiea, who was there with her son Jeffrey. ‘It’s a tradition now. We come with friends and make a whole evening of the trip with dinner and all.?
The Morgan family first started coming to visit Santa at Winship Studio in 1985. Connie and John Morgan, personal friends of Santa, brought their two younger daughters ? Sam, 17, and Miranda, 14 ? for this year’s visit.
‘We come because Santa’s here,? said Connie. ‘This is the real Santa.
‘We’re on our second tape now. We have two older daughters who are also on them.?
‘We enjoy this because we can watch the tape and see ourselves when we were little,? said Sam. ‘It’s a holiday tradition.?
Sam and Miranda came dressed in Christmas pajamas, with their hair in pigtails, to give a Christmas card and say good bye to their favorite jolly old elf. The visit was happy, but also solemn since the girls are old enough to know Santa’s little secret and will not be coming any longer.
‘We’ll miss this,? said Connie.
During their visit, Santa spoke briefly to the young women about their grandfather, John Morgan, who recently passed away. Winship said afterwards, moments like that are what make the visits with Santa so special.
Outside of their studio, the Winships are known for their work with the schools. Ken and Gail said they often go into the schools and work with the yearbook and newspaper staffs on how to use their equipment. They also participate in science fairs and career days.
‘It’s always been fun over the years, we’d go out and see kids who say, ‘Hi, Mr. Winship. Do you remember me?? and I always have to ask them who they are,? laughed Ken. ‘We see and work with so many great students.?
‘It’s because we’re family owned,? said Gail. ‘People see us, not someone else, and we see the families as they grow and change. We’re directly involved.?
Both of the Winship’s children, Kevin and Kym, are involved in the business and live in the Clarkston area. Kevin and his wife Jane have three children ? Jordyn, Aalyx and Cameron. Kym also has three kids ? Kassandra, Charlie and Karrissa.
The Winships said they hope their children keep the business going for as long as they desire.