West Phillips

Kentucky: Wes, part 5

Added 2022-01-13 13:50:12 +0000 UTC

Wes is a 20 year old former gymnast who I had the great pleasure of meeting and photographing last summer on a little trip to Louisville, Kentucky. We chatted a bit on Instagram prior to me arriving and talked out some location ideas and decided on a time.

These shots are from the first part of our shoot - in an old industrial building. He's a smaller guy (5'6-7) with a typical gymnast build, which though he no longer practices, he clearly maintains. Physique and handsome looks aside, I was actually really impressed by his character. So many of the younger guys (saying this makes me cringe a little because it makes me sound old 😂) I shoot with - while they may be friendly or pleasant enough - many of them definitely act their age and you get a real immature vibe from them. Wes was the opposite - he was mature and there was no shortage of actual conversation with him - whether it be thought out questions or observations about art and photography or a range of other topics we touched on. He was also incredibly polite. Mature AND polite - a rarity for a 20 year old these days I think.

We shot for a couple hours or so and got heaps of great shots! At the time, this was my first shoot in a couple months and I'm beyond happy with all the great results we got, in addition to a great new friend who I'm still in regular contact with.

Hope you enjoy these shots of this amazing guy!

Louisville, July 2021