Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristy Whatley.
Hi Kristy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I was 14 my dad gave me his 35mm Olympus camera. It was top of the line for the time. I taught myself to use it and to develop my own film and I felt like I was on top of the world. The love for photography would follow me through the rest of my teenage years and well in to my 20’s. I went to college for Photography, Basic Arts and Computer Science. I have a Bachelor’s in Photography covering portrait, fine arts, commercial, and sports. I also got my A+ certification and an associates in Basic computer Data Science. I would take a picture of anything that would sit still. My mid 20’s I didn’t pick the camera up quite as much, I was more in to the art side of things. I was drawing and painting. Riding horses and working took a lot of my time, along with being a single mom. End of my 20’s I picked the camera back up and started taking photos at the horse shows for friends. Doing portraits along with nature and landscape. I got bored real quick with it. Mid 30’s I realized that my love for motorsports and fast cars could be a thing if I could figure out how to stop them in a frame while they were actually doing about 125mph. I practiced while my brother was racing. I didn’t show anyone bc I didn’t want anyone laughing at how bad the photos were at the time. I practiced, I spoke with other guys doing it. They wouldn’t tell me much bc I was a girl and in the wrong field. So I made it a point to prove them wrong. Racing was in my family and cars is what I knew. It made sense to me. So over the next year or so I practiced all the time. And then one day I had the settings just right and I thought I needed to throw myself a party I was so excited. Of course, no one else was excited about it. Fast forward a few years, I went through a very nasty divorce and my whole world felt like it was falling apart. Photography was the one thing that held me together. When I got with my now husband, Tyler, he is a sprint car driver. He and my brother raced together. He and his dad rebuilt a car over the off season and asked me to take photos of it. So I did. Then the fire lit in my soul. This is what I am supposed to be doing. So my camera went to the track with me when he was racing. By the end of the season, I was one of the track photographers at Riverside International Speedway, West Memphis, AR. A guy by the name of Scott Frazier out of Bartlett, TN gave me that chance, when no one else would. I will forever be grateful for him and lucky to call him a friend.
I have since upgraded my equipment and branched out to also doing Drag/Street Racing. I have met so many incredible people in racing.
I am now partnered with 357’s World of Dirt and ASCS Hurricane Area Super Sprints. I have credentials to cover The World of Outlaws and High Limit Racing this year as well. (These are the professionals)
I have covered the largest legal street race in Memphis, TN put on by Dennis Bailey (From street outlaws-Memphis, TN) and Shaye Kelly. 114 cars in 9 hours to cross the line. I have sponsors backing me this year as well.
Dale Howard – ATROM Transmissions, Daniel Valley – VallTech Garage, Mike Hampton – Mike Hampton Racing, Scott Frazier – Restoration 22, Tyler Whatley – Highside Motorsports, and my employer, Brandon & Stormy Reed with Ouachita Trailer Sales.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth ride to get where I am now. I have been told NO more times than I can count. I have been told to quit, to give up, I would never make it bc I am a girl.
Life has taken me by the hair a few times as well and thrown a few loops in there. But I pulled through and I am pushing forward.
I wanted to quit several times. More times than I can count.
I have a good support team backing me, that believes in me and saw the potential long before I ever did.
When Dennis Bailey and his team allowed me to cover their first street race in November of 2025, it opened more doors for me. Those drivers backed me, hyped me up and helped push me forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Well I have been in the automotive industry my entire adult career. Racing is in my family. My love for photography. It all just made sense to me. Now I am a known photographer in the motorsports world of racing. My name is growing daily. I would love to be able to leave my 9-5 daily job and do this full time…. those are my goals. But for now, I will sell trailers during the week and take photos on the weekends. Or as my 14 year old says…. Chase race cars. I am more known in the dirt racing than I am on the street/drag strip, but that is slowly changing. I have guys reaching out to me asking for coverage now instead of me making those calls to see if anyone needs coverage. My proudest moment is when I got a reply from High Limit Racing Series granting me credentials (Permission) to cover their race at Lucas Oil Speedway this Sept. I have worked so hard for that YES! Something that sets me apart from a lot of the other photographers in this industry is that I don’t use a flash on my camera often. I prefer the natural colors and lighting and in darker settings, I just adjust my camera accordingly to compensate.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My mother Tammy first and foremost. She has always been my biggest fan. My father Tracy is all on board now that he see’s my potential and he pushes me hard most days. My brother Daniel has always been in my corner but been quiet until I needed a firm pushing to do what he knew I could. My husband Tyler has pushed me to push myself and step out of my comfort zone. Scott Frazier allowed me to borrow updated equipment when I was having issues with my own so that I wouldn’t have to stop doing what I love. He is who first gave me the opportunity to be a photographer on the track. My father in-law Randy, he is the only person to ever take one of my photos and frame it and give it to me. That meant a lot to me. It hangs over my couch in my den today. My best friend of 38 years, Jessica…. I don’t know where to start. She has always been a constant cheerleader in my corner. She gets so excited when I call and tell her about new accomplishments.
Pricing:
- Car and Driver $165+
- Portraits $85+
- Senior/Graduation $145+
- Sponsor Shots $75+
- Weddings $650+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.highsidephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highsidephotography25
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighsidePhotography25
