Linda Howell Durham
Linda Howell Durham was born on May 12, 1956 at Pattie A. Clay Hospital in Richmond, KY. Her parents are the late Charles (Chock) Howell and Ruth Walling Stocker of Ravenna. Linda is married to Joe William Durham and they have on daughter, Brooke Durham Bridwell, of San Diego, CA, where she lives with her husband Josh. Linda has two brothers, Robert Howell of Richmond, KY., and Earl Howell of Irvine.
The family moved to Lexington when Linda was a small child, but they spent all of their free time in Irvine where all of their family lived and Chock operated a boat dock. In 1969 the family moved back to Irvine and in 1971 her parents started operating the Twin Dairy Bar. The family ran several businesses in the area over the years and Linda always worked in them. After graduating from Estill County High School in 1974, Linda helped her parents open a grocery store on the Irvine-Ravenna line. In 1978 she began working for CSX Railroad as a clerk and it was while at this job that Linda’s hobby of photography became more of a passion. CSX had a photography contest and Linda won first place and this inspired her to learn more. Linda started taking classes in Lexington at the University of Kentucky and Lexington Community College part time in 1991. In the next couple of years she began photographing for friends and family more and more. In 1993 her job with CSX transferred to Jacksonville, FL and since her husband Joe’s job with CSX did not, she took a payoff from the railroad. Linda decided to take a year off from work to enjoy Brooks’ last year of High School.
In 1995 Joe remodeled one level of their home for a home based studio and Creekside Treasures Photography opened its doors for business in 1995. Joe and Linda live on property that has been in the family for many years and it is there where most of her photography is done. There is a small creek on the property that is perfect for the type of photography that Linda does. Creekside specializes in children’s photography with a natural style. During the beginning years of the business, Linda joined the Kentucky Professional Photographers Association where she got involved and was elected as an Eastern Area Director in 1998. It was during this time that she was encouraged by other KPPA members to enter print competition. In 1999, Linda’s first year to enter, she won Kentucky Photographer of the Year, along with several other state awards. She also won awards on the regional and national levels. In 2000 she again won Kentucky Photographer of the Year and it was the same year that she received her certification from the Professional Photographers of America. In 2001 in Chicago Linda received her Master of Photographer and Photographic Craftsman degrees. She also has her Kentucky fellowship degree, along with the Kentucky Degree of Excellence. It was in that same year that Creekside Treasures entered her color lab’s Kid Club Contest. Along with her client, they won the Grand Prize National Contest. The client won $11,000 and Creekside won $7,000 and a lot of national coverage.
In 2001 Brooke moved to San Diego to pursue her photography career on the west coast and Linda enjoys meeting Brooke all over the country for photography conventions and speaking engagements. In 2003 Linda and Brooke photographed a wedding together in Bermuda.
Currently Linda is the vice president for the Kentucky Professional Photographers and in 2005 she will be the president. She is also on the membership committee for the Professional Photographers of America and is the American Society for Photographers state representative and enjoys traveling to other states to teach photography programs and to judge print competitions. Linda’s images and articles have appeared numerous magazines and one of her images was in a display at Disney Epcot Center. In 2002 two of her images traveled in the American Society of Photographers Traveling loan Exhibition all over the world. In January of 2004 Linda received the Kentucky Award, which is an honor given by the Kentucky Association to an individual that has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Linda credits her family and friends for always having faith in her and encouraging her.
The family moved to Lexington when Linda was a small child, but they spent all of their free time in Irvine where all of their family lived and Chock operated a boat dock. In 1969 the family moved back to Irvine and in 1971 her parents started operating the Twin Dairy Bar. The family ran several businesses in the area over the years and Linda always worked in them. After graduating from Estill County High School in 1974, Linda helped her parents open a grocery store on the Irvine-Ravenna line. In 1978 she began working for CSX Railroad as a clerk and it was while at this job that Linda’s hobby of photography became more of a passion. CSX had a photography contest and Linda won first place and this inspired her to learn more. Linda started taking classes in Lexington at the University of Kentucky and Lexington Community College part time in 1991. In the next couple of years she began photographing for friends and family more and more. In 1993 her job with CSX transferred to Jacksonville, FL and since her husband Joe’s job with CSX did not, she took a payoff from the railroad. Linda decided to take a year off from work to enjoy Brooks’ last year of High School.
In 1995 Joe remodeled one level of their home for a home based studio and Creekside Treasures Photography opened its doors for business in 1995. Joe and Linda live on property that has been in the family for many years and it is there where most of her photography is done. There is a small creek on the property that is perfect for the type of photography that Linda does. Creekside specializes in children’s photography with a natural style. During the beginning years of the business, Linda joined the Kentucky Professional Photographers Association where she got involved and was elected as an Eastern Area Director in 1998. It was during this time that she was encouraged by other KPPA members to enter print competition. In 1999, Linda’s first year to enter, she won Kentucky Photographer of the Year, along with several other state awards. She also won awards on the regional and national levels. In 2000 she again won Kentucky Photographer of the Year and it was the same year that she received her certification from the Professional Photographers of America. In 2001 in Chicago Linda received her Master of Photographer and Photographic Craftsman degrees. She also has her Kentucky fellowship degree, along with the Kentucky Degree of Excellence. It was in that same year that Creekside Treasures entered her color lab’s Kid Club Contest. Along with her client, they won the Grand Prize National Contest. The client won $11,000 and Creekside won $7,000 and a lot of national coverage.
In 2001 Brooke moved to San Diego to pursue her photography career on the west coast and Linda enjoys meeting Brooke all over the country for photography conventions and speaking engagements. In 2003 Linda and Brooke photographed a wedding together in Bermuda.
Currently Linda is the vice president for the Kentucky Professional Photographers and in 2005 she will be the president. She is also on the membership committee for the Professional Photographers of America and is the American Society for Photographers state representative and enjoys traveling to other states to teach photography programs and to judge print competitions. Linda’s images and articles have appeared numerous magazines and one of her images was in a display at Disney Epcot Center. In 2002 two of her images traveled in the American Society of Photographers Traveling loan Exhibition all over the world. In January of 2004 Linda received the Kentucky Award, which is an honor given by the Kentucky Association to an individual that has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Linda credits her family and friends for always having faith in her and encouraging her.