Entrepreneurial Couple Preserves Barns With Photos

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #3, Page #07

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A love of barns inspired an interesting sideline business of selling prints for Tony and Sandi Winton of Glenwood, Iowa.
  “On Saturdays it’s what we love to do. Get a cappuccino and head out to look for barns,” says Sandi, who works as a real estate agent during the week. Since 2007, she has photographed about 100 barns, with her husband helping carry equipment and setting up photo shoots. Most photos are of barns in southwest Iowa, but there are also some from eastern Iowa, one in Nebraska and one in Missouri.
  “I’ve loved barns since I was a child,” Winton explains, and she’s saddened when she sees them torn down. Taking photos has become more of a mission than a moneymaker to ensure the couple’s 10 grandchildren and future great-grandchildren see what the countryside was like with barns.
  “We look for barns that are old, preferably 1940’s and older,” she explains. “We try to find ones without a lot of power lines, light poles and unattractive clutter. We like them to tell a story.”
  The Wintons know the story, because Tony talks to the barn owner and gets written permission before taking any photos.
  “He’s also the one to get past the dogs that like to greet us,” Winton laughs.
  She plans to publish a book with the photos and stories in the future.
  Taking photos of a barn – in the morning or late afternoon – typically takes 1 to 3 hrs.
  “It’s not uncommon to take 500 shots of one or two barns,” Winton says.
  “We like to see fresh snow in the winter,” she adds. “I don’t like the cold. However, for these pictures the barns seem to go well with snow. My other favorite time to take pictures is in the fall, when the colors blend with, highlight and enhance the barn’s color.”
  Her inventory of barn photos covers all seasons, and customers have different reasons for buying them. Some put the framed photos in their businesses. Some have family ties to the barn. Others – like the Wintons – just appreciate barns.
  Winton has her photos professionally printed and sells them at local shops and through her website as greeting cards ($4/each) and prints in 5 by 7 up to 30 by 40 in. with prices ranging from $200 to $400 for the largest sizes. Most customers order them framed by her husband or a local shop, but she also sells unframed prints.
  Winton notes it takes perseverance and time to track down owners and get permission. But with an estimated 1,000 barns being torn down each year in Iowa alone, she believes it’s an important mission to capture the images for future generations.
  She and her husband hope to expand their mission and photograph barns beyond Iowa into other Midwest states.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tony and Sandi Winton, Winton Photography, 58311 Hilman Rd., Glenwood, Iowa 51534 (ph 712 520-8548; www.wintonphotography.com).

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Entrepreneurial Couple Preserves Barns With Photos BUILDINGS Miscellaneous A love of barns inspired an interesting sideline business of selling prints for Tony and Sandi Winton of Glenwood Iowa “On Saturdays it’s what we love to do Get a cappuccino and head out to look for barns ” says Sandi who works as a real estate agent during the week Since 2007 she has photographed about 100 barns with her husband helping carry equipment and setting up photo shoots Most photos are of barns in southwest Iowa but there are also some from eastern Iowa one in Nebraska and one in Missouri “I’ve loved barns since I was a child ” Winton explains and she’s saddened when she sees them torn down Taking photos has become more of a mission than a moneymaker to ensure the couple’s 10 grandchildren and future great-grandchildren see what the countryside was like with barns “We look for barns that are old preferably 1940’s and older ” she explains “We try to find ones without a lot of power lines light poles and unattractive clutter We like them to tell a story ” The Wintons know the story because Tony talks to the barn owner and gets written permission before taking any photos “He’s also the one to get past the dogs that like to greet us ” Winton laughs She plans to publish a book with the photos and stories in the future Taking photos of a barn – in the morning or late afternoon – typically takes 1 to 3 hrs “It’s not uncommon to take 500 shots of one or two barns ” Winton says “We like to see fresh snow in the winter ” she adds “I don’t like the cold However for these pictures the barns seem to go well with snow My other favorite time to take pictures is in the fall when the colors blend with highlight and enhance the barn’s color ” Her inventory of barn photos covers all seasons and customers have different reasons for buying them Some put the framed photos in their businesses Some have family ties to the barn Others – like the Wintons – just appreciate barns Winton has her photos professionally printed and sells them at local shops and through her website as greeting cards $4/each and prints in 5 by 7 up to 30 by 40 in with prices ranging from $200 to $400 for the largest sizes Most customers order them framed by her husband or a local shop but she also sells unframed prints Winton notes it takes perseverance and time to track down owners and get permission But with an estimated 1 000 barns being torn down each year in Iowa alone she believes it’s an important mission to capture the images for future generations She and her husband hope to expand their mission and photograph barns beyond Iowa into other Midwest states Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Tony and Sandi Winton Winton Photography 58311 Hilman Rd Glenwood Iowa 51534 ph 712 520-8548; www wintonphotography com

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