10/21/2026
To the Montevallo Community — Thank You! 🧡💙
At the last home football game, something happened that completely caught me off guard.
Some of the parents had created a hand-painted banner with my Y1K Studios logo, photos I’ve taken at previous games and photo sessions, and a message that read, “We Appreciate Y1K Studios.”
I don’t think those parents realize just how much that meant to me.
When I first started photographing athletes in Montevallo, my number one goal wasn’t simply to take great pictures. It was to build relationships with the athletes, their families, and the community.
What I didn’t expect was how much I would fall in love with Montevallo along the way.
At nearly every game, parents approach me to tell me how much they love my photography. As a photographer, those words mean more than you might imagine. I sometimes wonder how Vincent van Gogh would have felt if someone had walked up to him, leaned over to his good ear, and said, “Man, your paintings are amazing!” 😂
All jokes aside, hearing that someone appreciates your work means everything, especially when you pour so much of yourself into it.
I’ve photographed a lot of athletes at different schools, but there’s something special about Montevallo. I’ve met some truly exceptional young men and women, and it’s evident that the parents, coaches, and mentors in their lives are doing something right.
Wins and losses will eventually be forgotten, but the character, discipline, friendships, and values these young athletes develop will stay with them long after their playing days are over.
Whether I’m covering a game or photographing an individual athlete, I genuinely look forward to every opportunity to bring my cameras to Montevallo.
That banner reminded me that while I’ve been trying to make an impact on this community, this community has been making an even bigger impact on me.
To the parents, coaches, teachers, school staff, booster clubs, and everyone who dedicates their time to these kids — thank you. What you do matters, and it shows.
And to the parents who took the time to create that banner, you gave me something I’ll never forget.
Thank you for welcoming me, supporting my work, and allowing me to capture a small piece of Montevallo’s history through my lens.
I’m proud to be a small part of your community. 🧡💙
— Mike
Y1K Studios
Taking sports photography to the next level.
