About Us

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A former news photographer for the Newark Advocate, John Allee launched
 a home-based photography business in 1977. He and Judith Waite Allee,
 his wife and business partner, specialize in portraits and events on
 location in Licking and Franklin counties. They have also photographed
 conferences and reunions in 12 states. Licking County residents have seen
 Allee’s photos, “Licking County Courthouse at Christmas” and
 “Black Hand Gorge,” on past covers of the Alltel telephone book. His
 courthouse photos have also appeared on the Licking County map produced
 by the county engineer’s office. 

Originally from Cincinnati, Allee says friends thought he was being
 banished to the “boonies” and wondered what he would photograph--cows
 and sunsets? The joking didn’t bother him, and he says living in a
 rural community has been more of an escape than a banishment.

“I admit I’ve photographed some beautiful sunsets and some pretty
 fine-looking cows,“ quips Allee, “but also four U.S. presidents and
 events ranging from sports to human interest stories. I’ve been
 blessed.” The largest group he has photographed was almost 300 clowns at
 ClownTown, a Newark event. His future plans include “starting on my
 second thirty years” as a freelancer and photographing
 two-year-olds for an exhibit to be called “The Terrible Twos.”.

His interest in photography goes back to the ninth grade, when he
 ruined the first roll of film he tried to develop. Intrigued rather than
 discouraged, he became a high school and college yearbook photographer,
 graduating in Fine Arts from Ohio University with a major in photography.
 He worked at a Cincinnati studio and lab for five years before coming
 to Newark. 

Judith Allee, aside from assisting with the photography business, is
 Parent Support Coordinator for Mental Health America and co-author of two
 books for parents: Homeschooling on a Shoestring (1999; reprint due
 in January 2008) and Educational Travel on a Shoestring (2002), both
 published by a division of Random House. 

Past customers may remember the Allee’s daughter, Nancy, as an
 assistant, starting as a tyke shouting “One . . . two. . . three!” for
 reunion photos and cast photos at Weathervane. Now a young mom attending
 trade school, Nancy still occasionally serves as a photographer’s
 assistant for reunions and other large group photos.