(The following information has been provided to us by the AL Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau)


• Sporadic quantities of tarballs were found washed up on the beach Tuesday in areas between Lagoon Pass in Gulf Shores west to Fort Morgan. Contracted crews immediately went to work to clean the affected areas. Currently beaches across the island are clear.
• There have been no reports of oil odor along the beaches of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan. At its closest point, the slick is approximately 50-60 miles away from the most western tip of our island.
• The Alabama Department of Public Health and Alabama Department of Environmental Management stated that there is no foreseeable need to close beaches and, short of a drastic change, they have no plans to do so.
• Tarballs travel independently of an oil slick and are not an indication that the slick itself will travel in the same direction or to the same area. The oil slick still has not reached the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and, according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) forecasts, is not expected to for at least 72 hours. Forecasts beyond 72 hours are not available.
• According to NOAA, tarballs DO NOT pose a health risk to the average person. However, beachgoers are advised not to pick them up if they encounter any on the beach. Click here to read NOAA's information about tarballs.
• NOAA is providing daily updates to the closed fishing area, based on changes in the size or direction of the oil slick. To view the most recent map, visit http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
• Although NOAA has closed commercial and recreational fishing in a limited area between the mouth of the Mississippi River and Florida’s Pensacola Bay, there is a large area of the gulf still open. Charter boats are leaving Orange Beach, Gulf Shores & Fort Morgan every day to fish areas up to 25-30 miles out and in our inshore waters.
• All appropriate preventative measures, including oil-absorbing booms, are being used along Alabama’s beaches, bays, inlets and sensitive areas in an effort to prevent oil from reaching our shores. Researchers and scientists have indicated that any impact directly on the beaches can potentially be cleaned effectively and fairly quickly.
• National, state and local response teams are deployed at sites along the coast to deal with local effects.
• Official information pertinent to our local area is being posted at GulfShores.com. This is confirmed information provided by the Unified Command response team (Coast Guard, Homeland Security, NOAA, Department of the Interior, BP and Transocean) and local emergency management officials. For detailed information about forecasts, vist the NOAA response site. To learn about the entire incident, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.
• We appreciate the tremendous outpouring of concern for Alabama's Gulf Coast. Volunteers are asked not to self-deploy at this time. Those with an interest in volunteering should the need arise, are asked to contact volunteer banks by dialing 2-1-1 or 888-421-1266. They can also contact the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program at 251-431-6409 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the following information: name, address, phone, email and resources (boat, kayak, etc.). Please be patient while volunteer needs and training opportunities are determined.
• We will continue to monitor the incident and post information updates as they become available.

Before you cancel your vacation, please keep in mind that the national news media is always going to make a situation like this seem worse than it really is.  So please talk to LOCAL people and get the REAL story before making your decision.  You can find some very helpful information by going to http://GulfShores.com (The Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau website)

Here is a statement from the Alabama Department of Public Health....

The Alabama Department of Public Health and Alabama Department of Environmental Management stated Wednesday that there is no foreseeable need to close beaches and, short of a drastic change, they have no plans to do so.

NOAA is still saying that the Alabama Gulf Coast will not see any impact from the oil spill for AT LEAST 72 hours (their predictions only go out 72 hours)  Our beaches are still beautiful!  It's going to be a great weekend in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, so come on down and relax on our beaches!

The picture below was taken Wednesday May 5th just before sunset:

Like everyone along the Gulf Coast, we are monitoring the clean-up of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

There currently is no impact from the oil spill on the beaches of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach and, according to NOAA forecasts, no shoreline impact is expected for at least 72 hours.

Officials are optimistic that any impact on our beaches can potentially be cleaned effectively and fairly quickly.  National, state and local response teams are deployed at sites along the coast to deal with local effects.

Please check back for updated information. 

Ron Wainscott Photography began in 2004 with one guy and a camera.  By 2009, I was having to turn away potential customers because it was not possible for one photographer to work with all of the families who were contacting me.  Since I don't like to say "no", I decided that it was time to hire another photography.  So Jessica Latta started taking some of the overflow during the summer of '09.  It turned out to be a busy summer for both of us!  So this year, I'm adding even more photographers. 

With the addition of more photographers, I decided it was time for a name change.  So Ron Wainscott Photography is now Shore Shooters Beach Photography.  The name may be different, but the concept is still the same...the best prices on the Gulf Coast, the fastest turnaround time on print orders, and making sure every customer is happy and enjoys their beach portrait experience!