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Scott McGehee: Proprietor of the Year Arkansas Food Hall of Fame | Arkansas Food Photographer

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You may not know his name, but if you live in Arkansas, chances are you’ve eaten at one or more of his restaurants: Big Orange, Local Lime, Heights Taco & Tamale, Lost Forty Brewing and ZAZA Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co.

Scott McGehee is the executive chef behind Yellow Rocket Concepts restaurants which are some of the most popular in the state. McGehee was recently named Proprietor of the Year by the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.

I spent an afternoon in early March photographing McGehee for a recent feature in Arkansas Living Magazine, published by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. You can read the current issue of Arkansas Living here.

Scott McGehee is the executive chef behind Yellow Rocket Concepts

Scott McGehee is the executive chef behind Yellow Rocket Concepts

I met McGehee at Big Orange Burger in Little Rock’s Midtowne district. We had a relatively tight schedule and a lot to photograph. I wanted to photograph him at three different locations without taking up too much of his time. He told me he allocated three hours for the photo shoot and I was thrilled to have this much time. If you know Scott, he goes at 90-to-nothing.

We started with a portrait of him at the bar and then moved on to photographing a trio of their signature burgers and a bowl of their famous cheese dip. Cheese dip runs in his blood and in his family…literally. His father, Frank was the co-creator of white cheese dip and was a partner in Little Rock’s Blue Mesa Grill and Juanita’s.

A trio of burgers from Big Orange (from left): the Smashed Avocado Turkey Burger, theFarmer's Burger and the White Truffle & Pecorino.

A trio of burgers from Big Orange (from left): the Smashed Avocado Turkey Burger, theFarmer's Burger and the White Truffle & Pecorino.

From Big Orange, we headed to Heights Taco & Tamale Co. for a taste and preview of their offerings.

Lastly, we headed over to ZAZA Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co. ZAZA is my personal favorite. I could eat the ZAZA Italian Sausage Pizza ALL DAY. EVERY DAY. I wanted to get a few cooking shots in additional to the portraits and styled food photos so McGehee donned his apron and whipped up a classic Pizza Margherita.

There is no better way to cook a pizza than in a wood-fired oven. Period. Go ahead, argue your case.

For fans of his restaurants who live in Northwest Arkansas, your wishes are coming true. Bentonville Taco & Tamale Co. is coming soon. The menu will feature an Ark-Mex menu designed by McGehee. The menu is also expected to include fan favorites. The new restaurant will be located on the Bentonville Square at 101 W. Central Ave., and is projected to open in fall 2020. This restaurant marks the 10th restaurant location for Yellow Rocket Concepts.

One last note, I can say with honestly, Scott McGehee is a really nice guy. And he is generous. Extremely generous. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, McGehee vowed not to lay off any of his employees by working hard to maintain curb-side pickup at all restaurant locations. McGehee also has been providing meals almost daily to area healthcare workers.






Project for Hot Springs Guest Guide

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Once again, I teamed up with Arkansas Business Publishing Group to shoot a few new and fresh photos for the 2016 Hot Springs Guest Guide.

On your last vacation, have you ever noticed the local magazine in your hotel room that provided info on where you should: Shop? Dine? Experience the local nightlife?

Of course you have. Just about every major city around the country has something like this.

Hot Springs, which is Arkansas' top tourist destination is no exception.

This years trip was mostly a gastronomical one: Beer, Pizza and Cupcakes

Got Beer?

A flight of beers from Superior Bathhouse.

A flight of beers from Superior Bathhouse.

My first stop of the day was at Superior Bathhouse. I've been here on several occasions for dinner either by myself or with friends or clients. This place is great. I loved LOVED working with and photographing their owner and head brewmaster, Rose Schweikhart. She's the first person I've met that's more high-energy than me!

Rose Schweikhart, owner and head brewmaster at Superior Bathhouse.

Rose Schweikhart, owner and head brewmaster at Superior Bathhouse.

Roasted Barley

Roasted Barley

I could have spent all day here, but there were other projects to get to.

I loved these taps. Two of their Superiors taps are topped with bathtubs which are actually vintage soap dishes that Schweikhart bought from eBay.

Got Pizza?

Tony Valinoti, owner of DeLuca's Pizzeria.

Tony Valinoti, owner of DeLuca's Pizzeria.

Later in the afternoon, we headed to DeLuca's Pizzeria to photograph their owner Tony Valinoti. This is some of the best pizza you'll eat anywhere. The only thing bolder and better than the pizza was the time I spent photographing Tony. His lively and big personality and just as wonderful as his pizza.

He made us a pizza and after one bite, I could not get it in my mouth fast enough. And neither could he. Tony only uses quality ingredients imports from the motherland...AKA Italy. You name it, he imports it: semolina flour, meats, cheeses and sauces. You can taste the difference.

Got Cupcakes?

My last stop of the evening satisfied my sweet tooth. I photographed Mackenzie Simon, the owner of Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes and a few of her namesakes. 

Mackenzie Simon owner of Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes.

Mackenzie Simon owner of Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes.

If you've never had these cupcakes you're missing out. We photographed, and sampled, a few of their favorites including their best seller, the Ooey Gooey Buttercake. As you started to unwrap the parchment wrapping, you can smell it. This cupcakes simply melts in your mouth.

They are simply perfect....every. delicious. bite.

Ooey Gooey Buttercake from Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes.

Ooey Gooey Buttercake from Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes.

For your next trip to Hot Springs, check out these local eateries. Skip the boring chains and eat local. While you're at at, shop local too.

Little Rock Special Family | Little Rock, Arkansas Advertising Photographer

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When it rains, don't fight it. Play in it.

It's been a miserably wet spring. So many of my photo shoots were either postponed due to rain, or moved indoors. My photo shoot for the June issue of Little Rock Special Family was no exception. But photographing two very active children indoors is not ideal.

So instead of fighting the rain (downpour actually), we played in it. 

Literally.

Special Family: June

This issue of Special Family features the Carper family. The story features both Caroline and her brother cole. Both kids have a rare inherited eye disease that appears early in life and is responsible for blindness or very low vision. But today, both children have the gift of sight thanks to a ground-breaking surgery. You can read more on the family, and see more photos, in their digital issue. 

Also featured in this same issue of Little Rock Special Family is a fun story on a program that offers job training and life skills to those with developmental disabilities. I photographed the B.R.A.V.O. (Bridging Recreational and Vocational Opportunities) Program at Independent Care Management (ICM).


The non-profit organization services Arkansans with disabilities. I photographed those who work at Biscuits, a local retail store in Little Rock that makes gourmet pet treats. You can read more on the program by going here.