We have an embarrassment of riches here at 8-Lug HD Truck magazine. I mean it, too. Do you have any idea how many awesome trucks want to be featured in this fine magazine? Well, their owners want them to be in the magazine, anyway. It seems like being in our 6th year of publishing this magazine, we’ve really started to hit full stride. We’ve become the go-to magazine for anyone with a nice, custom HD truck. It’s a great feeling, but it does lead to some consternation on my part.
You have no idea how many truck features I have on file. I’ve shot a ton of trucks the past few months. I did about 12 photo shoots leading up to the famous SEMA show alone, in both our studio and at outdoor locations. Then there’s the four or five trucks I shot while at the Scheid Diesel Extravaganza, the four or five more I shot at the TS Performance Outlaw event, the trucks I shot while at the Weekend on the Edge event, the numerous SoCal trucks I’ve shot…the list goes on and on and on!
I’ve worked out a schedule to try and arrange all the feature trucks in a logical fashion. I don’t want too many Fords in one issue, too many lowered trucks in one issue, or too many red trucks in one issue…that sort of thing. But, sadly, all this has done is make it even more clear the abundance of feature trucks I have on hand! I mapped out about six issues, and I still have maybe 15 trucks sitting in files waiting to be assigned to an issue. Don’t think this goes unnoticed by the truck owners. I get emails, texts, and Facebook messages regularly from those who just want an idea of which issue their truck will be in.
One side effect all of this abundance has had on me is I’ve been forced to get a bit pickier when I’m choosing which trucks to do photo shoots on. I mean, if a truck is really nice but there’s something about it that maybe isn’t my idea of cool or simply needs more work…why shoot it? I’ve had to be more selective, or I’ll be overrun with feature shoots in my files.
One thing I know I’ve always been a bit quirky about is seeing a truck that’s for sale but the owner still wants a photo shoot. I’m often put off by this, as I want to know why the truck owner doesn’t love his truck enough to keep it. I have this belief that the majority of readers of this magazine are truck nuts who love their trucks deeply (I have lots of proof if you need it), and it’s their life dream to be in a magazine. So when I hear, “Come quick to shoot my truck. I have a potential buyer,” I’m inclined to say, “Well, give me his name after he buys it, and I’ll shoot his truck.” But I don’t say that. I don’t want to be a jerk. But do you get my point? I want to show the readers of 8-Lug the trucks that have been built by people just like them…passionate HD truck people.
So don’t send me a photo of your truck for consideration in this magazine with a For Sale sign in the window! And if we’ve already shot your truck, be patient. I don’t shoot trucks with the intention of never running them. It will get in eventually. And if you’re trying to get me to come shoot your truck…try hard. Give me compelling reasons. Tell me an interesting story. Beg. It’s getting harder to make the time and the room for more features…but obviously that’s what we do here, so we’ll keep doing it.