Miles & Mountains

AVA Ranch & Rodeo Photography

• Nick • Episode 268

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0:00 | 1:09:52

He’s not trying to look perfect online. He’s trying to tell the truth about the road.

We sit down with Andrew, a traveling rodeo photographer and videographer who’s built a reputation for showing the whole story. That means early mornings, midnight edits, flat tires, long drives, and the unglamorous reality behind the “one great shot.” We talk about what the job actually demands, why communication earns patience, and how his background in fashion photography helped him create better rodeo storytelling for brands, sponsors, and rodeo organization's.

Then the conversation turns personal. Andrew explains the meaning behind “Howdy Friend,” the phrase that became his mission and merch line, and why it’s rooted in inclusion, kindness, and mental health awareness. He shares how heartbreak and loneliness spiraled into depression and suicidal thoughts, and how small, ordinary moments in rodeo community became the turning points that saved his life. If you’ve ever wondered how community shows up when you don’t ask for help, this will hit home.

We also dig into the practical side of building a creative career in the Western industry: chasing a PRCA pro card, networking, earning trust, learning horses to be safer and more useful around the chutes, and defining success as respect rather than hype. If you care about rodeo photography, Western lifestyle media, travel photography, or honest conversations about mental health on the road, you’ll get real takeaways here.

Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs a “Howdy Friend” moment, and leave a review telling us what part of Andrew’s story stayed with you.


Instagram: 


@avaranch_rodeo

https://www.instagram.com/avaranch_rodeo?igsh=Y2c4czZzZHduZG9k


Shoutout to:

Andrew Van Asselt aka AVA 

Howdy Friend 

Emma Folz

Rodeo Community


Ag-Gear Store 

https://www.aggearstore.com/

Use Code: Milesmountains 

For 15% Off 


Raising Awareness:

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)

Mental Health 



Send us Fan Mail

Being Real On Social Media

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, like you know, when people say you look kind of tired, it's basically another word of saying you look like ass.

SPEAKER_02

That is correct.

SPEAKER_00

But the thing about you and you know what what you do on social media be very personable, and I'm just gonna say that right off there, right off the bat. They don't want to say you look like ass, but you're personable in a way that dude you tell all. You're you're not like other photographers or videographers, you know, that I've had on or that I like I watch or or pay attention to on Instagram, you know. Yeah, you you you basically tell people, you know, life and tricks of the road, especially the life.

SPEAKER_02

I try, like, you know, for me, I've always just wanted to be authentic. Yeah. Um, and I always wanted to be the person you see what you get and you get what you see type of person. And so I think oftentimes with social media or just in general, we like we like to share the good parts, and we don't sometimes want to be vulnerable and say, hey, I'm tired, or you know, this sucks. I just got a flat tire on the side of the road, I'm late to a rodeo, I just made it to bowls only tonight, type of thing. And for me, my I always say my job is just to I want to inspire people to be the best versions of themselves, and so I just think, hey, if I can just be authentic and show who I am, maybe that will inspire other people to do the same.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, it's definitely inspiring, but do you get a lot of flack too? Because there's a lot of photographers that you know the only thing that they put are like some of their good shots, you know, and then hey, photos will be up, give me 48 hours, you know. That's it. Not like you. You you give a like almost a a day in a life of a photographer on the road. I don't know how you do it, but you you have to I I don't know.

SPEAKER_02

I maybe I get flack, I just don't hear about it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_02

Um, no, I feel like as long as you're up front and communicate, I think people generally have a little more patience for you. You know, I try never commit to something and say something unless I can do it. So a lot of times I just don't say something that I know I can't.

The Unseen Grind Of Editing

SPEAKER_02

Like I think, you know, what people don't realize sometimes in with photographers and especially videographers, is you know, we're we're there from morning till sometimes midnight.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And then it's that's just half the job. The the real job starts when you're editing, and it's you know, I don't take a ton of photos, like I know some photographers they kind of spray and shoot, and I'm more selective, but I still have to go through 1500 to 2500 photos, you know, per day. And so when that happens, you know, for five days straight, you know, you when people, you know, ask for photos, it's like, hey, you just gotta be patient, like, you know.

SPEAKER_00

So

From Fashion Work To Rodeos

SPEAKER_00

how long how long have you been doing photography, videography?

SPEAKER_02

So photography and videography I've been doing for like ten years.

SPEAKER_00

10 years.

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_02

But I was mainly like before rodeo, I did like fashion photography and you know, worked with, you know, everything from like local boutiques to I used to work for New York Fashion Week. Oh nice and and things like that, but rodeos, it's been two years, and I'm still trying to get my pro card. I just it's extremely difficult. Okay. Yeah, yeah. I think it's really hard in the Pacific Northwest just because we're not around a ton of people that are able to give our letters of recommendation. So what I do is a little different than other, I think photographers is, you know, I work with brands and do that stuff still that helps support me to be able to, you know, go to the the pro rodeos. So all the pro rodeos are free. Like I, you know, I find other avenues to get paid for for things, but it's like when athletes ask to purchase photos, I say, hey, here's some really good PRCA photographers, here's their link, and so yeah, but yeah, 10 years, so it's been a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_00

So when you say brands, well, like what what what kind of brands right now?

SPEAKER_02

Some I can't say because I just did it and we haven't launched, uh, but it should be next month. But like Philsen, okay, nice. You know, I've done you know, stuff with like in the wintertime, burton snowboards, nice, you know, and then like there's like a men's clothing store called Revolver Menswear that I used to work for and work with.

SPEAKER_00

Nice.

SPEAKER_02

So things like that, you know, hire boots.

SPEAKER_00

Uh yeah, yeah. I saw that your ambassador, right?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I did some stuff down in NFR. I did, you know, the Cowboy Channel Network hired me for a gig for one of their watch parties. So things like that. I just kind of thought, hey, how can we work together?

SPEAKER_00

And you know, so so you're you're getting in, you're getting in like Flynn. I mean, it takes time, I heard, you know, to get that pro card. It does. Yeah, yeah. And even, you know, for people who fight, you know, bull fight, there they have difficulties, you know, getting their pro card, you know, photographers alone. It's all who you know and how you do things, man. And yeah, and I, you know, I and I, you know, I'm not mad.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I'm one of those photographers like I'm not mad at the process because I think they really are, you know, seeing who's really in it.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

You know, and so and I have to like I'm a very aggressive in my chasing dreams, but I also understand too that it's like I've only been doing this for two years, yeah. So I'm I'm a very I'm the new kid on the block still, like, and so I just go, all right, cool. I'm just gonna do what I'm gonna do.

SPEAKER_00

And but but you you're hitting some big rodeos, man. I mean, one moment you're here, I'm not gonna say the the rodeos, but you're here, there, everywhere in between. And I don't know, man. For for someone who's trying to make it, I mean, he kind of made it, kind of made it, man.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, kind of a lot. Like

The San Diego Hustle Story

SPEAKER_02

for me, 95% of this job is just showing up. You know, there's been a lot of rodeos where, well, for example, the San Diego rodeo. Yeah, you know, I that's huge. I went and I I went and looked and tried to figure out who everybody that was, you know, in the let's say front office of that. I went on LinkedIn, I went on Instagram, finally found people. And you know, the the lady there that was in charge of marketing was like, What's your name and what's your email? And I said, Okay, and you know, we talked, and she never like guaranteed me that I was in, yeah, but I was like everything, so it kind of implied that I might be on the list. And it was like a couple days before the rodeo, and I was like, I haven't gotten anything. I was like, you know what? I'm just gonna drive drive down. And if they say no, then cool. I'll just, you know, get a ticket, watch a cool rodeo, enjoy the sunshine. In January, see some there's some brands down in Southern California that I was like trying to work with at the time. And and so I showed up and I went to the like media office and I was like, hey, my name's Andrew. I'm here. I want to make it very clear. She didn't say that I was on the list, but she got all my info. And you know, the Padres organization was like, okay, let me go check. I waited like an hour, and the lady comes back, goes, you know, the lady does know who you are. We talked about you, uh, but she's not gonna give you a pass. And I said, Okay, I go, that's cool. Like, I don't know here to lie about it. I mean, she's like, Where'd you come from? I was like, I'm from Oregon. And she's like, How long is that? I was like, it was like a 13-hour drive. And she's like, Man, I'm not gonna knock your hustle. You have a media pass from the Padres, you're under our organization for this rodeo, so there's different rules. And I was like, All right, and that's how I got my in on that, yeah, and that's where I met some like bullfighters. One was local, he's like a local guy, he was down there, so I knew him briefly, but half the time it's that it's like I just show up and I go, Hey, the worst they're gonna say is no, all right, 13 hours, you know, and then last year the organ like the production company handed all the media over to Padres. So the Padres were like, Hey Andrew, you're back, of course. Media pass, like so it's things like that for my career, where it's just I want to be here, I'm not going anywhere, and so I just I go for it.

SPEAKER_00

That's ballsy, man. But it did it's working out, man. And that hey, good great job, dude. Great job.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I I remember the first year, a little last year you did San Diego. I was like, man, who is this guy? This guy's everywhere, and yeah, you are so that's awesome, man. That's awesome. It's all about who you know, how you hustle, and dude, did you hustle? And it worked out in your favor. Normally, hustling takes a bit, but dude, it's been working out.

SPEAKER_02

I think, like, not to get like religious or anything, and you know, I I believe in God 100%, but like there's a lot of moments where I'm like, man, this is such a God moment. Like, I just happen to be at the right place at the right time, yeah. Even with certain photos, it's like, you know, I did some like portrait work, and I was like just behind the shoes, like, hey, can I do some portrait photos? And they're like, Yeah, I don't really know what that means, but all right. I took a photo, and then come to find out it was like their very last ride because they were retiring, and then they won the championship, and I was just like, how crazy is that? Like, yeah, so there's like little moments like that where I'm just like, all right, I think I'm where I'm supposed to be.

Shooting Sponsors Plus Action Photos

SPEAKER_00

What do you like more? Fat fashion or the rodeo, or has is it still just well for me?

SPEAKER_02

I love rodeo because I love people, I love community, and that's like gotcha for me. I think the fashion photography has helped me in a such a different way when it comes to how I shoot, yeah. It helps me focus on well, what does this brand need? aka could be a sponsorship photo for the or for the rodeo. Like oftentimes, you know, when I approach a rodeo, it's it's like, hey, what do you need? You know, and they go, well, you know, we really need sponsorship stuff. So a lot of times, like in the back shooting a beer garden or shooting a food truck, and I don't post those photos, but those are some of those photos that the rodeos go, thank you so much. We need this, right? Okay, we have 15 of the same Bronx writer, yeah, yeah, yeah. And which is awesome, we love them all, but for us to continue to rodeo, we need continue to have sponsors, and so for me, I think my the fashion and like brand work has helped me in that regard of being able to say, how can I be creative and sharing your story as a rodeo and then going to make sure to get those photos as well as the action? Like, I love shooting the action, yeah, but you know, there's some days where it's like you know, between Slack and performance, yeah, I'm out there shooting sponsorship signs and being like, how do I make it creative so that it looks appealing on Instagram where it's not just a generic okay, here's a poster. So, but rodeo for sure, because of community. I'm all that's what sucked me in to this lifestyle because I didn't grow up in this.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I gotcha, I gotcha. Fashion though.

SPEAKER_02

I would never have thought fashion, but yeah, did it live in LA and I used to you know go to New York Fashion Week, Sweden Fashion Week. I I loved it.

SPEAKER_00

So so so you've been around a lot of celebrities.

SPEAKER_02

Yes, but I was I'm the type of person where you just gotta be cool. I don't care who you are, I don't care if you're famous, I don't care if you're a homeless person. If you're cool, yeah, I'm cool with you. But yes, a lot of famous people.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, well, if you don't mind me asking, what part of Oregon? Is it southern central?

SPEAKER_02

Is it I grew up in Eugene, a little hippie town. Okay, all right. So yeah, went to college in Klama Falls and I frequent Central a lot, so yeah, yeah, and I've been living in Bend for 10 years.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, so yeah, all right, yeah. Uh Smith Rock is my training ground, so yeah. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I love I love that place. So yeah, okay.

Howdy Friend And Mental Health

SPEAKER_00

Well, being personable and everything, what tell us about howdy friend. Howdy friend goes far with you. I mean, I I've noticed just recently, you know, you you put that on blast, you also sell hats, so it has to mean something. So, can you tell me and and the listeners what howdy friend is all about?

SPEAKER_02

Well, howdy friend has basically been kind of my theme of how I got into rodeo, why I love rodeo, and what basically I stand for, like what my mission statement is, and and basically it's about including others, it's about being kind and being a friend. It's it's super simple, but a lot of people didn't don't know my I guess my backstory of what got me into rodeo, and it was a breakup. I was about to get engaged, and I just was had a lot of growing up to do when it comes to like the stuff, like you know, and so basically a month before I was uh proposed we broke up and it was unexpected on my end. Sorry to hear that, man. And I was just lost, I was kind of sad, and and right before that, literally a month before the high desert stampede, I volunteered and they allowed me to shoot my first rodeo. And the two photographers there, Randy and Amanda, were so kind to me. It was like they like, do you have a day sheet? And I was like, I don't know what a day sheet is. Like my experience with rodeo is rodeo on 4th of July, you party with your friends, you watch it, and then you you take off. And so, you know, they like highlighted all the big names, they like showed me where to where to stand for each event, and and you know, just kind of guided me. And to me, I was just like, man, like in the fashion world and in the snowboard world, because I used to shoot a lot for snowboarding, it's so clicky and it's so territorial. And it was kind of the first time I was like, man, like this is what like the other photographers are like, and they didn't know it. I didn't tell I didn't announce it in the world that I was just got heartbroken, and you know, so I just kind of a part of this world, the rodeo world. So in all honesty, it was an escape at first, and at the time I would have just been like, hey, I was heartbroken, like flat out heartbroken, which I was, but then I started realizing that like I was depressed, and then that depression turned into like deep, deep loneliness, and I've never I've always been a very happy-go-lucky, super outgoing person. Yeah, and suicide has never crossed my mind, my mind, in my entire life, like ever. And I remember like it'd just be kind of a weird thought, and he'd be like, Okay, that's weird, you know, and then it started to be like becoming something that would be more frequent, and then it would be something that I would dwell on, and I just remember like there came a point where I was like, I gotta get rid of all my guns, I gotta just this is not good. Yeah, and there would be little moments in rodeo where it wasn't anything like big, it was a hey, we just you know, we saw you at the last rodeo. What's your name? We really like your work, or hey, like come be a part of this, like you know, we're all gonna go have dinner, you know, after Slack or whatever, before the perf, whatever. Yeah, and I call those like howdy friend moments, and it it's just a reminder to me that like I think, especially in the traveling rodeo world, or just in general, we can get lonely and we don't know what each one of us is battling internally, and to the world, everybody thought, man, Andrew, like you're doing so well, like you're doing this new rodeo thing, your photos are looking awesome. You know, it looks like this is like where you belong, but on the other side, people didn't know that. I'm like, man, I'm struggling with trying not to end my life, like I don't feel like I have any purpose. I feel like I'm lost, and so for me, it's uh those simple interactions that rodeo gave me saved my life, like without a doubt. And so I sat on that for two years, and I had an experience at the NFR with a uh influencer. I was shooting the higher party, and we're at the middle of this club, it was like their big birthday party, and this influencer came up to me and goes, Hey, this is gonna sound kind of weird. And I go, and I've had a lot of these moments, and I go, Whatever you're gonna say, it's not gonna be weird. Just tell me what you want to say, and he just goes, Hey, like, I just feel like God wants me to tell you that you've been going through a lot, and that what you are doing in photography can bless others, and so just press into that, and that was kind of it, and I was like, Hey, thanks, man. Uh, that was awesome. Thank you for your courage, and and so I just started kind of thinking of like how do I authentically share my story in the way that can help others, and I've always loved being creative, I've always loved clothing, so I was like, you know what, I should create this this brand called Howdy Friend, and and it's basically just that is just being able to tell people like the people that wear. Hey, I'm an ambassador, you know, to be kind and show kindness. Um, but also I want to be able to bring awareness of mental health. I don't think we talk about it. You know, I started, you know, doing counseling and started learning how to ride horses, which I applied both those things to the things that I was going through from past childhood trauma that was the cause of the breakup. So there's all these things that I was internally dealing with, and so eventually I I hope that like the howdy friend can like give a portion to like equine therapy and just you know bring the conversation of like, hey, you know, I'm struggling, and it doesn't have to be this super huge thing, it could just be like, hey, I sucked last night at the perf. Now I have a 15-hour drive, and I'm just gonna dwell on that. Like it happens, like yeah, you know, like life on the road, it's it can be lonely. And luckily, you know, there is a rodeo family out there, and it's great. So that's kind of in a nutshell what howdy friend is about. Okay, and I just want others to be like, hey, this is a safe place, I could be a safe place, or hopefully their friends can be a safe place where it's like, hey, I struggle with this kind of stuff because I think it's more common than we all like to admit or realize. And I think mental health is kind of a a weird subject in the Western world, and I think just with men in general, and you know, that's kind of a brief not to get too deep. But yeah, that's that's what Howdy Friend's all about.

SPEAKER_00

Man, did not know this, and man, I you know, I would have never thought, you know. I I I know I know you're you're going through some trials and tribulations on the road, but I didn't think it was that deep. And man, thank you for being a little a bit vulnerable and that story. So wow, uh would never have thought, man. And thank you, thank you for this. And I'm pretty sure the the people who listen to this will appreciate you. Uh, hopefully the the listeners that do listen, the the blue-collar rodeo guys that when they travel, they listen and reach out to you and you know say thank you because that that takes a lot for someone to basically state what you stated and and and for me though, it's it's helped in so many ways, like it's a bl it's been a blessing in reality.

SPEAKER_02

Like I think I had to go through it, and like it was just that time of my life where it was no one else can help. Yeah, it has to be a me thing and face like my trauma and my past, and have to say, man, the things that was done to me as a kid sucked, yeah, and you can mourn that. And but there was this like there's no running away from this. This is something that we just have to deal with, and then on the other side, it's kind of helped me be like for me with other photographers, and I've never been this way to want to think of other photographers as competition, but I just go, man, there's so much more to life than me being upset because maybe you got a rodeo or a or whatever. It's more of like, man, I was almost not to even be here, and rodeo saved me, so now what I want to do is just give back, like pay it forward, pay it forward, and you know, because to me, I just go, man, we don't know what we're all struggling with, and yeah, for me to whatever, you know, like I that's for me. I'm always just like, man, I love seeing other photographers win. Emma, she's one of the my favorite photographers, and seeing her hustle and do her thing, yeah, inspires me to be better. MFOLs, MFOs, yeah, yeah, and me and her, like, we'll like help each other out. Like, she got me into Chief Joseph's Day. She's like, hey, I'm going to Chief Joseph's Day, I can ask. And I've been trying to do the same with her, and you know, it's just one of those where it's like, you know, that rising tides, everybody gets better. And and for me, it's like when I see other photographers win and do really well, it excites me because I'm like, man, as a photographer, I know how hard this might have been, and way to go. And and I think that's just my outlook on life. I've never been one to compare. I think, you know, we're creative, we should all be like, hell yeah, way to go.

SPEAKER_00

Right.

Camp Life And Rodeo Community

SPEAKER_00

I gotcha. So so traveling, you're you're probably at a campground right now, it looks like campsite. Okay. What you have a break. What's your next rodeo?

SPEAKER_02

Like four days, I think. Four days, okay. Yeah, it's a big break.

SPEAKER_00

It's well, I mean, you've been going full tilt since San Diego and then Reno, and then you know, this weekend, this past weekend. So, like four days. So, what do you do on your off days?

SPEAKER_02

Edit photos.

SPEAKER_00

Edit photos, but you're not not 24 hours.

SPEAKER_02

No, I part of one of the reasons why I travel the way I travel, like I know some photographers, you know, fly and get a hotel and and do all that, which I think is awesome. I'm just not that big, you know. I just do the regional and west coast. But to me, I I just love to enjoy life. So it's like I love the adventure in between the rodeos. It's I'll go fishing, or I'll go to the lake with my dog, or okay, you know, we'll just explore the town that we're in. You know, there's a lot of pl you know, people I've met that are like, I've never been, I've never explored this town. I don't even know where the closest coffee shop is. And I'm like, damn, like yeah. So I like to do that kind of stuff, you know. I usually try to plan it where it's hey, I'm gonna go stop at this waterfall, or you know, I got an extra day, so let's just go camp and and just enjoy, enjoy life because it really is a lifestyle, and I get it. Like I'm not an athlete, so it's like I don't have the you know, the entry fees, and it's different. Like I understand that, but like for me as a photographer, I go, I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do it the way I want to do it, and I'm just gonna make it me. Yeah, and I've always loved like the adventure, and you know, to me, I just kind of wanted to be the closest thing I could be to a cowboy, and I just picture sometimes these, you know, in the west where people just ride off in the sunset with their horses and on to the next town, and and I thought to myself, I'm gonna do this. I just kind of want to do it that way. I want to be able to, you know, sleep under the stars. Sometimes I don't have my RV, I have my F-250, and I just have a bedroll, and I just sleep in the back of the truck, and people are kind of like at the rodeos look at me, just me and my dog sleeping in the back of the truck. They kind of just scratch their head and I just go, This is great.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so it can't be that bad because I've seen some some rodeo athletes out there sleeping in the astro, you know, not the van, the those little Chevy vehicles. I don't know how they do it, but they make it happen. But it's like, yeah, don't knock it. But yeah, not I think you're you're good where you're at, man, especially community. I think the community, you know, coming from an athlete community myself, you know, running, climbing mountains, mountaineering, you know, that kind of thing, hiking and and and doing races and stuff like that. Rodeo does have a different feel to it, man. It has a loving feel. And I I I know what you're you're saying, I get what you're saying. And yeah, that's what has got me to do more rodeo athletes because it it it's they're more appreciative. I'll say that. They're more appreciative for the spotlight. There, they're more appreciative of outsiders explaining, like myself, explaining how life as a rodeo athlete is, how life is, it's not always about I get this a lot of abusing animals and stuff like that. You know, I bring light to a lighter, lighter side of that lifestyle. And so that's how I fit in, and that's how people appreciate me. Outside of that, out of, you know, right a lot of people probably don't appreciate me, but uh the people that I I do put on do say does say yeah uh that I put a a better light to uh the rodeo life, other than yeah, people thinking, oh you abuse animals, you do this, you do that. It's like no, they don't, they don't. So yeah, I I totally get what you're saying.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, and it's yeah, and I think too, like with rodeo, this is like one thing that like really made me is it's kind of one of the last places nowadays that is so cross-generational. You have kids and you have grandparents and everybody in between. Like, I feel like oftentimes, at least in like the fashion world, it's you kind of I mean, I know with athletes you age out, but even in rodeo, the aged-out athletes are still a part of rodeo.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

They could be, you know, con stock contractors now, they could be whatever. It's like, you know, I feel like nowadays it's older generation hangs out with older generations.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

You have your middle age with families hang out with only them, and then you have your teens and whatever, and it's so compartmentalized as rodeo, you still get the cross-generational where it's kids are hanging out with the adults and the grandparents, and everybody's mixing. And to me, I was just like, Man, I want to be a part of that, and I want to highlight what rodeo is. Like to me, rodeo is much more than just the performance. Oh, yeah, it's the the community, it's the everything that entails, it's the stock contract, it's it's the animals, it's and to me how my brain works is just how do I highlight all of that?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so I gotcha.

SPEAKER_02

But yeah, it's cool. I was able to do my first cattle drive down in California in March, and that was a blast in itself, and yeah, it's been fun.

SPEAKER_00

Well, you're doing it, man. You're doing it, and and pro card or not, I mean you're still, I mean, you're you're pro. Yeah, you're you're pro, shush. You're pro. So that good,

Favorite Events To Photograph

SPEAKER_00

good for you, man. So when when you're out shooting, what's your favorite your favorite event to you know, photo? Saddle Bronx?

SPEAKER_02

I'd say my favorite event is ranch bronx, but not every rodeo has it. Yeah, but I would say saddlebronx, and then it goes right barrel racing.

SPEAKER_00

Dude, barrel racing. Yeah, but I mean, I got I think I got three girls, and before it was all guys, guys, guy stuff, you know, let's go bull riding, let's go bull fighting. I love bull fighting because it's you know more endurance, and plus you're up against a 2,000-pound bull. But uh, but as I'm as I'm aging, I'm I'm starting to understand and enjoy barrel racing and you know breakaway and it's fun to watch, but barrel racing, man, there's more to it than just riding a darn horse, man.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, and I I like I like because the crowd really gets into it. Oh, yeah. You can basically tell by second to third barrel if they're gonna even be close to winning or not. Yeah, and I like playing with like my shutter speed, and I can get more creative with barrels. But yeah, I that I would say those two are my probably my favorite. It's it's just fun. And okay, yeah. Bulls is my least. I might make people mad about that.

SPEAKER_00

But I think yeah, I think a lot of people I think a lot of people have gravitated bull, bull, bull, all bull, you know, and it's mostly knots. I mean, if you want all bull, go to PBR.

SPEAKER_02

And like there's not like to me, it's like I think the the skill of a bull writer is awesome. Like they flat out, it's it's impressive. Yeah, but aesthetically for me as a photographer, it's it's usually them, usually they spin, you know. Like when I, you know, so for me as a photographer, looking at that point, it's like, uh, it's not my fave. But yeah, and I'd say my favorite of all rodeo are the pickup men. I just I'm blown away by their horsemanship, and yeah, like they're the cowboys.

SPEAKER_00

You gotta meet my buddy Wiley, that's who I go on runs with. Yeah, he's a pickup man, and yeah, okay, yeah, and yeah, he's yeah, he's quite the favorite for sure. Yeah, okay. He's gonna listen to this and be like, dude, just stop, Nick, just stop. But not he he's the only guy who rocks my patch. We I mean, we we run together, we I mean, we we're always in, you know, the texting cinnamon reels and love messages, you know. So yeah, no. He's gonna be like great, and yeah, yeah, he's a good guy. He's a good guy, and and for him to be so young and to be pick up, it it says a lot.

SPEAKER_02

So just that's cool, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

So what's your next rodeo, or can you say?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah, I can say I'm going to Salinas, uh way down there.

SPEAKER_00

Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Um so really excited for that. And then after that, I go to Chief Joseph Days, and then I may go to Idaho Falls. Man, everywhere like the week after, and then I will be going to Pendleton, and then from Pendleton, I head down to Pismo Beach for the breakaway rodeo at the end of September, and then uh I think that's about it. Hopefully I can get some other ones in between. So yeah, and then I'll head to NFR and that I just like go to network and meet people and you know work with some brands and influencers and things like that. So I've never like shot any of the the rodeo down there. I know they have like the cinch playoffs or whatever for roping down at the South Point.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So maybe I'll try to shoot some of that. But yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Are are you are you in Pendleton all week? I I believe so, right? You're you're there all week.

SPEAKER_02

Yep, I'm there the whole time. I actually just before we were on the phone, I was talking with Pendleton just about upcoming things and kind of getting a game plan for that. So they're like they become like my second home for sure as a rodeo organization. They've accepted me and become family for sure.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah. Those are the guys you need to talk to about the pros, but yeah, you you know it, dude. You're already pro, man. You're already pro. I don't even have to worry about it, dude.

SPEAKER_02

You don't even have to worry about it, but yeah, it's it's just a matter of time. Yeah, yeah. You know, I'm just enjoying the process. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was really hung up on it for a while of just being like, man, I re like I tried really, really hard and just kept getting shot down, shot down, shot down. And yeah, and I just kind of go, you know what? Like, I'm here to stay, and I've I'm just gonna continue to do what I do.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

That's all you got to do.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, that's the only thing you can do.

SPEAKER_02

Like, I'm not concerned about it.

SPEAKER_00

Well, if uh Wiley, then when he performs during the week, I'll definitely have to take off some time for uh work and uh definitely uh swing by, see where you're at if you have time and uh heck yeah, you know, have a soda or something or coffee or something, but yeah. So when you're traveling all the time, I mean I don't I honestly don't know how you guys do it, but you guys do it. What

Long Drives And Dreaming Big

SPEAKER_00

is your main focus on entertainment? How do you entertain yourself 13 hour drive, 14, 15 hours? I mean, how do you entertain yourself? Like what do you do? Podcast music?

SPEAKER_02

Good music, good country music, and then like in all honesty, that's kind of where I kind of dream. It's like my place to dream of like what do I want to do creatively with my like photography? Where where have I where can I improve in like I guess business business strategy? I guess that's a fancy word to to say just like but it's my place to dream or to catch up with friends. Oftentimes on those road trips, I try to call my friends and just be able to say, hey, like you have time to talk? Like, you know, it it's I have friends in rodeo, but you know, when when you're doing it as much as I'm doing it or we're doing it, it really does take a toll on your your like your personal home life, whatever home life is.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And so I try my best to to follow up and just be like, hey, how are you? You know, I'm either coming into town or this is what's going on, and and try to have a have those conversations with the relationships that I do have. But yeah, I have my puppy, so she's she keeps me super busy, and you know, it'll allows me to you know take extra rest stops and and do that, but music and really it's I just start dreaming of yeah, oh, this would be a cool shoot or whatever.

SPEAKER_00

Do you think the dream, you know, the dreamy part, do you think that can get you in trouble, get you uh too, you know, like hustle and bustle, like I want to do this, I want to do that, and then it doesn't happen, then you know now, not at all.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, all right, like for me, it's like I don't know, like I guess for me identity doesn't come from photography. Photography is what I do, and it comes out of who I am. Naturally a creative person, always have been. But if something doesn't work, it doesn't like in reality, it doesn't bother me. It's like who cares? Like, you go on to the next thing, like Yeah, I gotcha. And I'm not a perfectionist by any means. It's like, you know, like I think some of my favorite photos are technically maybe the best photo. Like you know, and I'm cool with that. I'm like, I just captured and like I got the emotion that I wanted to get out, or there was a moment that I caught that is special to me, and I'm cool with that. But for me, you gotta dream. Like, if you ain't dreaming, it's like and you're not pursuing that, then it's like, how are you becoming the best version of yourself? And just because there's a book I read called Failing Forward by John Maxwell, and you know, there's always a lesson to be learned in something. So if it failed, it may have nothing to do with you.

SPEAKER_01

Right.

SPEAKER_02

Just then maybe the timing was off, or maybe you're quote unquote ahead of your time, or or whatever, or maybe things just need to be tweaked. So then you reapply it and you go, Oh, well, it didn't work for these three reasons. So you try again, and then it's like, oh, maybe it didn't work for now, just one reason. Maybe those other two reasons you fixed. But for me, it's just kind of like it's I don't know I just I have this mindset of like my who I am as a person does isn't determined by my successes or my failures or what people think about me or don't think about me it's all about how do I become the best version of myself and I think if if for me if I'm not dreaming then I'm not being who I really am and I wrote a list when I first started this whole rodeo like weeks within rodeophotography and I said here's the five favorite top brands that I want to work with it was like Ford Philson Sony and like basically everybody on that list except maybe one yeah has worked out nice and I don't know how it worked out I just go oh I got an email from this company okay I'm gonna I'm gonna take the opportunity so to me it's like dreams come a reality if you just

Music Food And NFR Culture

SPEAKER_02

chase it. I gotcha oftentimes we're the biggest component of it not working because we go wow that's that's a really big dream.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah yeah I hear you that's why I had to ask I had to ask but man you're you're quite you I you're good at what you do man I I don't think you're good I think you're great you're great I don't know about that a lot of the other photographers are a lot better than me I will say that and like what I'm trying to say they inspire me you you hustle man you know how to hustle you know how to hustle man well for me my best friend you know he's like one of the best he paints motorcycles like Harley's and stuff and he's like the best in the world yeah and when we first he's very real with me he'll be like knock it off or and he said Andrew if you're gonna do this just do it yeah like it there ain't no kind of half assin this play it safe he's like if you're actually gonna take the time to do this do it fully 100% and I said you got it I'm gonna do it 100% and and at the time I lost everything I lost my home you know I moved into this my R V and I lost like sh my ex is amazing I will never say a bad thing about her absolutely amazing she loved me so good I lost that I lost everything and so at that point I was just like I have nothing to lose yeah I gotcha okay it's like I don't have a mortgage sitting here being like you know I don't have all these like other responsibilities that are holding I don't want to say holding me back but I didn't have to play it safe and because of the habit now it's just kind of second nature of like well why would I hold backcha I gotcha so all right what bands are you listening yeah I yeah it's not it's it sounds like I I get it I get it what bands are you listening to right now what what bands are hot right now for you because I'm a huge music guy man I only look I like the old stuff I'm not like a super music guy I'm really really liking Dwight Yolcom lately no really liked him yeah I've been liking his like kind of just the stuff that you don't hear on the radio yeah the Bakersfield sound man love it you know I was in Bakersfield doing uh the cattle drive and so like I was I've always I went and saw uh Dwight Yolcom a couple years ago in at the amphitheater in Bend and he rips like for his age dude he's still and so I was doing a reel so I was like oh I'll use some Dwight Yoakum for this cattle drive because it's in Bakersfield so I might as well yeah and then I just started listening to it on the road I like Charlie Crockett a lot okay and then I think it's Ranch Radio Rodeo Rodeo Ranch or something like that.

SPEAKER_02

I'll have to look it up again but I was listening to them for quite a bit I think my issue with I have Spotify yeah I make a playlist and I keep adding just like a couple songs here and there but then I end up just listening to the playlist so it's like I gotcha listening to new new music I gotcha.

SPEAKER_00

But Dwight Yoakum okay yeah he takes the cake man Dwight Yoakum's legend and Tracy Lawrence okay yeah I met him last year and he was so nice he was singing at Pendleton and I just happened to be standing literally like at this door like getting water yeah and one of the security guys goes are you a photographer?

SPEAKER_02

I go yep he goes all right you're the photographer to do the meet and greet so you're the only one follow me and I was like okay and so I just went and took all the photos for the meet and greet and it was just me and him sitting in a room waiting for like the people to line up outside the room and so me and him talk for like 10 minutes and that's awesome. And then he's like hey can I get a photo he's like of course and he's like you're the photographer you probably never get photos of yourself so me and him like grabbed a photo and it was awesome.

SPEAKER_00

Nice yeah yeah I mean I I remember those guys when back in the day day and it just you you you see them now you're like they they look the same some don't some don't but a lot of them do and I'm like man you're like time flies time marches on right oh totally and I think for me like it's so cool because like I've always liked his music and it was always like my dad's music. Yeah exactly and you know there was this like nostalgia of like oh cool and then like to meet him I'm like man I remember growing up like right sitting in my dad's truck listening to you like now I get to meet you and like you know of course you may not be as like vocals may not be as powerful or whatever but he still can sing still doing his thing and it was cool I was like so he had a gnarly mullet back in the day dude I remember that he doesn't have it so much but yeah well that's awesome man all right so when you're on the road do you do you meal prep or do you just go do gas station food or fast food no I try not to do gas station food okay I will say that because at first it's like easy convenient yeah but man some of these rodeos have really good hospitality okay so part of like when I go to a rodeo because it's like depending on what I'm doing.

SPEAKER_02

So sometimes I do videography so it's like you know you get paid you do this and you know some rodeos go hey we're gonna hire you to shoot our queens so we're gonna we're able to pay you because you're not shooting the rodeo but you're just gonna shoot our queens and whatnot. So usually what I say is hey for me to come shoot the rodeo I need a spot for my RV and I just want access to your hospitality so it's like I may be getting paid from these brands so then like food and stay is free so and like typically like it depends on each rodeo but it's like some have breakfast lunch and dinner and you know like reading rodeo is like it was Chick-fil-A breakfast like Chick-fil-A catered it and you know it's like you get fresh fruit Chick-fil-a breakfast and you know orange juice and then usually they have a bunch of snacks that you can just like take and so it's like I'll take some trail mix you know here and there and and so like my trick is I'll like take one each day basically because it's like I'm there and by the end of the week when I'm headed to the next rodeo like I'm all stocked up on snacks.

SPEAKER_00

Gotcha. So then it's like I don't have to go to the grocery or the gas station and buy five six bucks worth of snacks it's like I got my trail mix my licorice yeah okay whatever so and then like some rodeos do really good like it's like steak and potatoes for dinner fresh veggies like they hook it up and so typically for that it's like when I'm at a rodeo I get hospitality or sometimes they give me like a food stipend but it's not the best yeah eating either because it's like you know for me it's you know I'm at slack most of the time from whenever you know yeah morning till lunch and then it's like oh charge cameras and then it's like oh I forgot to eat oh there's a bag of chips yeah I don't know how you guys do it man but you guys do it it's crazy because yeah I can I can see you getting you know work focus and not take care of the health yeah for sure it's crazy I I do a lot of like overnight oats okay yeah with berries and it's suit I use this like it's like coconut milk and it's so easy because it's like in the morning it's like you just have cold oats with yeah berries and you're just like on the go it's like cool good to go so there's little things like that where I is that your go-to is that your go yeah go to I was gonna ask yeah your go-to or eggs I love eggs okay but yeah and then you know in between like rodeos I try to like go out to dinner like once because sometimes I was like like I haven't gone out to dinner to a restaurant probably in like three months well you're always on the go man you're always on the go okay and I don't really drink like I will but like this last I went to the it's called the TAC room in St. Paul and it's it's kind of like the letter buck room and it's like I got one beer token and I got one beer and it was like because if you do it all the time it's just like yeah it takes a toll take a toll and I'm like I gotta be up at nine in the morning or I gotta go take photos like yeah so so question with the NFR when you you've gone to the NFR how many times have you gone to the NFR? Just once last yeah last year was my first year okay you can bring the fashion in the NFR because dude I tell you what NFR is not about rodeoing it's about it is not it is about the fashion man and I tell you what start looking into it man the you got you got something there and do have have you been to Cowboy Christmas I was there I had some friends that had some booths so took some photos of them and I have some friends that that did a buddy of mine he works with one of the hotels so they did like a it was like a little launch like I don't want to say launch party but it was like a little party for like this really cool fashion brand called Westerly and I was able to go and take photos and it was great they did a great job but yeah it's a very fashion place. Man I I thought the ladies but the I think the guys get more involved than the ladies these days yeah man it was nuts yeah I try to be like I love clothes and like luckily there's there's been brands that I get to work with like Philson and a brand called Freenote that like will do trade and and things like that and but yeah it's just one of those where I just I try not to like do it too hard.

SPEAKER_02

I just like quality and I like things that like wear in time and yeah but yeah it was interesting because like when I went to NFR it was kind of the same thing I did with San Diego where I'm like I don't have anything planned I'm just going to be in the mix and you know things progress but I did some photos for some like influencers and it was fun because you know I get to bring that side out and people go oh you like know how to pose me and you know how to yeah do this and you know I was like yep that's you know that's what I'm here for like this used to be my my whole thing.

SPEAKER_00

The master of the craft man was a lot though I was it's a lot it's it's yeah it's yeah I only go I only go first week man the first week I only go for a couple days so I can't do the whole time I got some buddies that go and party oh I can't do it can't yeah I'm not a like a I don't gamble so I'm like eh and then it's like I don't really drink so I'm like eh so I go for the entertainment I go for the entertainment I go to the concerts and stuff. Oh I should do that next year like last year was just kind of a wing it like all right I'm bringing my RV down I'm just gonna go and see what happens and um dude there's concerts constantly throughout the day and night and it's just like oh my god I can have my cake you know and and I already got my tickets for uh reclay trades and if if I I I don't know if the wife the

Earning Respect And Learning Horses

SPEAKER_00

wife says I'm not gonna go this year I told her I was gonna go with the Reclay trades plan and I might go to tight got a got a buddy who's uh a drummer there and so it's like hey I'll I'll get it maybe I can use back to safe tickets and I was like no no I'll just I'll watch from afar like oh good yeah I was like no dude no I'm not that tight so that's that's that's what I do when I go to the NFR that's cool I can try that out yeah but if if I go alone I got that one extra ticket man I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go now yeah we'll do but uh for for Pendleton and everything else I'll definitely have to hit you up but yeah what what is what is the main goal what what when do you know you had it man you you you you lived it you've done all you can when is that or when what would it look like for you that's a tough question I don't even know I think for me I just want the respect of the Cowboys that's really what it is like there's like there's my thing is is that I've always told myself that I want to be a photographer that is part of this community not just observing the community gotcha and and I think that's why I used to have the biggest fear of horses no doubt my first one of my first rodeos I was in Felomuth and I shot High Desert Stampede I shot Sisters I shot a PBR event and I got my MPRA card and I went to Felomoth and they said hey have you shot rodeos before and I said yes and they said oh great you're the only photographer today so you're in the arena enjoy and I was like oh no like I've never done that like so I went in the arena and I was taking a photo and kind of how the arena works is one part cast a shadow and I was just kind of crouched down right there and one of the officials walked by and his horse like spooked and I think and it maybe it wasn't me but I have a feeling it was me just being crouched in the shadow so when in the sunlight when the horse came around he didn't see me and then as soon as he got in the shadow there I was so I think it was me it may not have been me but he broke his like collarbone and and the horse is freaking out and I'd go get the horse and I was like there's no way I'm getting this horse like hell no like I'm afraid of horses and and for those first couple months like it was obvious like if there was horses I would kind of go to the other side of the arena where there weren't horses or when the horse would come to all line up for you know breakaway or you know all those events I wouldn't be near the chutes I would be somewhere else and one of the pickup men goes hey man I'm not really telling you what to do but if you want to be a part of this maybe you should figure this out and I said thanks and so the next day I started Googling like how to take horseback riding lessons yeah and uh the person I called and talked to I said hey like in all honesty I don't want to ride a horse I just want to get comfortable around horses can I come and she was like yeah and so like the first couple weeks we just did like herd observation and talked about like body language and kind of all these things and then it was like hey you're just gonna brush the horse be comfortable around it and yeah and then finally I was like she's like well what do you want to do we're kind of out of things we can do and I was like how about we get on and I fell in love with it like I still have I think that like fear turned into respect and you know and now it's like I did a three day cattle drive that I mean I didn't on a horse for three days but yeah you know I've been on other people's horses oh yeah you know pushing cattle and taking photos and you know thank God for for now like one of she's one of my best friends for letting teaching me how to ride and you know taught learning about pressure and release and yeah that has helped me so much with how I press into my you know past with you know trauma and all of that and and that was part of it I was like I want to be a part of this community I want to be able to be a photographer that they can say hey hold our horse you know and there's been so many times with the queens and with you know people that go man like you seem comfortable like you seem good with around horses like you're able to like some photographers have no idea and there's just standing right there next to this horse that's freaking out and you're just like what are you doing dude get out of there like you're gonna get hurt so to me long story short is I want to have the cowboys be like hey we want you around like we respect what you do you're one of us and that's part of the reason why like every time I have the opportunity to learn about being on the shoots you know I want to be out there like when I'm in cottage grove you know I'm holding the gates you know they're like hey andrew hold the gate we're doing bulls or we're doing bronx and it's like I want to be that photographer where I got you all the all the riders go hey I need help with my rigging come help me out or because like for me as a photographer I'm part of the team and my job the best compliment I can ever get at a rodeo is I didn't even realize you were there like to me honestly that's a a compliment and I want to be someone that's like you know pulling shoots helping out where stock contractors are like hey he can be up here because he's observant enough and aware enough that you know we have the next bronx coming through and I'm I'm pulling stuff helping out and I take that part of my job really serious and so you know me spending the hours on horseback helps me become a better photographer so if there's ever an incidence where it's like I have to go get a horse I can or if I'm behind the chutes I can help with all that stuff I want to be so to me if I'm able to be that and if stock contractors and cowboys say hey we want him around we request him as a photographer then I think I think you already got the respect I think you already got their respect man uh honestly from one of the sounds of it from the sounds of it they they they don't just let you know random people in do In the community. They don't. And for you to do what you do and how you do it and continue to go to these places, I mean, you're not some average Joe, Joe Smoke, you know, talking S just to just to try to, you know, get things going. They there's a reason.

SPEAKER_02

So I want to be the best.

SPEAKER_00

Keep doing what you're doing, though. You got the respect. You got their respect. That's I think you coming around, continuing to come around and doing your thing, and them inviting you and you know, hospitality, I you already got it, man. You just have yeah. Right now you gotta believe in yourself.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. So yeah, that's true. It is fine. Like I'd love to do more ranch ranching stuff. Like that deep down is like that's like the for me, the I don't want to say the epitome, but it's like that all of that, like is what man, we d I took photos with a friend, she invited me for like a pat clinic, and we were able to take some photos up in the Three Sisters wilderness. And I just tagged along, like it was all her. But luckily I was able to to be there and like I fell in love with I love riding in the mountains. I've only done it a few times, but that kind of stuff, like that it just encompasses like the the adventure. I love shooting on horseback, it's such a unique and very challenging. And when I did the you know, even when I did the cattle drive, it's like there's so much, and it's so fun. And yeah, I wish I could do more of that.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, well, check out Eastern Oregon, man. There's a bunch of cattle there, man. Tons, tons. Yeah, man. So Andrew, or I mean, we we talk, we can talk more, we can talk all the time if if and when you want to stop by anytime.

SPEAKER_02

Awesome.

Closing Thoughts And Gratitude

SPEAKER_00

But I I know you got editing. I've I got some things to do, but totally. Is there anything you want to add that I did not ask or you didn't mention?

SPEAKER_02

No, I just want to say have fun, do what you love, and just be the best version of yourself. That's all.

SPEAKER_00

All right, Andrew, and Andrew, it's been a pleasure. Come on anytime, man.

SPEAKER_02

Awesome.

SPEAKER_00

Hey, keep doing what you're doing, man. You got their responsibility. Thank you, thanks. And and once you get over that hump of like believing the getting the respect, dude, you you got it made. Trust me. I I've been there. I appreciate it. I've been there, done that. And right now, uh I got my MPRA card, and right now I'm just trying to figure out which ones I want to do and go to because I can. I got family, you know what I mean? But still, like but yeah, I just have to make ends meet. But slowly but surely I'll end up where I want to be and have a good old time. But dude, heck yeah, it seems like you you're there already. Just keep doing what you're doing. You you yeah, keep doing what you're doing, man. Much respect for me. So cool.

SPEAKER_02

I appreciate it, and thank you for allowing me to come on and share a bit of my story. And heck yeah, I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Until next time, Andrew.

SPEAKER_02

Awesome. Take care.