If you take Tyann on the road for 3 weeks and end the stay at the Nebraska State Fair, the same time as her beloved South Dakota State Fair (a story for a different time), she will have all the time in the world to conjure up something good. One more while watching the mini horse show (which I also decided is my retirement plan) I learned what Audible was, shopped for Christmas on my phone, brainstormed ideas for an event planning business, which in favor lead to the idea of a gallery event to celebrate my husband. Give a girl some time and look what she can achieve!
The end of August is likely when the PRCA photographers start selecting photos for their selection portfolios. We had the state fair to finish, headed back west to shoot a wedding, to drive five hours back east and do some laundry, repack and head back west to Pendleton for the Roundup. We sat at the kitchen table a few nights and pulled some favorites, nixed a few, pulled some back in and then came up with the Top 15 to throw in the portfolio. He submitted and we took off to take in the Pendleton Roundup festivities.
Back to the Nebraska State Fair: I sat in the stands and emailed a new local venue called the 215 Marketplace, that had been renovated into a stunning floor plan with white brick and beams and original wood floors. What a random conversation to have with someone: “Hi, I need to book your venue. But I don’t know if I need to book your venue.” It was the waiting game we would play. Year 5 was in the windshield but not necessarily clinched just yet. I was so grateful to all of my vendors who so graciously held my date without even knowing if said event would happen. Now to keep my mouth shut when we would be driving 5000+ miles in the six weeks.
After Clay submitted his portfolio, I had to think of a way to get it in my possession. I told him that all my clients at the salon always ask me how he gets picked, so I wanted to be able to explain the process to them and then show them. He bought it. And in my defense it wasn’t a total lie! On our way to the INFR in Vegas we were in no man’s land Wyoming. Cell service was sketchy and Clay had two missed call and a text to call back (the PRCA that is). So he made the phone call back and they asked him to shoot his 5th NFR, behind the scenes. I got goosebumps again and my heart swelled. I am so proud of how far we have come and so incredibly grateful for every opportunity that has presented itself to us. Many more miles to go and planning a night to remember was all I could focus on.
When we got to Vegas Clay had a few media meetings to attend. My mom made the trip to help us with our booth. With Clay gone now was my time to act! I confirmed the venue, the food (charcuterie with Mallory from Urban Grazings), the band (Casey and Carleen from The Barn Flies), and of course discussed the beverage bar with my dad. Now, how to get him there?
Not sure if many of you know this but I am the brains behind the calendar at RodeoReady. I’m the reason we shoot sunrise sessions and sessions right after rodeos and seniors everyday of the summer. Can’t hardly complain when I’m the problem, haha. So I said to my mom, “Who can we ask to text Clay, that is planning an event, so he won’t have their phone number?” We knew the perfect person, Patti. I called Patti (who was very nervous so we made up a script). “What if he asks who I am?” “Just say your name is Patti Johnson or something!” Her name is definitely not Patti Johnson. I said, “He will most likely text you back and say my wife will be in contact, he won’t ask any details, that’s my job.”
Clay comes back to the room, quick to work on his computer. We are sitting in the hotel for about 20 minutes when he says, “Hey, by the way, some lady is planning some kind of party. I told her you would get in touch with her. Patti Johnson?” Yahtzee.
“What kind of party?”
“I don’t know you’ll just have to text her.”
So I did. I told her, it worked!
“How much should we charge? Sounds like some candids, family photos. Her daughter just got married, sounds like it’s the reception. They must’ve eloped or destination wedding or something.”
“How about $800?”
“I’ll ask her.”
I waited about 20 mins to respond and said, “She said that works. I put it in the calendar.”
He is going to be so mad he isn’t making $800.
So that was that. It was on the calendar. I started messaging all our people. I had reached out to people in Pendleton too and just told them to save the date. When I found out if he was selected, I would be in touch. I got on Canva and made this cute little invite I could send to people. We all know Clay LOVES to dress up so I thought making it a black tie event would be perfection. Some people panicked but everyone looked incredible.
The week of the event Clay had NOTHING on the books. He was to stay at home and keep editing. My paranoia was spiking. Our good friends asked for some horse photos for a sale catalog, they were also invited to the party. I texted to ask if she had seen Clay yet for the day. Crickets. She texted me back about 3 hours later and said he just left. I said I just wanted to remind her it was a surprise, too late now but their lips were sealed. WHEW. We all know Clay golfs with the old guys everyday at 2 pm in the summer time. After said tee time they go to Thirsty’s at 4 pm for the “golf meeting”. Jim, our neighbor, met Clay outside on Tuesday and said, you haven’t been around, you know we still go to the meeting, you could check in with all of us. I had ONE of the golfers phone numbers so ONE guy was relaying all the info. I panicked! “Hey, remind everyone it’s a surprise please!?” I was on pins and needles and tried to talk Clay out of the meeting until the following week. He went but didn’t seem suspicious. Check. Another one down. THEN. We had to do some headshots for some close friends (the couple that introduced us to be exact). They came to the house, I told Clay if we are putting it all up we might as well do my dad’s new headshot as well. Nathan asked to borrow one of Clay’s hat because it was black, he said he had meeting to attend and he was to dress up. He took Clay’s hat, to wear to Clay’s party. We all went out for supper. Someone asked, what do you guys have going this weekend? I replied with all the details about Patti Johnson’s party (which they were all coming to). Everything was falling into place nicely.
Well. We made it to Friday. My first line of duty was to sneak one of Clay’s NFR buckle out of the house. I was going to find out just how observant he was. They are in plain sight on the way to his office. I decided if he did noticed and ask I was going to tell him to not ask questions at Christmas (my mom’s famous line around the holidays). We spent the day at the 215 Marketplace setting up. It came together nicely. We all had lunch at the shoe shop and I told Clay I had to get back to the salon for my next client. He went home and I drove around the block.
We started hanging the prints. He had 3 vertical prints and the rest were horizontal which was very esthetically pleasing. They really popped against the white brick wall. I couldn’t wait to see it with the night light and the ambiance of the band and everyone all dressed up. I was half emotional hanging them! We had discussed doing a gallery numerous times, to have all our friends dress up and do something late winter when there is nothing to do and everyone is sick of being inside. He always told me that he didn’t have the right photos yet. I said yeah right and started plotting.
Getting home “from work” for the day was another obstacle. The guy that LOVES to dress up pulled out clothes from the back of his closet that I am sure he coached basketball in 12 years ago. Are you kidding me!? I was taking my sweet time getting ready and Mustache Man was hangry. “You are taking forever. You are acting like this is our party!” I asked him a couple times, “That’s what your wearing?” “We don’t even know these people!” Oh boy, we were in for a great night! He was also on the phone with his Starched co-host and good pal Garrison saying, “I hope this thing doesn’t last all night.” as they were hoping to record a podcast yet that night. Whoops!
So he hustled me out the door to go eat something. You guys, he was in the driver seat. I was playing roulette and it was scary. Thank goodness DWU had a home basketball game so the Scoreboard was full. We ventured to Blarney’s and it felt like they served us in 5 minutes. I was able to stall for about 40 mins and then we paid our tab, left, me in the driver seat and off we went. The parking lot was full from our crowd and the movie theater crowd. He asked about carrying lights in and I told him to just bring his camera, we could say hello and get a lay of the land and how they had the place decorated. So we started towards the door. He was reading the marquee so he was completely preoccupied. When we stepped up on the sidewalk, he saw Casey from The Barn Flies.
“Hey, Casey’s here.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“There are some cowboy hats in there. I know someone.”
“Hmm.”
“There are a lot of people I know in here.”
I opened the door and everyone was cheering! I did it! We walked in and dare I say he was speechless? I think so. Our people showed up! I still get emotional thinking about it.
“I’m not shooting tonight, am I?” No sir. Enjoy! It takes a lot of people to do what we do. Our parents are so supported, we have fantastic friends that show up for us no matter the circumstances, probably think we are crazy for doing what we do but nonetheless dive in wholeheartedly supporting RodeoReady as we run up and down the road. Thank you to everyone who made the night possible. We have also decided that our friends clean up pretty nice and it was such a fun time, it’s something we may want to try and do every year.
Now here we are, 5 days away from Round 1 of the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Can’t wait to see everyone in Vegas, say hi if you see us! Also please enjoy these photos that we had developed from film cameras that everyone could get their hands on the night of the gallery! So much fun.
Stay Tuned.
-Ty (& Clay)
