On this episode of the BC Podcast, Andy hangs out with Kelsey Johnson, the hyper-realistic artist extraordinaire based out of Bozeman, Montana. Kelsey and Andy draw up (pun highly intended) conversations on Kelsey’s western inspirations, how she got her start in the craft, and her process into her month-long creations. They also dive into her art background, professional career as an Agriculturalist, and what it took for her to get to her goal of moving to Bozeman. Kelsey’s artwork has centered around photographic references from photographers and artist that she follows and admires. Kelsey’s Instagram: @k_raejohns Kelsey’s website: https://www.kraeartworks.com/

On this episode of the BC Podcast, Andy bothers and annoys Connor Gabbott, founder of Talus Creative. Connor goes into his past 20 years of working in the culinary world and how that has informed and shaped who he is as a visual storyteller. The two dive into what, who, and where they seek inspiration from to keep themselves sharp creatively and passionately. Connor is always learning and as a freelancer new to the game, he feels that there is a whole new world out there for him to explore and capture. From exploring the far reaches of his home in British Columbia to the high tops of New Zealand, Connor approaches each adventure with fresh eyes, an open mind, and an eager heart. Talus Creative’s Instagram: @taluscreative Talus Creative’s website: https://taluscreative.com/

On this episode of the BC Podcast, Andy and Phil catch up with their buddy Rick Hutton from FHF Gear in Montana. Rick hails from Pennsylvania, where he transplanted himself to Montana with his best friend, Seth Morris. Rick and the fellas go into Rick’s early inspiration of the west through photographs, books, history, and love for Whiteclaws - which he credits to where he is now. Balancing his duties in business operations,order fulfillment, and the bear that is social media - Rick wears many hats at FHF Gear. While he is new to the industry, he’s had this dream and passion from his early childhood which he stresses the importance of actually following your dream - and not letting it be a cliche word. Rick’s Instagram: @rhuttjr FHF Gear’s Instagram: @FHFgear FHF’s website: https://fhfgear.com/

On this episode of the BC Podcast, Andy connects with Mike Kemp, a commercial photographer based out of Utah that totes a highly versatile portfolio. From his first experiences of developing an image of a leaf to finding his niche in the commercial market - Mike has been in the industry for a very long time. Growing with your gear, making smart business decisions, and the importance of pacing yourself for the long run in the industry - these are all important lessons that Mike hones in on. Mike dives into what he has done to carve a living in what most people have told him is a saturated market. Mike’s Instagram: @mikekempimages Mike’s website: https://mikekempimages.com

On this episode of the BC Podcast, Andy connects with the dynamic duo of GRITMEDIA, John Hafner and Kaleb White. Double the weight, double the pants, but double the talent and hardwork. Toting their cameras around the world, the two reflect on their unique shooting style, business partnerships, and the harsh realities of owning a creative business. From their times at Cabelas and Realtree - they have grown their industry know-how to provide their clients real and unapologetic visual assets. While their portfolio is extensive with a client list including Filson, Under Armour, and Realtree - they stay humble and hungry. An important factor in their business, that may surprise people, is that they consider their work - work. At the end of the day, it’s just photography, and their families, faith, and personal lives take priority. GRITMEDIA’s Instagram: @_GRITMEDIA_ John’s Instagram: @johnhafnerphoto Kaleb’s Instagram: @kalebwhite GRITMEDIA’s website: https://www.gritmedia.org

On this episode of the BC Podcast, we reconnect with our fellow visual artist and pixel burner, Keith Ailes, Director of Video Production for MtnOps. From his early days of producing cheesy childhood home videos to battling the post-collegiate baseball blues - Keith has an amazing story to tell on how he attained his current dream job. Going through the wringer of life to figure out what he wanted to do next, Keith finally found a way to channel both his creative and competitive personality traits into his job wielding cameras in the wild. From the differences and challenges of being a lone-wolf in the field to the intricacies of managing a production team - the discussions in this episode were one of our personal favorites. Keith’s Instagram: @keith.ailes MtnOps Website: https://mtnops.com/

On this episode of the BC Podcast, we’re able to slip into Jess’ busy schedule to chat about her crazy role as a Communications Manager at OnX, all the while freelancing for top-notch brands and publications. Jess is plain and simple - a rockstar in the industry. Through hard work and a lot of rice and beans - Jess has achieved what many only dream of in a career, but it’s not always the way it seems. Helicopter scares, extremely long work weeks, and the occasional bout of toe infections - it takes a lot of grit and determination to make it.

On this episode of the BC Podcast, Andy sits down with Bart Mills to hungrily (pun highly intended) dive into what it takes to start and run the marketing for a freeze-dried food company. As CMO of a young brand, Bart shares his insight on the day-to-day grind of pursuing the development of a premium product. Influencers, marketing budgets, and accountability - just a very few things that Bart has to worry about in his vital role at Peak Refuel. Peak Refuel’s Website: https://peakrefuel.com Peak Refuel’s Instagram: @peakrefuel

On this episode of the BC Podcast, the team links back up with Lee Harrison of Seek Outside. Hailing from Colorado, Lee found himself working at a very different job in marketing that he had initially thought - we dive into how he eventually ended up at Seek Outside and how he continues his role as a Media Coordinator working remotely from Bozeman. From his days at a real-estate company to his day-to-day duties herding marketing initiatives, Lee gives the crew insight on the foundation and skills required to land a marketing job. We also jokingly poke fun at the most over-used terms in the industry of marketing and social media - one of them being the word “content”. See how many times you can catch us saying it! Seek Outside website: https://seekoutside.com/ Lee’s Instagram: @leegitharrison Seek Outside Instagram: @seekoutside

On this episode of the BC Podcast, we were able to wrangle Brandon Fien onto the show. A prodigy in the world of waterfowl photography and a young man of many hobbies in California. Brandon is well known for his phenomenal wildlife photographs, as well as his creative eye when it comes to lifestyle photography. Brandon dives into how he got his start, what keeps him on his toes with his photography, and the importance of a mentor in the industry. Brandon has an amazing future ahead of him and we’re excited to see where he goes with his many talents. Brandon’s website: https://brandonfienphoto.smugmug.com/ Brandon’s Instagram: @brandonfienphoto