EP: 7 - In Focus with RJ Hinkle - A Master Behind The Camera Lens.

“Leave room for serendipity.” That’s how commercial and lifestyle photographer RJ Hinkle runs a photoshoot. His professional portfolio is vast: Walmart, Luchese Boots, The King Ranch, The Container Store (gosh I love that place), Evie Mae’s Pit BBQ (RJ is a BBQ fanatic.), Boomer Jack's -  and the list goes on. His still images are never static. The subjects are vibrant with color and emotion. They are captured in a singular moment, time has stopped, but the story always plays out in his pictures. Even BBQ on butcher paper has a narrative in a RJ Hinkle photo. 

 

Serendipity is a thread that runs through RJ’s life. The siren song of the shutter captured RJ’s attention early. He worked on the staff of his high school yearbook (or annual as we say in West Texas), and RJ never stopped working as a photographer. He pursued his passion and sometimes his passion pursued him, giving him nudges in the right direction as his career unfolded. Put yourself in the right place with a honed skill set and serendipity becomes opportunity.

 

RJ and I take a deep dive into the food stylist profession and talk about my nature trail photoshoot that happened just before the podcast. We chronicle - journeyman actor and Lamesa, Texas native - Barry Corbin’s acting career. I confess to RJ why I never realized my dream to be a helicopter pilot. RJ gives us his top five BBQ joints, and we close out the podcast with a very serendipitous movie reveal. It has nothing to do with the actual movie Serendipity.