By 2014 we had made a few big sales since the housing crisis, this the first sale where we actually made a profit. We actually managed to sell these photos twice, and were super content with just one. Two was unthinkable. That was the first time since before 2008 that anything like that happened.
If you think architects took a hit in the southwest USA (they really did, more on that later), you should see what happened to their marketing departments. In economic downturns, marketing is generally the first cut, and usually the last to return.
I had ridden a horse before, twice I think even. Turns out bloodlines for quarter horses are tracked back to historical winners. You can see some early names carved in the interior floor and later names on this outside wall.
I guess originally this was some kind of green roof that failed under a random snowfall. A second architecture firm was brought in to renovate and they built this front wall plus re-engineered the roof over what is now the gift shop.
The big building in the back is the American Quarter Horse Association headquarters, it was the marketing department in there that called. I said we were about to leave town and if they wanted them, they could have them all--with reproduction rights--right now for $1500. Somehow the urgency of us leaving got their buyer to jump. We had already left, maybe an hour east, but in Texas that is still in town. Either way, with our $300 life savings in hand, we turned around, got another night in the hotel and waiting until morning when they had a check ready.
You can see the names of the horses carved in the tiles here, there are arrows connecting the historical family tree.
We didn't stage this next one at all. We did spend about three days on site, and this guy actually walked into the shot. Completely authentic Texas. That was real life.
Architectural photography is supposed to never include the neighbor's place. Tricky to do in this case, and also, the building is the Kava Hotel. We got a giant room for $35, and that included a sit down breakfast for two with a chef and menu. Further, I had mentioned that we were working for the museum next door and they knocked off another 10%.
Hotels in California are all over $125. In New Mexico we got a room with classic panelling and authentic 1970's lamps for $29.
This next photo was a scouting shot from the day we first arrived. We processed it in the Kava hotel, showed it to the manager the next day, and she asked if we could wait one more. Indeed we could, and they fixed all the lights within 24 hours. We didn't even have to ask.
I was beginning to learn about the deep south.
