Meet Kenzie Holmberg | Western Brand Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kenzie Holmberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kenzie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
While there are so many key factors that go into making your business successful, I think the one that sticks out the most for me was building my business around something I am passionate about.

Before I start, I want to note a few other key players in success: personal development, pricing according to your needs not your competition, and a good online presence.

Now to get into the good stuff…. My name is Kenzie Holmberg and I am a Western Brand & Lifestyle Photographer living in Tucson, AZ. I built the BonaFide Cowboy brand because of my passion for the western industry. I love the cowboy lifestyle and I want to introduce more people to it. I specifically love helping businesses authentically showcase their products by providing photos that speak to their specific clientele. I love working from home, setting my own schedule, being my own boss, and getting to do what I love everyday.

If you don’t love what you’re doing, what’s the point in doing it? You have to work to live, so why spend 80% of your time hating your job. And, if you love what you do, work won’t feel like work. It will be exciting and rewarding. So while there may be a variety of components that contributed to my success, I believe the one that helped the most was finding a passion that I could turn into a career.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
​bo·na fide – adjective: genuine; real. adverb: sincerely; without intention to deceive.

“Hey there, I’m Kenzie and I am your guide to Brand Photography. Whether your business is new to the western industry or has been there since the good ole days… BonaFide Cowboy is the name you need to remember when it comes to launching your newest products. I built the BonaFide Cowboy brand with authenticity at the forefront of everything we do and create. Being cowboy is not just reserved for men, those who live on a ranch, or rodeo athletes. Being cowboy is not just a lifestyle, being cowboy is a character trait.
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From brand photography to educating other photographers, our goal is to be “bonafide cowboy” in everything we do. ”

I’ve always loved the western lifestyle and my photography reflects that. From ranch rodeos to western fashion, brandings to personal branding, horse sale photos, and more… I want to capture the beauty of the western lifestyle, the people behind it, and the cowboy spirit!

The Backstory:
I never planned on building my own business, but somehow the entrepreneurial lifestyle found me. I started working as a graphic & web designer and eventually taught myself photography, and this is where I began to thrive. If you have been around for awhile, you will know that my photography business was previously operated under the name Castilleja Cowgirl, which was named after the love of some of my childhood favorite flowers, the Indian Paintbrush (castilleja) and the cowgirl lifestyle. But the BonaFide Cowboy brand was born as a result of passion and my own personal values. I really value being authentic within my day to day life and the work I produced, hence BonaFide Cowboy was born. So, in October of 2021, we re-branded.

I love capturing the western way of life that I am so passionate about. Whether that is taking photos of the working cowboy in his element or the more glamorous side of the western fashion industry.

Each shoot is designed with my client’s needs in mind. No shoot is alike and each is catered to my client’s ideas. You get to be a part of the creative process!

If you feel like you’re stuck and need ideas, I have a team of creators (personal stylists, videographers, etc…) that are ready to help design a shoot specifically for you. I look forward to working with you!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I could take a friend to some of my favorite spots, I would take them hiking at Honey Bee Canyon, after we’d grab a tea and shake at Cheers to You Nutrion, have lunch at In-and-Out Burger and finish with dinner at Guadalajara!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that have made this journey amazing. My parents, fiance, friends, clients, and Jesus are probably who I owe it to the most. Whether you shared my content on social media, encouraged me to keep fighting for what I wanted, paid my rent when I first started this journey, or provided when I was struggling. I am so grateful for all the support. My dreams are big, seemingly unrealistic, and crazy, but I am fortunate enough to have people who have supported me. I can’t name just one, because it took an army to build the BonaFide Cowboy brand.

Website: bonafidecowboy.com

Instagram: @bonafidecowboy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/78380755

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonafidecowboymedia

Image Credits
All images are BonaFide Cowboy except the action image of Kenzie (long blonde hair shooting in cactus) which was taken by Wild Sonora Photo