Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Maples
Hi Tony, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Well, I was born on the Llano Estacado in Texas – a place so flat and endless that it practically dared me to look beyond the horizon. Growing up, I’d get lost in adventure stories about marooned sailors and castaways. Maybe it was the monotony of that landscape, but I craved a taste of the world beyond.
In high school, I moved from team sports to a skateboard. I wanted something that demanded my own blood and bruises, something where success or failure was all mine. That got me into photography, web design, I started working on cars, and eventually, running small businesses. By my twenties, I was deep into this “go with the flow” mentality. I was teaching photography workshops, managing creative projects, building custom cars, running a social media/marketing company that even had a print magazine I designed and printed seasonally, A LOT I know. All these random things that didn’t exactly spell ‘success,’ but felt like progress!
Then came 2020, and as you know, we all were in for some hard times. The marketing business I helped build shut its doors, and for the first time, I found myself truly starting from scratch. I took this opportunity to do the “vanlife” thing, and converted my Hummer to a mini RV to go chase some amazing places while finally kickstarting my photography business, going all in.
That time changed everything. The landscapes shifted from one awe-inspiring scene to another — Big Bend’s quiet desolation, the surreal sands of Death Valley, ancient forests with trees as tall as skyscrapers, and the kind of skies you only see when you’re a thousand miles from the nearest streetlight. I met people who lived as freely as they spoke, people with stories etched into every wrinkle and scar, and I realized that photography was more than just capturing images. It was about capturing the way these places and people made me feel.
That trip wasn’t just a break from the world; it was the start of something new. It was a calling. And since then, every journey, every photo, has been about recreating that sense of discovery, that unfiltered connection to a world I’d only dreamed of. That’s where my real story began.
By 2023, I somehow found myself in Terlingua, Texas, running The Summit at Big Bend — a glamping/adventure hotel in the middle of the desert. I transformed its operations, upgraded its digital presence and enjoyed living in one of my favorite places on Earth. I’m in San Antonio now, still working with them however remotely, and focusing now on helping local businesses with their digital marketing needs, while still traveling and capturing photos that bring the entire moment back for people to enjoy.
As my journey evolves, I’m setting my sights on something bigger: creating a gallery space that brings people directly into the world I see through my lens. The goal isn’t just to showcase prints but to curate an experience — somewhere immersive, where each image invites people to feel the landscapes, the quiet solitude, and the raw beauty I’ve chased across miles.
So, here I am — still looking for that horizon but grateful for every weird, winding road that brought me here!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road’s been anything but smooth, and that’s exactly how I’d want it! Adversity has a way of forcing you to grow, and I’ve always believed that nothing worth having comes easy. One of the more unusual challenges came when I got completely stuck in the Alvord Desert in Oregon after a historic rainfall. The dry lakebed turned to deep mud, and with no recovery services nearby, I spent five days stranded—hunting for supplies by day and digging myself out inch by inch. Oddly enough, it felt like living out one of those adventure stories I loved as a kid—stranded, isolated, but surrounded by an incredible landscape. As tough as it was, it’s moments like these that make the journey feel real. That struggle, that resilience—it’s what shapes you. I of course face all the typical challenges of running a business, but love the random hardships that show up as an adventure photographer like that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The marketing side of my business is a blend of two worlds: fine art photography and strategic marketing. What sets us apart is the way I approach each project, whether it’s for a luxury Airbnb, a small business, or a sprawling adventure hotel. I bring the same eye for drama and emotion to these shoots that I do to my landscapes. The goal is to capture images that feel powerful and compelling, not just promotional. These aren’t your average marketing photos—they’re designed to be impactful, rich with emotion, and they work wonders in digital ads, on social media, and for Google Business profiles. I believe that every image should feel like a moment worth remembering, and that’s the philosophy I bring to each shoot.
On the adventure photography side, I lead workshops across the U.S., working with both groups and one-on-one to teach the art of capturing landscapes, the Milky Way, and timelapse photography. These workshops are immersive experiences where I guide participants through the entire process—from capturing those awe-inspiring scenes to editing and processing them into finished works of art.
I’m known for capturing images that are anything but “flat” and leans heavily into dramatic lighting, using highlights and shadows to bring depth and intensity into each shot. Whether it’s a landscape at sunrise or an Airbnb glowing in the evening light, I aim to create photos that feel alive and full of atmosphere. The goal is to pull viewers into a moment that feels vivid and tangible, where light and shadow play off each other to tell a story.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Before Covid, I was the Creative Director for a Hill Country-based marketing company that was right on the edge of innovation. We were among the first to leverage social media for digital publishing, driving traffic to small businesses through ads, websites, and even a print magazine that showcased the beauty of the Hill Country. When the pandemic hit, everything changed. Our marketing partners—mostly small businesses—had no reason to advertise. For six months, we pushed forward, working pro bono, but eventually, we had to call it quits.
The biggest lesson I took away from that time is that life goes on. Even when you hit rock bottom, you have to get up and keep moving. It taught me to prepare for hard times, to be prudent, but not to let setbacks define my future.
Pricing:
- Local Photoshoots start at $500
- Photo Workshops start at $2500
- Digital assets and marketing management starts at $500/m
- Automotive Shoots start at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tonymaplesphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonymaplesphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonymaplesphotography/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/tonymaplesphotography
