Meet Cody Montes | Photographer

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

Hi Cody, how does your business help the community?
I absolutely love this question! But first, let me ask you a question; How many times do you look in the mirror and feel insecure? I surely know I do! One of my favorite things about taking pictures is showing people how incredibly beautiful they are! When I look through the lens, all I see is beauty. Beauty in the most obvious ways, but beauty in our flaws, beauty in the most unique ways as well. I cherish the feeling when I deliver a gallery and I get a response along the lines of, “HOLY GUAC, I LOOK GOOD!” Because, YES, yes you do look absolutely amazing! Sometimes we as humans need to see ourselves through someone else’s eyes, or in my case, my lens. I am so grateful to be able to share what I see and make others reignite their internal love and appreciateion for themselves. We are all beautiful in our own ways, and I love sharing that view/mindset with the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Anything photography gets me excited! My passion for photography and eagerness to learn is never ending. There is always more to learn with photography and I love that the sky is the limit. I have been told that I need to narrow down my niche, but I just cannot. I love to capture moments that would otherwise go unnoticed, forgotten, or eventually fade away over time. By freezing these moments, one can relive the moment, remember every detail and share these special moments for years to come. You need someone to capture your proposal, I’m your gal! You need a wedding photographer, here I am! You need maternity photos, pick me! Milestone, portraits, headshots, family, fur children, sports, events, you name it, I’m your personal hype girl and new bestie!

Owning my own photography business in a market that is highly saturated, I try to set myself apart by making it an unforgettable experience. You can find me crawling on the ground, making funny noises, laughing, jumping or doing what it takes to get a genuine smile, the perfect lighting (sun flares are my fav), or a unique shot. I strive to take my clients vision and bring it to reality.

We as humans have to remind ourselves that we all make mistakes. It’s not a matter of IF you make a mistake, but WHEN. No matter how big or small of a mistake you make, it’s what you do after the fact. I have learned that mistakes are more of a lesson because I try to learn from them and do better in the future. We are all human and need to remember to be more forgiving of not only one another but to ourselves as well.

Nothing worth while in life comes easy. A lot of people think being a photographer is easy, but there is a lot behind the scenes that people don’t see. Besides learning the camera, its settings, the equation of the settings, staying up to date with trends, posting on social media, the ever changing ways to use social media, the numerous social media platforms, finding locations, editing photos, creating a website, buying props, coming up with new original ideas, executing ideas, battling the weather and SOOOO much more. Photography is not easy, it is a LOT of work, every single day (my brain never shuts off), but it is also so rewarding.

I am beyond grateful that I get to share my passion and love for photography with the world!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We just bought a little ranch and are slowly turning it into our own little slice of heaven. It is actually where I do most of my sessions. The ranch offers two ponds, a big red barn, a classic dirt road, beautiful trees, a pool, a pasture and a guest house that we are turning into a studio/guest house.

In the process of renovating our house and property, we get quite a few visitors and one of the staples is the Fort Worth Stock yards. I cannot count how many times that we have been there and watched the daily cattle drive. If you haven’t seen it, you are missing out! The Stock Yards offer shops for souvenirs, people watching and some delicious restaurants. One of my favorite places to eat and walk around down there is the Hotel Dover! The hotel is very thoughtfully decorated, and the food is delicious! If you walk to the back of the hotel there is a little walking trail that is quite lovely and perfect to walk off that big meal. Keep an eye our for turtles, the little canal down there is FILLED with them!

Another MUST, is Buc-ees’s! Yes, it is a gas station, but I promise you have never seen a gas station like this! They have everything from delicious treats, canned goods, seasonings, snacks, lunch, souvenirs, home decor and more! If you’re lucky, you might even get to meet Buc-ee!

The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens is another great location if the weather is nice and you want a day filled with beautiful flowers, artwork, and a nice walk. Bring your lunch and have a picnic in the shade. It makes for a great day!

Since I have a little one, he often determines what and when we will do anything for the day. We love to take our visitors to the Fort Worth Zoo and check out all the animals. We like to pack our lunch and snacks and take a break in the shade and enjoy a break between walking and exploring. Don’t miss out on feeding the giraffes!

Our favorite thing to so with friends and family that are visiting is having a BBQ and pool day! Relaxing, catching up and eating good food while staying cool in the summer heat is a must! It is also my little one’s favorite activity, and he loves to ‘show off’ his swimming skills.

In all honesty, we don’t eat out a whole lot. When we have visitors, we tend to either cook at home, or explore new restaurants. However, one of our FAVORITE places to share is Big Joe’s Pizza in Haslet. If you want authentic pizza, that’s your spot! Seriously, the best pizza I have ever had. Ever. If you haven’t had Joe’s, you need to go ASAP. Just don’t go on Sundays, they are closed.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am so fortunate and lucky to have my number one cheerleaders by my side. My husband is hands down the most supportive human I have in my life, and he also happens to be my favorite. He is quite literally the calm to my storm, my voice of reason, my love and also my biggest pain in the rear, but I would not have it any other way! I wouldn’t be where I am today it if it were not for him, his encouragement, his support and his unconditional love.

My other biggest cheerleader would be our amazing almost three year old son. I can honestly say that he gets it from his daddy because he not only is his identical twin, he also has the biggest heart. He is always ready to be my model, ready to help or take his own pictures. Yes, he has a few of his own cameras and will lead you around the house and tell you to pose so he can take your picture. But one of my absolute favorite things is his constant cheering, “Way to go Mommy!”, “Good job Mommy!”.

I am lucky enough to have a couple of amazing friends that are also photographers who have helped me along my journey. Whitney Podboy and Maegan Remele have the upmost patience and continue to be there to bounce ideas off of, offer advice or lend words of wisdom when I’ve always needed it. Is amazing to build and grow your community near or far.

When I count my blessings I count them twice. And then count them all again.

Website: https://www.codymontesphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codymontesphotography/?hl=en

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

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@codymontesphotography

Image Credits
Cody Montes Photography