Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy Hill.
Hi Randy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always had my fingers in many pies, and honestly, that’s just how I’m wired. I’ve been drawn to art, photography, and music since I was a kid, and over the years those interests grew into the work I do today. I’ve spent many years as a graphic designer, which taught me how to think visually, tell stories, and solve creative problems — skills that continue to shape everything else I do.
My real estate photography business, Austin Realty Media, grew out of that same love for visuals and storytelling. I enjoy helping agents present homes in a way that feels honest, warm, and inviting, and I’ve built the business by focusing on quality, relationships, and consistency rather than trends.
Music has always been a parallel path. I lead and play drums in my band, The Swing Wranglers, and I host a weekly radio program, The Western Swing Time Radio Show, where I get to share the music and stories I love with a wider audience. My wife Dawn and I are also co-creating a podcast called Heart, Mind and Purpose, based on her 25 years as a licensed professional counselor in Austin and Oregon — another way for us to connect, create, and hopefully offer something meaningful to others.
Looking back, it all connects: design, photography, music, radio, and podcasting. Each piece feeds the others, and together they reflect who I am — someone who loves creating, collaborating, and staying curious.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s never been a smooth road — honestly, it’s all been a struggle. I left high school midway through my senior year to go on the road with a local rock band touring the Southwest. That’s where I met my wife, Dawn — we were both 17. We married at 18 and soon found ourselves playing in a music ministry in Northern Ireland during the height of “The Troubles.” It was intense, formative, and far from predictable.
We returned to the U.S. in our early twenties with our first of two children and had to start over. I was trying to be a working musician, become a father, and build a career as a graphic designer all at once. That meant hustling freelance work, taking whatever jobs I could find, and figuring things out as I went. Dawn later earned her master’s degree and had to build her counseling practice from scratch, which came with its own long road of effort and uncertainty.
I’ve created countless businesses from the ground up — some worked, some didn’t — but every one taught me something. So no, it hasn’t been easy. It’s been years of hustling, making connections, rebuilding, and staying committed even when the path wasn’t clear.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work lives at the intersection of visual storytelling, music, and connection. Professionally, I run Austin Realty Media, where I specialize in real estate photography and visual marketing that helps properties feel warm, honest, and lived-in — not just staged. I come from a long background in graphic design, so I approach every shoot with a designer’s eye for composition, flow, and story.
I’m also a working musician and bandleader. I lead The Swing Wranglers and play drums, and I host The Western Swing Time Radio Show, where I get to celebrate and preserve a style of music that means a lot to me. My wife Dawn and I are also co-creating a podcast, Heart, Mind and Purpose, based on her decades of counseling work, which has opened up a whole new creative lane for her in audio storytelling and meaningful conversation.
What I’m most proud of is building everything from the ground up — businesses, bands, projects, and a family — without shortcuts. I’ve never followed a straight path, and I think that’s what sets me apart. I bring a wide range of experiences into every project, whether it’s behind a camera, at a drum kit, or in front of a microphone. I care deeply about the people I work with, I show up, and I take the long view — and that consistency, more than anything, is what I’m known for.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t really believe in luck — good or bad. I believe in hard work, showing up, and doing my best to be in the right place at the right time. Most of what I’ve built has come from putting in the hours, staying open to opportunities, and being willing to take risks even when the outcome wasn’t clear.
I also have a deep trust in God. That trust has guided my decisions, especially during seasons when things were uncertain or difficult. I don’t see my life or business as a series of lucky breaks, but as a long path shaped by faith, effort, and timing — and I’ve learned to stay grateful for every door that’s opened and every lesson that’s come from the ones that didn’t.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.austinrealtymedia.com
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@heartmindandpurpose?si=pK9sjBDeaLLSq9Ri
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/SL7JBwvdOYEwOVrsmq
