Today we’d like to introduce you to Alina Rangel.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I was born and raised in Austin, TX. I grew up in South Austin, just five minutes from The Salt Lick BBQ. I was always fascinated with the Western way of life; my interests revolved around Western fashion, rodeo, or any facet of the agriculture industry. Pre-Covid, I felt like I was lost and seeking my purpose. I worked part-time at Double R Hat House, the largest Central and South Texas retailer for custom hand-shaped cowboy hats. I knew I wanted a more permanent position at this business as it grew, and marketing is always needed, though I didn’t entirely know my way around a camera like I wanted to. I reached out to my favorite rodeo photographer to see if he needed” bag help ” at the very least because I knew I would gain so much experience from shadows regardless of what I was doing. Luckily, I stumbled into a position working under the now 2-time Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association Photographer of the Year, Christopher “Click” Thompson. Over the past several years, I have helped him with various rodeo production events and catalog shoots. Since starting my journey, I have learned my way around a camera, grown my following, and graduated from Tarleton State University with my undergraduate degree in agricultural communications as a first-generation student! I now reside just East of Austin and continue to help grow a small business that specializes in outfitting cowboys and Austinites with the finest western headgear. I took a large part in developing the Double R Hat House website, did most of the product photography, and managed the socials. Occasionally, I still love helping others with their family photos, senior sessions, and sitting in an arena to shoot rodeo events.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I thank my God every day. I luckily fell into doing what I love on most days that end in “y” and look forward to getting behind the camera every chance. I thankfully come from such a supportive family and have the most caring community if there have been obstacles or challenges. It is a blessing to shoot primarily rodeo and Western lifestyles; I find myself surrounded by so many good Southern folks. I serve an awesome God and look forward to every challenge or success; every loss is just as important as every win. Being a business owner isn’t easy, but everything is possible with a small bit of faith and want.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
Throughout college, I had more time to pour into rodeo, personal branding, and Western lifestyle photography. While I am grateful for the opportunity to have the most fun jobs and side hustles, I now find myself more grounded in my career in a little town just east of “Weird” (Austin.) I spend my days tending to product photography, social media management, and website upkeep for Double R Hat House. Double R Hat House specializes in hand-creased cowboy hats and was established in 2016 by Emilio Rangel, a then 19-year-old with a passion for the art of shaping cowboy hats. I am lucky to call my brother my boss and work in a family-run establishment that has outgrown its “small business” status. I am a one-woman branding and marketing “team.” It is said that hats run in the family, as our great-grandfather owned a convenience store in Mexico selling sombreros. I am proud of how far we have come as a business with the hat shop and proud of how far I have come as a photographer. Though my heart resides in the hat business, from time to time, I still pick up the camera for other folks, helping their photography visions come to life.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Talk to everyone. Remember that there is something to be learned from everyone you can come across. Yes, the winner’s table does sound fun, but you need to get there right. After a while, it is essential, too. My first jobs with photographers that I admired did not involve me holding a camera or taking photos. You’ve got to walk before you can run. I sought out people I considered successful, and they were kind enough to take me under their wing and give me opportunities I likely would not have had before. To be a winner, you have to surround yourself with other winners. Along with this advice, consider the power of an email, text, or call. The best thing I ever did was ask successful people if I could be of service to them; being able to help them at events led me to learn more than I ever would reading a book.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: doublerflicks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doublerflicks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rangelalina/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Zk3EpzdfZFqR9MTJ7gSh1
Image Credits
My personal portrait was taken by Maci Berry Photography. Instagram: @maciberryphotography
