Down in the Holler

I have been looking forward to another photo shoot with Sherry Smith Photography since my first one as Miss Rodeo USA in Guthrie, Oklahoma! Sherry is the official photographer for the Miss Rodeo USA pageant and I can’t think of a better person for that task. She’s a Houdini with a camera, getting every important shot without anyone noticing her running around. I knew this next photo shoot with her was going to be just as amazing. I traveled down to Lincoln, Arkansas for a whole new experience in front of the camera with Sherry. To make the trip even better my truck got a new wrap by Katalyst Sign and Grafix. We were south bound in style!
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We started out shooting sponsor clothing that I’ve been excited to debut for a while now but knew I needed the perfect photo to showcase each outfit. Sylvia Sandford with Queenies Custom Creations created a rich purple shirt with embroidered skulls and flowers all over it! I have always loved Pirates of the Caribbean, so naturally the skulls were right up my alley. Lottie Morrison (mother to a former MRUSA) created a beautiful deep gray leather vest with feathers and horseshoes, which paired with one of my Ariat shirts perfectly. Another show stopper was a bright pink breast cancer awareness arena shirt by Gloria Rudd with Rodeo Queen Shirts! I had fun with this one during a few shots with a gorgeous red roan horse named Rubin. I paired all my favorite Ariat denim, Miss Macie Boots, and Rhinestones Lipgloss Earrings with these fabulous custom pieces. I was also excited to showcase new Boot Rugs, my MJ Belt, Hoofies, Gypsy Tails, and a patriotic horse blanket thanks to Janet Woods!

Before I headed to Arkansas, Sherry told me she had an idea for a shot with smoke and colored lights. Of course I was totally in but knew I needed a specific outfit to capture the fierceness this photo had to offer. So I designed and made a snake skin fringe dress myself to pair with my bright white Miss Macie Boots! I felt like I was on top of the world while capturing this piece of artwork. Sherry had the great idea of adding white chiffon to create more movement in the photo while her husband Keith, used a leaf blower to bring the chiffon to life.

Another custom piece I had a part in designing were my custom Miss Rodeo USA chaps by Sara Prochaska with Lazy P Creations, who is also my aunt! It took a couple weeks to tweak the design until it was perfect but let me tell you what, these are the coolest chaps I have ever seen. While I might be a tad biased, there is no doubt they make a statement!

This photo shoot couldn’t have come at a better time. With many rodeos and events being cancelled I was missing the chance to really feel like Miss Rodeo USA lately. Sherry Smith helped me feel like a queen by capturing so many breathtaking photos that I will get to cherish for many years to come. Enjoy a first look at many of these amazing photographs. Thank you Sherry for all your hard work to get every photo exactly right!

Miss Rodeo USA 2020
Brooke Wallace
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Brooke’s Bloopers: While shooting with Sherry Smith Photography, I was asked to do a twirl to get the fringe on my dress to fly! Well, I was standing on a wobbly rock and we all know how this is going to end… Twirling in an all-white outfit, in a damp forest area is a recipe for disaster for me. I fell off the rock but stayed standing and miraculously missed stepping on one of Sherry’s flashes! We all got some good belly laughs out of the deal!
 
Queens Corner: I want to give you a few tips and tricks on preparing for a photo shoot. First off, don’t try new make-up or hair styles the day of! Practice beforehand so you know exactly what you will be doing the day of. Along with that, have all your outfits picked out and paired with jewelry so you can make quick changes on set. This will take away a lot of stress in the moment. Keep a hair brush, hair spray, and lipstick close by to do quick touch ups if needed. Finally, make sure to talk to your photographer beforehand so you both know what to expect on number of changes and clothes that will correspond with shoot locations.
 
Statistically Speaking:

• Miles Traveled: 3,151
• States Visited: 3
• Rodeos Attended: 4
• Number of Performances: 12
• Horses Ridden: 13
• Other Appearances: 12