It was a Tuesday morning, the kind where the sun was just starting to rise, casting a soft golden glow over the fairways of Granda Golf Course. The air was still crisp, and the ground was dotted with morning dew, the kind that makes the grass shimmer in the early light. But as we made our way to the first tee, the sunlight was a bit more intense than usual. It beamed straight into my eyes, making the first two holes feel almost like a hazy dream. I could barely make out the flag, squinting into the brightness as I lined up my shots. It was one of those moments where everything feels a little off, but you keep playing because, well, that’s golf.
I glanced over at Tony Rodriguez, standing a few feet away, his eyes fixed on the green ahead, completely unfazed by the blinding light and the dew still clinging to the blades of grass. Tony isn’t just any model—he’s worked with brands like Nike, Dior, Puma, and El Palacio de Hierro. The kind of brands that make you pause when you see their name in lights. But for me, he’s not just the model; he’s a friend. A neighbor turned golfing buddy.
The hat. A Hat for Winners. A symbol of something bigger. As I write this, I’ve named the hat “Island Gold.” I had just received my new TuckerTookThat hats, representing my photography brand and my passion. I had wanted to shoot it for a while now, and who better than Tony, the guy who has always given 110% on and off the course?
Now, Tony might not have known it, but today he was wearing the hat of a winner. And, ironically enough, he might not have even realized how fitting that was because, for the first time in our golf history, he beat me. The tables had turned, and I was still a little bitter about the mistakes I’d made during the game. But that’s golf, right? Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and on this day, Tony was the one to walk away with the win.
I didn’t mind. After all, I win in my own way—through my photography. And Tony, well, he’s always been a winner. There’s no one else who works harder, who puts in the hours, who is so dedicated to being the best. And that’s why I knew this portrait session would be a good one.
After our game, Tony had a few hours to spare before his flight to New York for another shoot. I could tell he was in a rush, but I convinced him to swing by my home studio for a quick portrait session. “I’ve got some new gear to test,” I said. “A new lens, a new V-flat, and I want to make some photographs of you in my new hat and finally photograph you.”
This wasn’t just another shoot. This was my brand. My vision, my work, captured in a single frame. Captured with very little time and a look that I’ve done many times before, but looking to fine-tune it. We’d often talked about collaborating, whether for a commercial or a brand assignment, but today was different. This time, the brand was my own. And it felt right.
I couldn’t wait to share these portraits with the world. These are the world’s best shots—unplanned, we didn’t have a stylist, Tony was fresh off the golf course, and in the world of production, we were free-styling with all of this. But I’m glad we decided to create the shots because that moment will never be the same again. That’s the beauty in photography for me. The hat was more than just an accessory. It was a reminder that we’re all winners in our own way: through the hard work, dedication, and passion we bring to our craft. This ain’t Nike, but them checks come when you just do it…
Stay tuned,
