I wasn't born with a camera in my hand, but I grabbed one as soon as I could.

I became interested in photography at a fairly young age. My older brother developed my black and white pictures in his basement darkroom. My subjects were whatever would stand still in front of me (and a few things that wouldn't). Mostly horses and dogs, and other kids. Funny, these remain my favorite subjects some 40 years later.

My first "serious" camera was purchased for me by my wonderful husband, in December of 1981, for my 20th birthday. It was a Canon SLR and I felt like I had just won the lottery. I held an amazing piece of machinery in my hand, and it was both wonderful and scary at the same time. It had so much potential, could I step up my game to unlock that potential? The first image I captured with that camera is still burned into my memory. We were at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.

Since that time, I have taken hundreds of thousands of images. For myself, for my family, for friends, books and magazines, and as editor of the local newspaper and a national magazine.


I always see my world through a lens, even when I'm not holding a camera. I have always been the one behind the camera. I prefer it that way.

Thank you to my husband and partner, Kent, who is the major reason I am able to do what I do. He is my best friend, my biggest supporter and in charge of all things technical when it comes to equipment. Me, I just take pictures. :-)

I hope you enjoy my photographs as much as I love taking them.

Lori Herbel

XP Ranch Photography