Your work often feels deeply nostalgic and timeless. Can you share what first sparked your passion for photography, and how you found your voice behind the camera?

 I've been a photographer for eighteen years and began as a fashion photographer in my early years for nearly a decade. More than half of my photographic career I have been exclusively capturing images on analog film using medium and large format cameras. Going from the craziness of being a photographer between LA & NYC, my passion shifted to the quiet frontier surrounded by the western lifestyle, modern-day cowboy, and Americana ethos. This shift made me feel alive again and gave me a much deeper purpose into highlighting the importance of others' stories. My use of film allows me to create moments that almost feel vintage or have a past time look to them. Like something from a previous era that creates a sense of nostalgia.

Many of your images capture a sense of Americana and the spirit of the West. What draws you to these subjects, and what stories do you hope people see when they look at your photos?

 I have been inspired by the spirit of the west and Americana themes for quite some time now. I believe they are symbols that represent freedom, wanderlust, hard work, dedication to the land, and a forgotten legacy. I am always drawn to the in between moments. Dilapidated homes that once could hear daily voices, back country dirt roads, abandoned gas stations, beat up pickup trucks, dust covered barns, calloused hands, sweat stained hats, blood stained chaps, and rugged faces all call out to me. I am drawn not only to these visuals but also to the stories they tell. The stories that more often than not get overlooked or forgotten within our fast paced society. I am just trying to capture life in contrast to a technology filled world that at times feels dead. 

Is there a particular shoot or moment in your career that really shaped you — maybe a turning point or an unforgettable experience?
 

 My past in the fashion industry taught me a lot. It humbled me with failures and it lifted me up with success at times. It showed me who I was and how to connect with my subject. However, it also began to feel lifeless and stale towards the end of it. I was wanting something more. Something much bigger than myself. When I found myself photographing cowboys and the western lifestyle is when I felt whole again. It was a massive turning point that connected me to God, people, the land, animals, and blessed me with the career I now have in the fine art space. One of my first artworks that really took off was titled, "The World Needs More Cowboys." I believe it helped motivate my style and opened the door into industry leading galleries, art fairs, and publications. I now have a second version of this artwork titled, "The World Needs More Cowgirls" that I am also very fond of.

When you're traveling and shooting, how do you stay inspired and connected to your creative process? Are there rituals or habits that help you capture such authentic moments?

The road and everything around me is my inspiration. The sunrise along the horizon as I trot on horseback alongside cowboys way out past where the blacktop ends is my motivation. Each ranch I visit I make sure to honor the men and women who call it home by showcasing photos that put them in a positive spotlight. Not all of my photos are pretty moments. Some showcase what some might refer to as ugly or raw, but I see them as important details that truly represent this selfless lifestyle in an authentic way. A lifestyle dedicated to land management and the animals who graze on it. I look for subjects and settings that feel almost documentary and full of life before I put the camera up to my eye. I journal each day so I can preserve those moments and share them with others. Sometimes we stage fun concepts for artworks but with a purpose to create a set that almost feels like any ordinary day between the 70s-90s era. I find inspiration in sharing the lives of others no matter the situation.

What do you hope visitors to Sun Valley will feel when they see your work in person? How would you like them to connect with it on an emotional level?

I hope everyone who gets a chance to see my work in person or online is left with a sense of joy and happiness from it. I hope it creates deep conversations and allows you to slow down a bit and reflect on the beautiful and simple lifestyle that is the heart of my work ––– the modern-day cowboy. I am truly honored to have such amazing collectors who also share their love or curiosity to the western lifestyle. From capturing an image that took time away from home with my wife, in a part of the world most people will never step foot on, to then brought to life in a film lab, before finally seeing it produced on a large scale in people's homes, is the most rewarding process. These are artworks that will live on long after I have taken my final breath. I most importantly hope they educate and leave behind some historical value for future generations along with honoring those who have blessed me to document it. 

Through his lens, Beau Simmons invites us to slow down and reconnect—with the land, with history, and with the quiet strength of those who live by it. His photographs are more than images; they are enduring portraits of grit, grace, and the forgotten poetry of everyday life.

As you explore his work, we hope you're transported to a world that feels both distant and deeply familiar. Because each frame isn’t just a glimpse of the past—it’s a tribute to authenticity, resilience, and the beauty of a life well lived.

To view Beau Simmons’ available works at Sun Valley Contemporary, visit the gallery or reach out to one of our consultants. We’re honoured to represent his powerful perspective.

Check Out All the Pieces by BEAU HERE