Being raised by wolves in Wyoming was tough. Bad cooks... every last one of them, but nice as the day is long. The wolves weren't the only problem however, it also snowed every day in Wyoming. Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring the snow didn't let up. Even the wind was relentless. It blew so hard that once Yellowstone National Park was pushed two feet into Idaho. Talk about a windy day. At 5 years old I knew that being a wolf wasn't for me, so I left the pack and looked for another opportunity. 

After high school, I offered to grace both Yale and Harvard with my presence. Both of those schools knew I was destined for something much better than some Ivy league school and declined my offer. By saying no so many years ago, both Yale and Harvard pushed me in the right direction. I decided that day to buy my first camera. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Everyone of my friends thought I would follow the ways of Ansel Adams because of where I lived, but I could see those images in real life, just outside my tepee door. I wanted something different. I wanted to shoot like Avedon and Eisenstadt. I knew I had to leave the tepee in Wyoming, but where should I go? I picked up a dart and threw it at the US map that our neighbor Claude owned. It landed on the Nevada Territory. 

That night I packed my camera and clothes into my truck and drove straight to Las Vegas. I moved into a casino like all the locals do. I figured I would stay a while and see what city life was like. I met my wife in Las Vegas, and started my family. I do miss those beautiful mountains and wide open spaces, although I have become fond of electricity. It gives me the ability to charge my camera batteries without having to ride a bike, which powered a generator, that was actually created by Tesla...but I digress. The whole idea of indoor plumbing is a plus also, but that's a story for another time. Thank you for reading, I look forward to meeting you soon.

Tyler Schmeling is a Las Vegas based commercial photographer, working hand in hand with numerous brands and companies who desire awe inspiring and high quality imagery for print and/or digital ad campaigns, promotion, and marketing.