Buc-ee’s: Everything Is Bigger in Texas

I’ll never forget the first time I stepped into a Buc-ee’s.

After spending over 9 years in Lagos, Nigeria, my family and I moved to Dallas, Texas. The transition from Nigeria to Texas was such a culture shock, with one of the most significant changes being just how BIG everything is in Texas. From the vast landscapes to the super-sized food portions, the Texan way of life was larger than life and surpassed anything I could’ve imagined. I always heard that everything was bigger in Texas, but it was much different seeing it in person.

Of all the BIG things I saw in Texas, nothing compared to the sight of Buc-ee’s. I came across the giant convenience store while on a trip with my family from Dallas to Houston. The first time I stepped into Buc-ee’s, I was completely taken aback. It had everything you could possibly imagine, from endless rows of snacks and drinks to quirky souvenirs and home knick-knacks. Even the bathrooms were incredibly clean. The novelty left a lasting impression on me, and a couple of years later, it inspired the concept for one of my latest photoshoots.

As a photographer, I’m always seeking ways to express not only my own emotions, experiences, and passions but also those of others through my work. Buc-ee’s is one of the many symbols of Texas—an embodiment of its grandeur. I wanted to bring to life a concept that combined my love for fashion portrait photography with the essence of Texas as represented by Buc-ee’s. The Buc-ee’s location that I visited the most was the Denton location. I had the pleasure of living in Denton for over four years, and I fell in love with the thriving community in the city. The community in Denton, I surrounded myself with, consisted of young people who were discovering and exploring their identities through their passions and interests, one of these interests included fashion. This made it the perfect location for our shoot.

My concept revolved around capturing the spirit of Texas by merging the vibrant world of fashion with the distinct character of Buc-ee’s. My vision was to create a series of images that showcased a fashionista walking around Buc-ee’s while incorporating the iconic elements of Buc-ee’s in the backdrop.

I brought this vision to life thanks to the help of an incredible team of assistants and the fun and sweet model, Neely Antoine. Everyone brought their creativity and expertise to the shoot, making the entire process a smooth experience. As we moved through the shoot, we had a couple of onlookers who were curious about our shoot and stopped to ask some questions. We even had an instance of someone yelling a compliment at our model’s outfit while driving by.

After the photoshoot, the process of choosing the final images and editing them was both challenging and gratifying. Ultimately, the chosen images were an example of the fusion of fashion and the Texas spirit embodied by Texas.

This Buc-ee’s concept photoshoot allowed me to combine my love for Texas and its culture with my passion for fashion portrait photography. I want these images to evoke a sense of wonder and appreciation for the unique aspects that make Texas, and places like Buc-ee's, truly special, showing that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.