The Western Lifestyle Captured and Reimagined With Libby Humeniuk

Q & A With Libby Humeniuk of Red Dog Imagery

We’ve all seen Libby Humeniuk’s western lifestyle videos, and if you haven’t, you should definitely check her out. She has a masterful way of creating videos paired with music that makes you feel almost as cool as her subjects. Her subjects of inspiration include well-trained bridle horses being ridden by expert cowboys (and cowboy girls) dragging calves to the branding fire or sorting cows. Libby has always been an animal lover and artist but didn’t jump into the western lifestyle until an opportunity arose to photograph a branding a few years ago. She fully embraces the lifestyle now and enjoys sharing it with the general public through her online platforms.

Enjoy this interview with Libby to learn more about how TikTok became a part of her path and her commitment to sharing the western lifestyle through her video, photography, and art.

Tiffany: Can you tell us a little more about your background?

Libby: My name is Libby Humeniuk, the creator of Red Dog Imagery. I’m a western artist residing in rural Southern Alberta, Canada. I’m a self-taught jack of all trades in the creative department as I document the western way of life through fine art, photography, and videography. 

I grew up in the city of Calgary, Alberta, raised in a life detached from any part of the western or agricultural lifestyle. Since childhood, I spent most of my life with a camera in hand, taking photos of anything and everything. In 2017, I went to my first branding shoot to get references for my artwork. The more events I went to and the more photos I took, the more connections and opportunities arose. Photographing that one branding has since led to documenting working ranches, colt starting challenges, ranch rodeos, local small businesses, and most recently, the Calgary Stampede with one of the media teams. 

In addition to my video work, my fine art has been featured in venues like the Museum of Western Art and the C.M. Russell Museum. I was named one of Southwest Art Magazines’ “30 under 30” in 2019. 

Tiffany: How did you get started on your account? 

Libby: I started on TikTok in late 2020 after listening to social media marketing podcasts talking about the then-new platform being beneficial for organic reach. I was attempting to build my art business into a full-time career, so I decided to take the leap into the world of creating videos.

In June of 2021, I upgraded my camera equipment to have high-resolution video capabilities. Although I had no intention of using it for video, the first time I took it out was to a branding where I started playing with taking video. 

The following day I took a couple of clips and put them together on TikTok, and everything exploded from there!

Tiffany: What have you learned from this process? 

Libby: I’ve learned that despite never feeling “ready,” you should go for it anyway! When you’re self-taught, it’s easy to feel intimidated by those with formal education or who have already been in the industry for many years. The creative world is often viewed as “competitive,” but there is room for everyone’s vision out there, even if you feel like your work doesn’t measure up. 

Tiffany: What do you hope to achieve with your platform? 

Libby: My platform is a window into a world that not many people get a chance to see or experience. Many view the cowboy as a dying breed, but the traditions are still alive and well; they’re just not near the public eye.

While my account predominantly features footage of the modern working cowboy, it is also a space for education. I firmly believe that if you share a way of life, you should understand it enough to answer the questions that people may bring up. Even to those who leave “hate” comments, I will try to respond in a polite and educated way. The person leaving the original comment will rarely have their mind changed, but you never know who else is reading the comments and may leave with a better understanding of the western way of life. 

Tiffany: What advice do you have for other creators?

Libby: Stay authentic to yourself. You have a voice and an eye that is unique to the story you want to tell. Embrace what you may consider “different,” as that is precisely what will give you a style of your own. If you don’t fit into the mold, don’t be afraid to break it!

TikTok Insights

• Type of Creator: Artist/Videographer
• Years on TikTok: 2 years
• Followers: 143.5K
• Likes: 2.3 Million
• Handle: @RedDogImagery
• Website: RedDogImagery.com

Cowboy Lifestyle Magazine

This article was created for the Fall Issue of the Cowboy Lifestyle Magazine which was released in early July. You can catch this article and many more by checking out the full issue. For more information on Cowboy Lifestyle Magazine, visit the website here.