Check Out Andrea Bogard’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Bogard

Hi Andrea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi! Many call me Andrea. Two call me Mom. Most call me Andi. It’s nice to meet you!

I am a Northern Michigan native, originally from Petoskey, but now residing just outside of Traverse City. I have a pretty chunk of land, a little house to call my own, two great sons and an over-nourished chocolate lab named Moose.

As a little girl, I was into Barbies, dance and figure skating and hated dirt. One beautiful August Saturday, my dad took me to the range to learn to shoot. That day impacted my life perhaps more than any other single event. What began that beautiful summer afternoon has become a mainstay over the last nearly 30 years. While I began with a handgun, I have since expanded to include many other disciplines and facets of the shooting world – including hunting.

My shooting began as a hobby and when I turned 18 became a profession in the truest sense of the word. I travelled to Minnesota with my dad and took (and passed) my National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) Level One certification course. At that time, I was the youngest Level 1 instructor in the country at just 18 years and 3 months old.

I taught for a few years, specializing in introducing women and children to the shotgun sports. At the same time, I started a wedding/portrait photography business, which I own to this day. I have a wonderful team of people that have helped me grow this beautiful company to what it is today – nearly 25 years later.

As life evolved, I got married and had children. My oldest son turns 18 this fall and my youngest is nearly 10. Their father and I, though no longer married, enjoy a grace-filled and positive parenting partnership while living 376 yards away from one another. We have the definition of free-range children…

In 2017, I felt as though somewhere along the way I had lost myself. I was mom, wife and business owner, but felt no passion or zeal for life outside of that. I needed a hobby.

My now ex-husband was/is an avid hunter, but it had never really enthralled me. Some of it was the challenge of arranging childcare to make it happen. Some of it was having two children that were terrible sleepers and I was still struggling to survive on broken sleep cycles. The majority of it was just a lack of confidence that I could do it. That needed to change.

Fall 2017, I started this journey of transformation. It began on an all-women’s pheasant hunt out West. I was hooked. It was the first big thing I had done for myself in 13 years. My Yukon, camera gear, shotguns and shiny new hunting gear hit the road that November morning and have been growing ever since!

Since that trip, I have hunted/documented hunts (through writing and imagery) three countries, three continents and over 30 states. I have watched the sunset in Africa and the sun never go down in Alaska. I’ve held both dreams and harvests in my hands that bring me to my knees in gratitude.

Life was on a beautiful and incredible trajectory. In 2020, things began to shift. The ramifications of Covid brought my thriving photography business to a screeching halt. My kids suddenly became homeschooled. My marriage, which had been hovering on the brink for awhile, began to spiral. My income source was temporarily gone due to restrictions, so I needed to diversify. I also needed something I could do from home and continue educating my two sons. I started writing.

I would sit at the kitchen island late into the evening writing about hunting and shooting topics and sending them to any editor that would look at me. And slowly I started selling stories. Each success made me push harder. I began learning about long range rifle shooting, ballistics, reloading, butchering and meat processing techniques and minor gunsmithing. Essentially anything in the hunting and shooting world, I figured I could learn about it and write a story.

Here we are in 2024. In the last two and half years, I bought a house and made it a home. My sons are thriving and enjoyable humans to be around. I have been blessed with writing opportunities around the world and work with amazing people and publications. I have a peaceful, healthy and positive with my boys’ dad, for which I am incredibly grateful.

The story is ongoing. My youngest son is extremely dyslexic and I am becoming trained to be a dyslexia tutor so I can better support him at home. He has a wonderful tutor named Miss Sue who will be a mainstay in our lives for many years. My oldest is working toward his captain’s license as he pursues a life in the hunting/fishing world as a guide. I now publish an online journal called Lady Shooter Journal that covers all things hunting/shooting. My home is happy. My heart is peaceful. I am forever grateful for the life I have and the incredible experiences with which I have been blessed.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Everything is relative. My road has been smoother than some and rougher than others.

For me, the biggest hurdle in my life has been the pursuit of proficiency. I crave the ability and capacity to provide that which I need for myself and my sons. This can be financial or practical. I have focused the last couple of years on learning practical, mechanical and carpentry-centric skills so I can complete my own projects – whether imperative or optional.

See previous write up for specific obstacles and challenges.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve always been an entrepreneur. I started my business at 17 years old and have been self-employed ever since. The only exception was when I worked at a jewelry store for a few months while I was pregnant with my oldest son.

I love to tell stories with both images and words. It began as a wedding/portrait photographer and has morphed into other types of subjects. I still own and love the wedding business, but have embraced other types of moments in life that I love documenting, as well!

My passion for teaching began with shooting instruction. It has since grown to encompass homeschooling. Beyond that, walking beside my youngest son in his dyslexia has been one of the most illuminating teaching experiences of my life. I pray one day when my boys are grown that I have the opportunity to stand beside other parents as they navigate this journey with their children.

As a writer, I want to continue to build my skills in the technical areas of shooting, ballistics and reloading. I want to develop my own Wildcat cartridge at some point, as well.

On a more personal level, 2025 is my year to write a book. It’s been on my heart for a few years and I decided that this is the year!

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes. If I were to ever get a tattoo it say this:

Adapt and Overcome

So many things in Covid were destructive – physically, financially, emotionally and mentally. However, looking back it was a catalyst for so many good things for me personally and professionally. It was a solid lesson in perspective that things you view as disastrous can prove to be your biggest blessings.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.northernartphotography.com | www.andreabogard.com | www.ladyshooterjournal.com
• Instagram: ANDIDV8S. Northern Art Photography
• Facebook: @Andrea.s.bogard @northernartphotography