We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zachary Roe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zachary below.
Zachary, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
Early on in my life, I developed a relentless fear of failure. I constantly compared myself to my peers in school, my teammates on the field, or anyone else that I viewed as superior to me. On a more personal note, asking a cute girl out on a date seemed like an impossible feat to manage, when in reality, it’s a quite simple question. This mindset led me to avoid any new opportunity at all costs. Anything not completely familiar became alien and dangerous. I carried this fear that if I did fail, others would think less of me. Inevitably, I carried regret for allowing these fears to get the best of me.
I wish I could sit here and tell you that I’ve learned how to not worry about what others think of me or my body of work. I still have these self-destructive thoughts. I’m human. I compare myself to others. The difference today is that I’ve learned to recognize a fact that alluded me for so long. I am human. I am capable of making mistakes. When I came to understand this life lesson, taking on new opportunities became much simpler, despite my fear of the unknown.
Another tool that has enhanced my risk-taking ability is my willingness to ask for help. Starting out with zero experience in sports radio, audio engineering for television, and now photography, I’ve come face-to-face with countless problems where I had no idea what to do or what the correct course of action was to complete the job. Instead of running from the challenge, I’ve learned how to pick up the phone and call someone who has more experience. I like to refer to this tool as humility. I have found in any block of life, that if I am not humble, I will find myself humiliated. I don’t have all the answers and there is nothing wrong with that. Today, I do not measure my level of success on what I know, but by my willingness to ask for help in order to continue my growth.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Zach Roe. I began my career in media in August of 2019 as a Board Operator/Producer at 105.3 The Fan, radio home of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. At that radio station, I worked alongside host Chris Arnold as well as the rest of that incredibly talented radio lineup. During one of our silly weekend segments, C.A. coined the nickname “ZRoe” and it has stuck with me since that time. As I came up through the ranks, I earned the evening time slot Board Operator position and the role of Cowboys GameDay Board Op. Eventually, after years of practice, I learned a harsh reality: radio does not pay the bills so long as you are a “behind the scenes guy.” If you are not a host in radio and you want to support yourself financially, you would be wise to explore other avenues to supplement your income.
So, that’s what I did! Although I had fallen in love with the art of radio production at The Fan, I started asking around for new opportunities. Through networking, I befriended former radio superstar, Michael Gruber. Grubes, longtime Board Op for the legendary Ticket in Dallas, took a very similar path that I did and decided to leave radio to become the official DJ for the Dallas Stars and later, the Texas Rangers. Following his departure from the Stars, Grubes was hired as an Audio Engineer for Bally Sports Southwest, formerly known as Fox Sports Southwest. Towards the end of his tenure at Bally Sports Southwest, he helped me get my foot in the door and started training me to run sound for Bally’s Pre and Postgame shows. This was a momentous decision for me because I had grown so attached to my role at 105.3 The Fan. Eventually, I had to completely let go of the radio station to pursue TV audio. Although I had learned the basics of production in radio, engineering live television audio appeared to be a whole new animal. Despite the uncertainty of a consistent schedule, I made my official transition to Bally Sports Southwest in January of 2022. I continue to use the studio as a learning ground to this very day.
Similar to my path at The Fan, I began taking on larger roles and eventually gained the confidence of my Producers and Directors. The most humbling and rewarding aspect of my job is that there is always a bigger fish in terms of the complexity of audio. It’s very easy to get caught up in my day-to-day pre and postgame responsibilities at BSSW and then get assigned to a much tougher project. While these challenges can seem overwhelming at times, mixing live audio is one of the best feelings in the world. I will continue to pursue my career in audio and seek out more opportunities for growth.
In May of 2023, I impulsively decided to invest in a camera package and began practicing photography. Photography and videography have always been distant dreams of mine and the timing seemed to be as good as any. Similarly, my girlfriend and I joined a Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Irving, TX around the same time that I purchased the camera. As sports have always held a special place in my heart, I figured that practicing photography at my home gym was a good place to start. At that point, I had every intention of growing my newfound skillset to a point to where I could make a couple of equipment upgrades, begin shooting for professional Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, and take on clients. Along the way, I have utilized my network and continued to ask questions to other photographers in my field.
In July of 2023, I officially started my very own photography business. Using the nickname hand-picked by Chris Arnold, I dubbed the business ZROE PHOTOGRAPHY. I launched my website, “zroephotograpy.com” and received approval to shoot at tournaments put on by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. So far, it has been an amazing ride. I’ve had the great pleasure of developing relationships with some of the most incredible athletes and photographers in the world. Starting my own business is not something that I ever dreamed possible for myself. Fear of the business plan failing due to lack of direction or financial resources is a good excuse that has played over repeatedly in my mind. As cliche as it may sound, slowing down and taking things one step at a time has really helped me re-center and push forward. I plan to continue my photography business by expanding into new areas, all the while, keeping the emphasis on sports – especially Jiu-Jitsu.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. An Attitude of Humility:
I don’t believe there is anything more harmful to a dream than an attitude of “I know it all.” When I first started my journey in media, I had no experience. I made and still make so many mistakes. I’m human. Mistakes will happen. Learning how to make mistakes and doing my best to not make those same mistakes has been extremely valuable. I had to begin building a network of people in my field and ask them thousands of questions. Asking for help is absolutely essential. Once knowledge and experience has been acquired, I have found that paying that same concept forward is also massively important. New people with the same aspirations that I have are always entering my field and I’ve had the opportunity to share with them what has worked so well for me. Maintaining an attitude of humility has allowed me to receive help when I need it and I never want to pretend like I have everything figured out because there is ALWAYS more to learn.
2. Punctuality and Commitment:
Showing up on time and being readily available when called upon has been a great asset of mine. I have prided myself on my willingness to show up to work when I am scheduled. Yes, some things are out of my control. Sometimes I get sick or have other personal obligations. Sometimes, even higher paying jobs will pop up and are offered to me. However, as a freelancer and business owner, when I am booked somewhere and my employers are expecting me, I show up. It can be extremely difficult to gain trust in professional relationships if I am not maintaining my commitments. I never want to burn any bridges, even if I don’t particularly like how someone operates. I still show up and work hard.
3. Have Fun:
I entered the field of sports media because I love sports with all of my heart. I worked fast food, delivered pizzas, and stood behind an ugly counter in retail before my media career. While there is nothing wrong with those types of jobs, I was miserable. I dreaded going into work every single day. I did not have a passion for that area of customer service. When I made the leap into media, the creative wheels began to turn. I found my purpose and drive. I took a childhood dream and made it reality. Before I knew it, I was spending time talking to some of my broadcasting idols and athletes on the phone. Work does not feel like work to me. I love what I do. If delivering delicious pizzas or seeing someone’s face light up when they find the perfect pair of Nike’s is something that inspires you, let it inspire you. Make it fun. If what you’re doing does not inspire you and you dread every second that you’re at work, perhaps it’s time to seek a new venture or come up with a new idea. There is nothing wrong with trying on a new pair of shoes just to see if they fit.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always looking for new partners or clients to collaborate with, particularly in the realm of photography! On the mat, on the field, or surrounded by family in a beautiful shooting location, photography is such a great way to create long-lasting memories. While I am planning on staying plugged in to the Jiu-Jitsu world, I would love to have a larger presence in other sports as well as portrait photography.
If you or anyone you know would like to book a local DFW photographer for family/personal portraits, sports action shots of your student athlete, or any other cool ideas that you can think of, please reach out to me by sending me an email at photos@zroephotography.com or by filling out a contact form through my website at zroephotography.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zroephotography.com/home
- Instagram: zroe_photography
- Twitter: _ZROE
