We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cynthia Holsclaw-Francis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cynthia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
Thank you, excited to be a part of your mission. My whole life I was the one with the camera. I can remember using a disposable camera and then covering my bedroom walls with the 4×6 prints. I was gifted my first real camera at 13 and took off running. I joined the yearbook club in high school and that is when I really felt passionate about photography… I loved being in the darkroom developing my own negatives and prints. Developing the negatives was harder but seeing your photo come to live under the red lights was so gratifying.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Cynthia, owner and photographer at Your Candid Memories Photography. We are an award winning portrait photographer serving the DFW area that specializes in working with PEOPLE. We photograph Highschool Seniors, weddings and specialize in family, kids and newborns. I started working at a portrait studio in 2001. We photographed families, newborns, kids, seniors, even pets! It was so fun to learn the ins and outs of running a studio. In 2006 I had my first son, in North Carolina and decided I needed a more flexible schedule, so we moved back to Texas and Your Candid Memories Photography was born. I had sessions lined up the first weekend we moved back, and I LOVED it. Building connections with families, watching their kids grow and creating memories for them is one of the most important things I will ever do. I am most proud that YCM is known to be patient with kids, the last thing I want is for your session to be stressful, so I try to make it FUN! We create beautiful, true to color images for your family to cherish. I do not take lightly that I am often the first person to photograph your newborn, or the last person to photograph you with your grandparent. I want to be there for you and see your family over and over again through the years.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I think the most rewarding aspect as an artist is to see the people we photograph grow and we love seeing them return year after year for sessions and then refer their friends. There is no greater compliment than referrals. It means you like us and all creatives need a little pat on the back sometimes :P I have been fortunate to win Several awards such as Best Photographer in Flower Mound 2012-2017 and Best Newborn and Family photographer in Denton County 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
The best way to support a creative is by giving them your business, referring your friends to them and supporting them on social media. Share their posts, tag their pages. When you post photos, include the photographer’s website. Leave reviews on Google and social pages. All of these things help us to connect with new clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.
yourcandidmemories.com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ yourcandidmemories/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ yourcandidmemories
Image Credits
Your Candid Memories