Meet Cindy Arthur of Cindy Arthur Photography in Plano

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Arthur.

Cindy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always loved photography, even as a little girl as I watched my father develop his film in a homemade darkroom. I thought it was fascinating! When I was a teenager, I took pictures all the time and I remember dropping those rolls of film off at Eckerd’s and waiting a week or so to get those 24 photos back – hoping for the best! Fast forward many years, after my twins were born, I rediscovered my love of photos. I couldn’t get enough pictures of those two sweet babies! With the new digital cameras, (new to me anyway) there was so much to learn! So, at first, my camera stayed on the “auto” setting for quite a while.

At the time, I was designing cards, announcements, invitations and digital art for clients and started using photos that I had taken in my samples. I started teaching myself about the camera and photography in general when my friend and neighbor started helping me learn to shoot in manual. He helped me understand in laymen’s terms what all this technical babble meant! A friend from high school saw some of my photos on Facebook and asked if I would be interested in doing a family portrait session for her, and I reluctantly agreed! That was my first official photo session and it just sort of started from that point. She shared her photos and people asked her who did them, and so on. I have never advertised and my business has always come from referrals and word of mouth. I feel very blessed to have so many repeat clients and that they love their portraits so much that they have stuck with me through the last few years and have referred me to their friends and family.

Has it been a smooth road?
My photography journey has been a pretty smooth one in the big scheme of things. I am self-taught, so a lot of my knowledge comes from trial and error and a whole lot of YouTube videos! Because I was able to get clients by referrals and word or mouth, I haven’t really had to try to drum up business. The one thing I will say though, is there are so many amazing and talented photographers in the metroplex! It can be very intimidating and difficult to not compare yourself to others. That is one of my biggest roadblocks I think, it’s what I call the “comparison prison”. Thinking that you don’t measure up, when the truth is, you are on your own journey and you will always be better than some and not as good as others! As long as I stay in my lane, create art that my clients love – then I’ll be good!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Cindy Arthur Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business is Cindy Arthur Photography, based in Plano, TX. I am a portrait photographer specializing in Family, Children and High School Seniors. My sessions are held outdoors, and I can say that my portraits are known for the deep, rich, warm color. If I could, I would love to shoot all my sessions during a gorgeous golden hour, right before sunset. I have had the honor of having over 30 magazine covers, some of them international publications. I have also been a featured photographer on Senior Style Guide, a high school senior blog and online magazine. Last year, I became a brand ambassador for a company called AdoramaPix – they are an online print product company. This came about after winning one of the coveted People’s Choice awards for their “Your Best Shot of 2016” international photography contest. Out of over 6,000 entries, I was in the top 3! My entry was a picture of my beautiful daughter, so it made it even more special for me! The last few years I have been one of several local photographers donating our services to our first responders and military personnel every September 11th, as a way to thank them for their service. It’s such a small gesture, but it’s so fulfilling to be able to give them something they cherish so much. They are always so grateful and appreciative. Being able to do that for them is really one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
So much to love about this area!! As a photographer, I love all the gorgeous areas to shoot my beautiful clients – from down town Dallas, to the Arboretum, Prather Park and Arbor Hills in Plano. So much beauty and history. We have such beautiful weather too, so really the only time I’m not shooting is July and August when the heat is just too much. The people are friendly and I must say we have the most amazing choices of restaurants! Plano has recently opened a development called Legacy West where you can find any genre of food you can imagine! One thing I could do without though is the traffic and construction! Luckily when I’m shooting my sessions, I am not in rush hour traffic so I guess I shouldn’t complain too much!

Contact Info:

• Email: cindy@cindyarthur.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/cindyarthur613
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cindyarthurphotography

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