Cynthia Smalley of Hollywood Hills on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Cynthia Smalley. Check out our conversation below.

Cynthia , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
There are a few things that pull me so deeply into the moment that time just disappears.

When I’m out on an all-emcompassing editorial shoot- everything in sync- the model completely in their own energy, wearing pieces that feel like they’ve lived in them forever, the perfect filtered light, the weather playing its part, and the whole scene unfolding as if it’s been directed by magic… that’s when I feel most alive as an artist.

I also lose myself out in the desert or at the beach with my dogs and horses – when we move together as part of the land, not visitors to it. There’s a kind of quiet belonging in those moments that ground me and reminds me of who I am, and how I grew up.

And then there are the people I love – those deep connected moments where time has no weight, The kind filled with freedom of expression, laughter, stories and conversations that wander everywhere, from the lightest and easy to the profound. That’s the heartbeat of my life.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve lived my life both in front and behind the camera. I started as a model, traveling the world, later studying method acting and voice for 10 years- learning how emotion creates, how presence tells a story. By my early twenties, I was behind the lens full time, chasing images that feel alive.

My work bridges Hollywood editorial and the untamed soul of the American West- photographing magazine covers, celebrities, political figures, rodeos, and wild horses running free on our vast open ranges. Whether it’s a cinematic portrait, or a moment caught in desert light, Im drawn to what’s real, raw, and unforgettable.

I grew up in a creative, fearless family- I raced motorcycles starting at five years old, had my first horse at eight- and that sense of freedom, of wild abandon, still fuels everything I do. Right now, Im expanding my editorial and magazine portrait work, weaving story, soul, and western beauty into every frame.

My goal is to create images that don’t just capture life- but feel its aliveness and depth throughout every frame.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When my son passed away last year, everything changed. Every choice, every person who steps in front of my camera, every beloved animal, every fleeting moment- all of it has become infinitely more precious. I understand now, in a way I never could before, that everything we love can disappear in an instant, without warning.

His loss carved a depth in me- a deeper way of seeing, feeling, and creating. It taught me that beauty isn’t just what we see; it’s what we feel in the spaces in between- the love, the breath, the brief extraordinary gift of being here at all.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I’ve been devastated to the core by the loss of my son, and heartbroken by the loss of the best dog of my lifetime when my son was just five years old. Both losses split my heart wide open in different ways – but never once did I give up on life.

Grief changes you, but it also reminds you what still matters. Love, connection, art, and the light inside that still rises- those are the reasons I keep going.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Oh, I was Definitely born to do this work. 100%

Contact Info:

• Website: www.smalleyphoto.com www.wildhorsesandwesternart.com
• Instagram: @smalley_photo @cynthiasmalleyweddings

Image Credits
Photo Credit for Cynthia Smalley on motorcycle : Dorothy Ainsworth