We had the good fortune of connecting with Francisco Coronado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Francisco, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
A quote that I live by and I feel everyone should live by is “Life’s too short, make the most of it’ by Tom Cassell. The quote itself is a reminder to me that this life that we are given is sometimes a short one, and we should take chances because some of those make the most memorable moments. Sometimes those chances even have life-changing effects and we don’t know until we take that jump.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been a creative person all my life, trying different avenues to satisfy my creative itch. From a young age, digital media has always caught my attention, from making music videos and home movies with my cousins to editing pictures for family members. But my photography journey didn’t start until my parents got me my first camera at age 10, a simple point-and-shoot Kodak EasyShare Z650. As a kid, I didn’t really understand the composition of pictures, what aperture meant, or what ISO was, but I knew that I enjoyed taking pictures. I then asked my elementary school art teacher, Mr.Kruninski, for lessons; he guided me, gave me tips, and gave me a book on the essentials of photography. I proceeded to fall off of photography but came back every once in a while. It wasn’t until after high school that I decided to pursue photography a little more seriously and learn techniques and skills. I discovered that I loved photography. I loved having the ability to take a picture and tell the story behind it. It wasn’t an easy journey; the most challenging hurdle I had was finding the motivation to pursue my passion. I had to pull myself out of my slump and take that leap of faith, knowing that this was something that I loved doing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Arizona has so many beautiful places to explore and have fun!

Activities: Desert Botanical Garden- so many beautiful flowers to view and such a relaxing walk
Fountain hills park- The drive itself is relaxing and just seeing the fountain on such a beautiful sight.
Old town Scottsdale Farmers Market- There are many vendors there with such good food to try and amazing goods
Star Fighters Arcade- If you are into old cabinet arcades this is definitely the place to go they have so many pinball machines and arcade cabinet
Salt River tubing- If you are an adventurous soul this is an activity you have to do!
Goldfield Ghost Town- There are so many activities you can pan for gold, Zipline, take a train ride, and much more!

Food
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria- I am a sucker for pizza and this is one of the most delicious pizzas!
Grill N Chop- Local Japanese restaurant I am a sucker for their chicken katsu and their ramen!
Novel Ice Cream- Get a doughnut melt and take a stroll in downtown Mesa!
The Perch Brewery- Good food and you get to see so many beautiful birds!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many people that have helped and supported me through my journey, but the ones that have motivated me and pushed me the most are my parents and sister. Out of them, I would like to dedicate this to my late father. When he was with us he always supported and encouraged me to pursue my passions and pushed me to convert those passions into something more than just a hobby. He always provided for our family and made sure we had everything we needed and provided me with life lessons and values that made me who I am today.

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/FracoPhotos https://www.Instagram.com/FracoPhotography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fracophotos/ https://www.facebook.com/FracoPhotography/

Other: Business email Francisco.Coronado@Fracophotography.com

Image Credits
Personal photos taken by atmctype

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.