Today we’d like to introduce you to Franchelle Young.
Hi Franchelle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started photography in 2023, completely self-taught and simply wanting to learn how to create images that felt like art. What started as me picking up a camera and learning through trial and error has grown into Excusemyflicks, a photography and videography brand that has allowed me to explore so many different sides of visual storytelling.
Over the years, I’ve pushed myself to step outside of one specific type of photography. I’ve worked on studio portraits, creative sets, events, weddings, lifestyle sessions, and professional portraits, while also getting the opportunity to photograph celebrities and experience what it’s like being behind the scenes on music video sets. I’ve also had the chance to work with Houston restaurants and businesses, creating visual content that helps bring their brands to life.
One of my favorite parts of this journey has been the people I’ve met along the way. Photography has introduced me to people from so many different backgrounds and walks of life, and every person and project has challenged me to grow creatively. Looking back at where I started in 2023 compared to where Excusemyflicks is today honestly amazes me. I’m incredibly grateful for every opportunity, connection, and person who has trusted me to capture their vision.
I’m still growing, still experimenting, and still figuring out just how far I can take this. One of my biggest goals now is to land my first editorial shoot or larger brand campaign and continue expanding into more fashion, commercial, and creative work. For me, Excusemyflicks isn’t just about taking a good picture, it’s about creating something people can feel, remember, and see themselves in.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t necessarily been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t say it’s been a bad one either. Like most creative journeys, it comes in waves. There are seasons where opportunities and inspiration seem to come one after another, and there are quieter seasons where I’m learning, creating, and figuring out what I want the next chapter of my work to look like.
I think one of the biggest challenges has simply been continuing to grow while still finding my place within the photography industry. I’ve learned to be patient with the process and not let the quieter moments make me question how far I can go. Every shoot, every client, and every new experience has taught me something and opened another door.
Overall, I genuinely love the road I’m on. I feel like I’m still in the early stages of what Excusemyflicks can become, and that’s what excites me. I’m excited and anxious for that moment when everything really takes off both creatively and literally, as I hope photography takes me to new cities, new sets, new people, and bigger experiences. I’m excited to see just how far this journey can take me and Im so ready.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer, videographer, and creative visualist, with studio photography being what I’m probably best known for. I’m drawn to bold, bright colors, strong lighting, and imagery that immediately catches your eye. I’ve always believed that photography is a sensory experience. Its amazing what our eyes can pick up and how that translates to us emotionally. You should be able to look at an image and almost feel the energy, emotion, or atmosphere of what you’re seeing. Color plays a huge role in that for me. I love using rich, vibrant tones and intentional editing to create images that feel polished, dimensional, and almost larger than life. My work has expanded into portraits, creative concepts, branding and professional imagery, events, weddings, behind-the-scenes content, and videography.
I think what sets me apart is my willingness to create outside of one box, purposely. Throughout my career, I’ve been told to stick to a particular “style” or niche”. Honestly, I’m not interested in making every shoot look the same or doing one type of photography style. One of the things I love most about photography is that there really isn’t one type of person I get to create with. I’ve worked with families, professional models, musical artists, dancers, singers, authors, entrepreneurs, business owners, and so many other creatives. Every person brings something different to the camera, and I enjoy figuring out how to translate their personality and vision into an image, bringing ideas to life, experimenting with different concepts, and finding ways to make an image feel like more than just a photograph. Whether it’s a polished studio portrait, a creative set, or content for a business, I want the final product to feel intentional and uniquely connected to the person or brand in front of my camera.
What I’m most proud of is how far something that initially started as a hobby has taken me. I never could have imagined that picking up a camera in 2023 would lead to the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met, the spaces I’ve been able to be part of, or the opportunities that continue to come my way. Watching my brand grow has been incredibly rewarding. I’m also really proud of the versatility I’ve built, but I also feel like I’m just getting started. There are so many areas of photography and visual storytelling that I still want to explore, and I’m excited to see where that takes me next.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
It’s funny because growing up, I never really considered myself to be an overly creative person, but looking back now, I realize I was surrounded by and involved in the arts in so many different ways. I wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as the most outgoing or center-of-attention type of person, but I was always a pretty talkative and social kid. If you knew me, you knew I was easy to talk to, and I’ve always enjoyed socializing and getting to know people. I grew up as an only child, so I think that played a role in being able to socialize and connect with people while also being very comfortable on my own.
I was a very curious and independent child. I’ve always loved challenging my brain, figuring out how things work, and understanding things for myself. I was the type of kid who didn’t need my parents to constantly remind me to do my homework or stay on top of school projects. 9 times out of 10, I already had my work done. I genuinely enjoyed learning and figuring things out and loved science. Being an only child probably contributed to some of that independence because I was very comfortable entertaining myself, exploring my own interests, and figuring things out on my own.
Creatively, I was always drawn to music and the visual arts. My dad is an artist and has a live band, so I grew up around music and was always very musically inclined when it came to listening and recognizing sounds. I still collect CDs to this day, something I started doing when I was young. One of my favorite things about getting a new CD was flipping through the booklet and looking at the photography and artwork that came with it. I think I was fascinated by the way the visuals could add another layer to the music. Throughout my entire childhood and teenage life, my room was covered with music posters, you could barely see any of the paint on the walls.
I always had a camera or digital camera growing up and loved taking pictures, even though I only saw it as something fun at the time. I wrote poetry, drew, took art and art history classes, danced throughout most of my childhood up until college, and was involved in choir from childhood until college. I did everything from hip-hop and jazz to contemporary and classical dance.
I was also apparently a little business-minded before I even knew what entrepreneurship was. One of my funniest childhood memories is getting sent to the principal’s office because I was selling my dad’s CDs to other students. I even had a little side hustle where I would burn CD “playlists” for people at school and sell them for $5. Looking back, I laugh at it now, but I guess the entrepreneurial spirit was there early, I just had to learn the legalities of running a business later!
Looking back, I think the biggest thing that connects who I was as a child to who I am creatively today is that I’ve always been observant. I was always looking, listening, noticing details, asking questions, and finding something interesting in what was around me. I may not have recognized myself as a creative person back then, but all of those little pieces were there. Photography just became the medium where my curiosity, science mind, creativity, love of visual art, and entrepreneurial side could all come together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://excusemyflicks.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyflicks
- Facebook: Excusemyflicks
