Cynthia Mikell
REALTOR®
• Computer Sciences, Chipola Junior College
• Humanities and Mathematics, Central Florida Community College
• Graphic Design, Santa Fe Community College
• Gold Addy Award, Advertising Photography (Maverick Studios)
• Silver Addy Award, Advertising Photography (Maverick Studios)
She started working at thoroughbred farms when she was 15 years old, and developed an interest in equine photography. Combining her self-taught camera skills with her passion for horses, she became so adept that people noticed her work and started asking for commissions. A hobby became an unexpected career where she found her photos featured in the OBS catalogue, Florida Horse magazine, and various portrait commissions. Eventually, to her shock and delight, she wound up at the pinnacle: Shooting photos of Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
“I grew up on a little country farm! My grandmother gave me my first camera when I was twelve years old; I was a shy, quiet little girl who just liked taking pictures,” she exclaims, still amazed. “Suddenly here I was with one of the most famous – if not the most famous race in the horse world. It was just unbelievable.”
After a few years working at On Top of the World and running her photography business Maverick Studios, she decided she wanted to get her real estate license, recognizing it as an opportunity to develop her own professional mobility and build something for her future. Through her job, she had met and become friends with several people in real estate, and the prospect of being an active part of finding homes for people appealed to her.
“I know I’m supposed to say I had a great desire and passion for real estate, but it was more pragmatic than that. I asked myself, ‘What can I do that I can be successful in and where it doesn’t matter how old I am or if I’m a man or a woman?” She explains. Plus, it was a career that enabled her to meet and work with different people from different walks of life. “I do like helping people. And I thought it would be a fun job to do.”
When the time came and she was ready for the change, she reached out to Showcase Properties and was excited to join the agency.
“It’s empowering to be able to work in a creative way and feel your bosses understand your strengths,” she says. “I feel like I’m in a place and working with a team that believes I’m good at what I do.”