Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Jessica Smith | Paramedical Tattoo Artist and Makeup Artist

My name is Jessica Smith and I own Southern Rose Beauty+Brows LLC. I am a certified makeup artist and have been doing event styling and wedding artistry for over 21 years now. I am also a licensed cosmetic pigmentation specialist experienced in microblading, powder brow and combo brow application, 3D areola application, scalp micropigmentation, permanent eyeliner, lip blushing as well as being a laser technician in tattoo removal.
I travel all over the U.S. for special events and wedding styling as well as operate in my hometown of Midlothain Texas. Read more>>

Suzie Mendez | Photographer

I discovered my love for photography in 2014, the year I graduated high school. My very first photo shoot was with a couple of my friends, just photographing their cars in front of an old downtown theater in Abilene, Texas. I knew absolutely nothing about camera settings, composition, or even editing. My camera was in “Auto,” so I just pointed and shot. I used PicMonkey back when it was free to edit those photos and boy, were they WAY over saturated. But I was only experimenting and figuring out my editing style. From there, I would just go around campus at Texas Tech, where I went to college, taking photos of the buildings and sculptures, but wasn’t really taking it seriously. Then the summer after my freshman year of college, my friends and I went to the Vans Warped Tour Music Festival where I took a photography workshop with Rock Photographer Lisa Johnson. She taught us about life in the industry and the basics of what Rock Photography is.  Read more>>

Liv Moore | Elopement, Micro-Wedding, and Couples Photographer

I pursued the creative career of photography because my background is in analytics! I love analytics and nerdy things but having a creative outlet has been so fulfilling. I believe it has help my photography excel. Read more>>

Ngai Ning | Photographer and videographer

I pursued an artistic and creative career because it allows me to express myself to the world in the most authentic way. Photography and videography are the best outlets for me to showcase my ideas, beliefs, and creativity. Through my work, I can share stories, evoke emotions, and leave a lasting impression on people. It’s how I communicate who I am and what I want to be known for.

Minali Akhud | Bridal Hair & Makeup Artist

I have been passionate about hair and makeup from a very early age. Coming from a country (India)that is full of culture, color and tradition, I’ve found that the face is a perfect canvas to reflect that.
One of the main reasons I’m so passionate about what I do is the makeup itself. The makeup is very colorful, dramatic and glamorous to coordinate with the elaborate outfits and jewelry.
I relishes the opportunity to work with different people that have different desires to enhance their appearance. It forces me to come up with the best way to fulfill their while giving them a protective shell to their skin in a subtle way.
It seems like the more advanced women become, the more insecure they feel about the way they look. Read more>>