We had the good fortune of connecting with Dulce Maria Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dulce Maria, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
A little over a year ago, I started cosmetology school. I enrolled to school knowing I had a full time job as well as my photography business. I knew it was going to be a bit of a scuffle to do it all at once, but I believed and I did. Starting out, the first few weeks of school, began to be really exhausting. I would use some of my time off from work, to be able to make it to school on time. My full time job was from 9 in the morning to 5:30 in the afternoon, and school started at 6 in the afternoon and ended at around 10 at night. During the first few weeks of doing both my job and school, I would bring my school uniform with me to my job, and I would change at work because I would not have time to get home, change, and drive to school. I realized very quickly this was not going to work, always rushing. I brought the situation up to my boss at work at the time, and came toa conclusion of getting to work earlier, and getting off earlier, which gave me more than enough time to be ready for school. About 2 months after, my job offered me a work from home opportunity which I immediately took. This saved me even more time, and was less overwhelming. I finally felt balanced with both work and school. Despite work and school, I continued to work on my photography business on the weekends only. A year later, I graduated, and became a licensed cosmetologist, now working at a salon. Opening my photography availability was exciting for me, as I now am open to photograph any day in the afternoons. My photography business also plays a huge role in my career by photographing clients hair transformations, makeup looks, etc.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Its very eye opening for me to sit here and realize how far I have came. Im most proud of never giving up. When I was in cosmetology school, I had lots of moments of wanting to drop it and focus on my photography business (@dessphot). Lots of times where I felt like I wasn’t doing enough, many trial and error moments, but I loved doing hair and I knew I couldn’t just drop it. While in school, I decided to get a Saturday job at a hair salon, working as an assistant to gain more experience and learn what its like to work at a hair salon. Meaning, I then only had Sundays available to work with my photography. I knew I was limiting myself with it, but it’s what it had to be like at the time. Within the last year, it has brought a lot of overwhelming moments, but I am content to finally say I was able to push through and be where I am at now. I am a licensed Hair Stylist, working at a salon doing what I love, hair. As well as a photographer, working with the automotive community as well as portraits, and commercial.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Downtown Dallas, is definitely my go to area. Wether I have a car photoshoot, or portraits, Downtown Dallas is where I end up. There’s a variety of different spots which is why I love it. When it comes to portraits, based on the theme of the shoot, the area always has a spot to match it. Its very exciting to see other photographers working around the area as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
While in High school, my mother always wanted me to either join a photography class or do the cosmetology program they offered in my high school. I would always speak to her on how nice It would be to actually learn both and eventually do it as a living. I started with yearbook class in high school, years later, I enrolled in cosmetology school. She always allowed me to practice taking portraits of her, during cosmetology school, I would practice doing color, perm, styles and blow outs on her hair, although looking back it was not my best work, but because of it I have more experience.
Overall, Thank you mom for always motivating me in both fields, I finally did it.

Instagram: @hairbydulceee @deesphot @dulcesportraitss

Image Credits
Dulce Lopez

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