Meet Stephanie Esquivel | Freelancing Makeup Artist & Photographer

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

Hi Stephanie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always had the desire to work for myself or at the least provide for myself without depending on others to make that happen. And I knew I had the passion and drive to use my artistic talents to get me to place of independent work. With determination comes the desire for perfection. Which is what lead me to practice and perfect my talent in a way that I could provide it to others. This included learning the trending techniques for the client who wanted to venture out and try something new or learn the traditional artistry for the client who is seeking a minimal everyday routine or a small beauty enhancement for their wedding day. Being a part of peoples special occasions was what truly sparked my drive to take off and make it a career in the beauty industry. And after building my clientele, truly by word of mouth, soon Instagram was created in 2012. That sparked my interest in photography all over again after pursuing it in Highschool. Which lead me to investing in a new camera and offer photography services for clients I had previously built a relationship through a make session or social media interaction. After offering both services I found myself seeing a lot of my clients struggling to get from one makeup appointment to their hair session and as a natural problem solver, I decided to learn the art of hair styling for the sake of helping my clients out. I am not confident in that skill yet, but just like everything else practice will get me there in no time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Art. It saved me. It might sound very cliche, but I can confidently say if it’ wasn’t for my hobbies, photography and my makeup artistry I would not be here. Having a creative outlet has helped me disconnect from reality the times I needed to. It started when I was a freshman in high school, I struggled with finding my place in life. Which led me to socializing with negatives influences and making my life, as well as my mental health, a really big struggle for me. After moving from my hometown and disassociating myself from everyone, it freed up a lot of time to myself. This meant a lot of time to stay busy playing in make up and perfecting my craft. Fast forward 12 years later, I’ve built a name for myself as well as two successful businesses that have opened a lot of doors for me as well creating sustainable relationships that continue to encourage my journey in this industry. Over the years, I’ve allowed myself to gain experience in different fields that would benefit my as an entrepreneur. Such as Social Media, Customer Service, Marketing and finance. I wanted to learn the ins and outs of a successful business to give my clients the service they deserved from beginning to end.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents. The endless support from them has pushed me in ways I needed more than I thought. My mom has always been there to listen to me without judgment, as crazy and big my business ideas may be, she is always quick to help me make them happen in which ever way I need her to. And my dad, he is the most ambitious and determined person I’ve ever had in my life. The example he has set for me is what encourages and motivates me every day. I’m beyond grateful to have the best support system behind me!

Instagram: @esqstephanieee & @stephanieesquivelphotography