Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Cameron
Hi Kayla, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I never imagined I would be working as a makeup artist, yet alone owning my own freelance hair and makeup company. When I was 20 years old, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I didn’t take the typical straight to college after high school approach that most take. I had spent my whole life packing up and moving at least once a year due to my father being an executive for many companies that moved us around the world. I really struggled with finding who I was or wanted to be. I was also unbelievably shy, had crippling anxiety and would rather die than stand in front of anyone and do any sort of public speaking. I had always been good at makeup, but it was never really on my radar as a career opportunity until my mother suggested attending school for it. This was way before what the makeup industry is now. Cosmetology schools didn’t have makeup courses, they barely spoke on it. There wasn’t Instagram, Influencers, YouTube Beauty Vloggers. I mean, this was MySpace days. After doing some research I came across Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles, California. I fell in love when I took the tour of the school. More for the fact that I was going to learn to create all kinds of Special FX looks. Unfortunately, life happened though. Within a month of living there and attending school I received a call that my father was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. I was also in an abusive relationship and found myself pregnant only a month after my father’s diagnoses. What seemed to be a promising new career and life came to a crashing halt all at the same time. Those events are what lead me to Texas. I am a Texas native by birth but it had been quite a few years since I had been back in my home state. My family moved back to be closer to family as my father battled cancer. Unfortunately, we lost my father a week before my son was born and life just didn’t seem like it would ever find balance again. I shed myself of that abusive relationship, pulled myself together as much as a 21-year-old possibly could and found myself a job in the cosmetic industry. I started at Ulta Beauty but quickly realized that these vendors coming into the store were doing the exact same job that I was, but getting paid double the amount. This is when my father’s example of working hard, networking and climbing the ladder came natural to me, which was a shock since I didn’t believe I possessed those traits. I left Ulta Beauty and began freelancing for multiple cosmetic lines, Stila, Smashbox, MAC. I eventually landed a permanent position with MAC Cosmetics. I am forever thankful for the growth and experience I had with that company but with all growth comes growing pains. As I mentioned before, I was shy, had crippling anxiety and hated speaking in front of others. Working for MAC forced me to speak in front of others as well as forced me to become a pro at small talk. But this is where I began to find another gift and passion develop. Hearing people’s stories, doing a make-over on someone and having them cry because they haven’t felt that beautiful in years, connecting and relating to others who had lost their fathers. I have always had a heart for helping others but I never imagined that I could help someone so much by being a listening ear and applying a little blush. I went from a part-time employee to an Assistant manager within a couple years. But I had to fight for it. Even though I loved everyone I worked with, there were times the rumor mill would turn and I would hear how I didn’t have a backbone, I would never be a manager, so I worked even harder to prove them wrong. After making it into management, I had no work life balance at all. I was chained to a location for 50+ hours a week, working every single weekend, missing school activities and events my son had. For what? During this time, I met a boy, fell in love, chased after Jesus, got married and had a world of crazy life events happen in-between. My father worked his whole life to provide a better life for his family. He grew up in an extremely poor Hispanic home and was told he would never succeed by his peers. He was extremely successful and I never had to want for anything growing up but it cost him. It cost him time with his wife, his children, his family. Most of my childhood he was away preparing the next place we would move. I know, if he could do it all again, he wouldn’t chase the dollar signs and would rather chase the intentional moments with the ones he loved. If only he had known what his final days would have looked like. I think walking through that as a child, and as a young adult gave me to realization that I was just another worker bee. At what cost was it to myself and my family? And sadly, at the end of the day, I was replaceable. With the unbelievable support of my husband, I quit my job. And even then, the rumor mill set fire and I heard people saying there wasn’t enough business to go around, that I would come crawling back. Yet again, I proved them wrong. Project Artistry was born. I had some pretty amazing friends who rallied around me and helped get the business going. I worked endlessly networking, contacting photographers, building relationships, doing free thing after free thing. And there were definitely moments where I sat in a corner and cried and questioned if all the lies people told me were true. What am I doing? Maybe they are right, I should just go back to working retail. But, I fought hard to build my brand and my business. I had no idea what I was doing but I was going to learn as much as I could from the people I met and learn from every mistake that was made. I have had the opportunity to work some of the coolest events, meet the most amazing people, and build a family within a community that is all cheering the other on. I have been so blessed to have unbelievable friends and fellow artist that have helped Project Artistry grow into the business it is today. Especially, Makeup ATX owned by Codie Lepors. She is basically a sister company to Project Artistry and without her support, referrals, and encouragement along the way, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. Owning my own business has come with its own challenges but it has been so very worth it. The time I get to spend with my family and my son, the vacations we have taken, the stories I have heard from brides and clients and the relationships I have built have been worth every late night, every long day that I wasn’t getting paid and every struggle along the way. My desire for Project Artistry isn’t just a place to come get your hair and makeup done, I hope to build a community of artist and other creatives that have a place to collaborate, to be encouraged, to feel included, and to continually learn and grow together. I hope that clients come to Project Artistry because there will always be a place for them at our table, to feel heard, included, inspired, and get a little glammed up all at the same time.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No. Not at all. There were learning curves for sure. I had to learn how to run a business. I think people assume it’s just showing up and applying makeup or styling hair but there is a whole admin world that takes place as well. Managing client inquiries, artist, creating contracts, scheduling, learning to say no. In the beginning, I felt like I had to say yes to everything since I was a new and growing business. I felt like I had to make exceptions for people and in the end, I would end up burned out or frustrated with how I was being treated by clients. I think the biggest lesson I learned along the way is knowing my worth and not being afraid to ask questions and seek advice from those around you.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Something that I began working on pre Covid was a styled shoot called “Fight for Marriage” Unfortunately, it’s taken some time due to everything that has taken place this past year to make it come to fruition. I really want to tell the story of what it looks like to fight for marriage. I think we live in a world that encourages us to be happy 24/7 and anything that challenges that happiness deserves to be let go of and replaced with something that continually fulfills the purpose of our happiness. If we are all honest, that’s not tangible by any means. Marriage is hard. I have been on the marriage journey for 4 years now and in that short amount of time have learned lessons that have challenged me to fight for the person I vowed to love regardless if I am happy in that moment of not. So with that being said, I am working on creating that styled shoot by using a real life couple who have been married for 20 + years to share their story and the challenges they have faced, the victories they have won and the advice they would give to newly weds or soon to be. The shoot will be similar to a vow renewal. I also feel like the mature bride is not represented enough in our industry and want to show that our vendors have so much to offer to every bride no matter what stage of life they are in.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I listen to a lot of podcast that have to do with self reflection and healing from trauma. I think it’s incredibly important to understand the why behind our actions which in turn gives us more compassion towards others and an ability to extend grace to ourselves and others as well. My favorite podcast is The Place We Find Ourselves. I also am a follower of Jesus, so diving deep and building my foundation on biblical truths is really important to me as well. I strive to live my life set by the example Jesus gave. Living this way and studying these things have given me the ability to be unexplainably patient with those around me which is an important part of my job. I also strive for inclusivity and intentionality with everyone that I meet.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@project-artistry.com
- Website: www.project-artistry.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/projectartistry
Image Credits:
Betsy Y. Photo, Christina Hastings, DP.Bauer, Amy Jean Photos, and Juan Jose Photography
