We were lucky to catch up with Lilly Lovely recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lilly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Honestly, until today it still kind of feels unreal, to say I’m literally making a living off of something I used to consider a hobby or just for fun.
I’m Lilly Lovely, a licensed beautician and creative director. To name a few of my many hats. It was definitely a bumpy road, even though production life seemed to be a part of me since my younger years. I remember watching “in the making” on those music videos channels, or any behind the scenes shows. I love an idea being written up, then brought to life. So back then I was highly influenced by media , theatre, tv production, music etc.
Now let’s fast forward to Spring 2017 . Single mom of one , college dropout, waitressing at a well known chain restaurant . I worked for 5 years prior serving wings and beer from left to right. I had enough! I left the restaurant, hung up the orange shorts (wink,wink) , I went to my mother’s and said “Mom, I quitting my 9-5 job and going to cosmetology school to become a professional makeup artist!”
Well I’m not sure, if y’all know how Caribbean mothers are? But let me just say, that conversation DID NOT end well at all. It cause a huge shift in the beginning process. No one really believed my vision.
It didn’t stop me , though. I took those doubts and used it as fuel to keep going, I finished cosmetology school with not one but two babies. I literally gave birth a week after I took my stateboard exam. I got my license then ventured off to the world of production thinking that I could just walk through the doors and get hired off rip.
Uhh, No! I definitely got a reality check at the beginning and literally had to work my way up. My skills had to be mastered just to even get a spec of attention. But like I said, I had a vision, stuck to it. I created my clientele, made myself available and networked since day one! And to fill in on a little secret, I’m still doing all of the above TODAY!
Come to think of it, I wouldn’t change the momentum of the process, In the pace it went, was exactly how I needed it to happen . A lot of self learning had to happen and that can not be rushed.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
So I’m a makeup artist and creative director. Most of my work is on production set for music videos and commercials.
I started back in 2018 working on photoshoot sets and it went up from there, now I create my own ideas and bring them to life! Recently, I partnered up with FLYAFFAIRNATION PRODUCTIONS and became the creative director of the team. So if a client, or artist want themselves or product to be presented a certain way, I’m the one who gets the hands dirty and make it happen.
I think what sets my apart is my drive, like for me anything is possible! And I truly believe that! I can be working on a set for 14 plus hours and I’m still keeping the same energy, because at the end of the day I love my career. I didn’t go through all those obstacles to not enjoy the fruits of my labor.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Finishing it! The finished artwork, look, video, photo etc.
That’s the most rewarding aspect to me. Putting in the work, getting dirty, if something went wrong in the process, think quick to fix it in 3.5 seconds. Being a creative is great in every way cause I can create the story, work on it, then enjoy it once it’s finished.
And I can always go back and see it as many times as I want.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Oh this is a good one, I had to unlearn a lot actually. The biggest thing, which is difficult in the customer service department. I had to not care of what anyone thought about my process of working, or creating . Even when it came to clients, or co workers. I know I have a different way of doing my craft, even down to the products that I use. My way is my way. I unlearned to see anyone as a competitor, I just had to do what Lilly Lovely does and everything that would be meant for me , will fall into its place .
I used to worry about the smallest things . It was getting in the way of my work. My mindset was getting crowded by unnecessary thoughts from my own self-doubt and insecurities, that were just getting in the way. Once I stopped doing that, My job become fun!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/@itslillylovely
- Twitter: Twitter.com/@MsLillyLovely
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCQeav9xI5aBzbS7VlWJjN2A
Image Credits
@artspot403 @theirryedejean @joewesley @hicaliberphotography @sambrave @gonzalofeophoto