We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Atziri Angel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Atziri thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us 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?

The short answer? Yes. I’m living the creative dream full-time, but it’s not just one thing—it’s a beautifully chaotic mix. By day, I’m the Director of Design and Operations for Stephanie Parisi Studio, steering the ship and making sure the magic actually happens. By every other waking moment, I’m the eye behind My Stardust Photography, capturing those sun-kissed, “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” memories.

The Plot Twist: It Wasn’t Always This Way
This wasn’t an “overnight success” story. It was a decade-long slow burn across Europe and California.

The Blueprint: I grew up in my father’s world—all construction sites, mechanical pencils, and structural rules. I didn’t realize it then, but he was giving me the “ops” brain I use today.

The Sanctuary: College was all about the darkroom. It’s where I learned that photography isn’t just a click; it’s a community and a craft.

The Leap: Moving from the “star-studded” energy of LA to the expat life in Europe was my real education. It taught me to be scrappy, spontaneous, and—most importantly—to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Real Talk: Could I Have Fast-Tracked It?
Honestly? Probably. If I could go back, I’d tell myself to stop treating “Business” and “Art” like they were enemies.

For a long time, I thought being organized or “engineering-minded” made me less of an artist. Total myth. The moment I embraced my inner Director of Operations was the moment my creative career actually took flight. Structure doesn’t kill creativity; it gives it a place to live. If I’d leaned into my “mechanical pencil” side sooner, I might have reached this equilibrium faster—but then again, the detours are where the best stories are.

The Current Vibe
Now, I’m anchored in San Diego with my Italian husband and our two wild girls. Whether I’m navigating a design deadline or the salty winds of the Pacific on our sailboat, I’m doing it on my own terms. Life is an adventure, and I’m just here to capture the highlights.

Atziri, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

If you’re just meeting me: I’m Atziri Angel, and my creative DNA is a mix of structural logic and artistic wanderlust. My entry into the design world wasn’t a slow crawl; it was a head-first dive. While living in the creative hum of Silverlake, a lead from my cousin landed me a spot at Sheila Riley Interiors. Sheila hired me on the spot to help restore iconic Craftsman houses. That was the “aha!” moment—I traded the abstract for the tangible and headed straight into the Certified Interior Design program at Cal State Northridge.

That foundation led to an internship with the architectural powerhouses at OJMR Architect, working under Jay Reynolds and Risa Boyer. Their mentorship gave me the structural “north star” I carried with me through a decade of living as an expat in Europe.

While abroad, I traveled light—usually just me and a handheld camera. But when I landed back in San Diego, I shifted gears into the world of high-end custom furniture at Designer Gallery. Between leading the custom furniture department and becoming a mom to my two girls, my old love for photography came roaring back. I picked up my DSLR to document our new life, and suddenly, friends were asking for family sessions. Just like that, My Stardust Photography was born (again).

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The Art of the Pivot: When “Perfect” Meets Reality
In the world of high-end interior design and manufacturing, resilience isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the job description. My mentor at Designer Gallery used to drill it into me: “Focus on the solutions and learn the lesson.” Unlike photography, where I have total creative control over the frame, furniture manufacturing involves a massive chain of human variables. You can spec a “Made To Order” piece to perfection, but if a factory three thousand miles away in North Carolina misreads a swatch or fumbles a finish, you’re the one standing in a client’s living room with an incorrect piece and a major headache.

The Lesson: Distance is the Enemy of Detail
I’ve been there—filing claims, tracking freight, and playing the waiting game while a client’s vision sits in a shipping container. Those moments are masterclasses in patience, but more importantly, they are catalysts for change.

The biggest lesson I took away? Keep your manufacturing close and your standards closer. ### The Solution: The Tijuana-Del Mar Connection
At Stephanie Parisi Studio, we’ve turned that hard-learned lesson into our greatest competitive advantage. Our PARISII factory is located in Tijuana, Mexico—just a stone’s throw from our home base in Del Mar.

This proximity is a game-changer for resilience. If a finish isn’t hitting the right note or a structural detail needs a last-minute tweak, I don’t just send an email and hope for the best. I hop in the car. We address issues in real-time, face-to-face, on the factory floor.

What this means for my clients:

Speed: We solve in hours what used to take weeks.

Agility: We can pivot mid-production without the “lost in translation” drama of long-distance logistics.

Confidence: There is a certain “carefree” peace of mind that comes when you know exactly who is building your furniture and that you can be there in forty-five minutes to ensure it’s perfect.

The Takeaway
Resilience in this industry means realizing that while you can’t always control the mistake, you can absolutely control the infrastructure you build to fix it. By bridging the gap between San Diego and Tijuana, we’ve replaced the “lengthy claim process” with immediate, hands-on solutions. We don’t just ship furniture; we manage the craft from start to finish.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The best resource isn’t a tool you buy; it’s the infrastructure you build. Keep your manufacturing close, keep your mentors closer, and never underestimate the power of a well-organized plan. It’s the only way to stay “stardust” in a world of deadlines.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mystardustphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mystardustphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mystardustphotography/

Image Credits

Copyright My Stardust Photography/Atziri Angel. All Rights Reserved