We recently connected with Annely and have shared our conversation below.

Annely , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I love art, I love the form of expressing yourself through art. I feel as though Art is mysterious and can only give you a sample of the full thought behind the artist. Art is a reflection of not only the artist, but also the person who buys it. It must reflect both correctly, but also give two different sides. I love creativity and being able to express oneself without having to say anything. I love seeing people have the boldness to express themselves through hidden meanings and talent. I wanted to tie all these components together into one objective that would inspire my business.

Growing up, I always loved to play with makeup and dress up as a little girl. On my tenth birthday, I invited my group of friends to participate in a fashion show, where we did our makeup and each one was awarded with a sash based on character. Instead of “Miss USA or Miss Virginia”, it would say “Miss Kindness, Miss Joy, Miss Peacefulness…etc” with a reflection of how I saw each friend. Later on, I got in trouble in Middle School for wearing deep jet black eyeliner, or doing my makeup in Science class when I wasn’t allowed to wear any yet. I’ve always loved doing activities with art besides makeup, like painting and creative writing. Later throughout my teen years, I did makeup on all my friends for school dances, dates, photoshoots, and more. I had a large collection of makeup, most of which was gifted to me during Christmas time. By the time I was in my late teens, I had a dresser full of makeup. I loved feeling inspired and gaining knowledge when it came to different facial structures, undertones, personality and glam. It takes an artistic mind to put it all together and finish with a masterpiece, regardless of the mistakes made along the way.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Since I was young, I’ve always wanted to be part of something extraordinary that would become part of a significant event in people’s lives. To this day, I handcraft each birthday card I write, reflecting the personality behind who will open it. Likewise, every time I do someone’s makeup, I want it to not only reflect my art but also the person behind it. I chose to do makeup because I want each woman to feel beautiful, especially on significant days of their lives. If I am able to enhance their inward beauty outwardly to influence confidence on their first date, dance, work event, graduation, or wedding, I would be honored to do so over and over again. For every Bride, I handcraft a little card to put inside a makeup bag as a gift. Each bag has a variety of items to touch up your makeup throughout the day, each one reflecting my specific client. There’s no better feeling than the same client coming to you for their second prom or the Bridesmaid who just got engaged and remembered you from her friend’s wedding, it validates everything I’ve worked for.

My husband owns his own photography business called, “Joshua Bingham Photo & Co.” Since we met at 15, I’ve seen him work hard to start his own business throughout the years. It’s been a blessing to watch him prosper and learn on his own, and he’s always been one step in front of everyone else. He saw my love for makeup and how I started branching out to offer “Full Glam Packages” on my friends who were getting married as a wedding gift, and he encouraged me to start my own business just as he had. He encouraged me to get branding and referred me to other small businesses that helped me grow and create my own brand.

“Mirrored Beauty Co.” is the name I landed on for my business. I was back and forth trying to decide on a name that had to do with reflection. I wanted my art to reflect the person behind the makeup and also to reflect me as the Makeup Artist. My business slogan is “Reflecting your inner beauty by amplifying your outer confidence.” That is exactly what Mirrored Beauty Co. aims to do.

Mirrored Beauty Co. offers any look for any event. I’ve done makeup for fashion walks, models, senior pictures, proms, boudoir, graduations, and weddings, among other events. I’ve done a wide range of looks from prosthetics to full glam to traditional. I also offer makeup class lessons where I can focus on one part of the face or walk you through a full glam session. Prior to even starting my brand, I wanted to ensure that I had the expertise to do skin care and makeup on every skin tone, undertone, sensitivity, facial structure, and insecurity. I make it my goal to not hide parts of the face that some people would normally cover up like moles and freckles. I still want people to feel and look like themselves, while amplifying their confidence through makeup enhancements of their features. I am proud to be in such a growing industry and I am proud of every MUA and small business owner I’ve worked with and eternally grateful for the opportunities I’ve had. Above all, I’m grateful to God for my talent and opportunity.

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

A resource to inquire about, but not take advantage of, are other small business owners. To take your time learning from them and supporting them, you’ll be surprised by how much you can learn. Never feel embarrassed to reach out to other artists, offering your help in any way they need. One of the most important things I did, was reach out to a series of MUAs and Photographers, asking if they needed a second artist or someone who was able to provide MUA services. I was fortunate to work alongside some beautiful artists, whose kindness and teachings disciplined me to be the MUA I am today. Don’t let your pride get in the way of anything, learning should be the goal over money.

When it comes to marketing, take full advantage of resources like Canvas, Pixieset, and templates to help form your website. Come up with a theme prior to creating your branding, and be aware of the trends so you don’t get lost in outdated looks.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Truly listen to your client as they express their desires. Every person is different and art is a reflection of them. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and each person has a uniqueness to their style. Just because you’re a “professional” doesn’t mean or give you permission to do what you would feel is best regardless of how the client feels. It’s important to guide your client and express why you think a certain look would suit their features best, but ultimately the goal is to ensure your client feel comfortable, beautiful, and likely to recommend you again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mirroredbeauty.co
• Instagram: mirrored beauty.co
• Facebook: mirrored beauty.co
• Other: Email: mirrored [email protected]

Image Credits

Joshua Bingham Photo & Co

kierssphotos