We were lucky to catch up with Ariel Cherry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ariel, appreciate you joining us today. Are you 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?

Within the past year, I earned a living solely in graphic design and photography, which I am incredibly thankful for. At first, I focused on photographing portraits and events. When photography became slow, I commissioned illustrations of landscapes and illustrative portraits as a side hustle. My first big break came when a business owner saw my unfinished portfolio and decided to take a risk on me. My task was to rebrand their entire business from top to bottom. At first, I was terrified because I was a rookie, but I knew that if I didn’t take a risk, I would not have found my true potential.

Day one was the test. I had spent a week prepping for the first meeting. I even prepared with my professors because I was still a student who was thrilled and nervous about her first paid professional job. I was confident that the first meeting would go smoothly because I was overly prepared for it. Let’s say I nailed it, and after a year, I am still working with this company as a partner. This led me to more opportunities with more businesses. Best of all, it provided the confidence I needed to make a career in the creative industry.

Knowing what I know now, I don’t know if I could have sped up the process or if the process was swift and could have helped me in the long haul. I believe the path I am on currently was going at the pace it needed to.

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

I jumped headfirst into the creative industry without a clue about how to make it work. I had a passion for the arts from a young age, and I couldn’t see myself in any other career outside of that. Photography has a special place in my heart and always will. I never liked to take photos of myself. If it weren’t for my mom taking notice that I would avoid family photos and then forcing me to find my beauty and confidence in myself, my reason for taking portraits would not be as meaningful to me or the others I serve. Graphic Design came later down the line. I had always loved to draw and sketch. Then I thought one day I would design something that would become the visual brand for a company.

Graphically, I provide affordable visual branding services that include logo design, style guides, business card design, color palettes, and an illustration here and there. My photography service is headshots, album art, and events. Something that sets me apart from others based on feedback from my clients is my style and their enjoyment of how I am detail-oriented, and I notice slight changes that make a big difference.

A couple of things I am proud of are having fun while working and being okay with making mistakes. It just makes more room for improvement.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

In my opinion, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is knowing that you will not stop evolving, from new ideas and concepts to new skills and inspirations. When you surround yourself with like-minded people, it is hard to stop evolving and learning about your craft and yourself.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of clients for me has been social media and word of mouth from past clients. I am so thankful for them truly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/arielcherry
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arielcherrydesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-cherry/

Image Credits
Personal Headshot by Samantha LeeAnn Photography