We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ariel Panowicz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ariel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?
I began my photography business about 14 years ago. My work lives in a rich, colorful land of vibrant people and places. I try and create authentic moments in unlikely spots as I believe you can find beauty anywhere if you shift your perception on things a wee bit!
I’ve been lucky enough to travel a lot over the last 14 years. Throughout my travels, I would always come upon these really amazing spaces. Funky, colorful, bright, happy creative spaces, made by creatives. Where people could come together and create beautiful work and connections. I would always find myself wondering why we didn’t anything like that in my hometown, Omaha.
After years of wishing a space like that existed, I thought, well, I’ll give it a try!
So, I did just that. I started setting up meetings with anyone I thought could be a good contact for me to have. I simply told them my dream and asked for any advice, input or connections they would be willing to share with me.
4 years after looking for the perfect space, I was approached by someone who heard I was on the hunt and had a spot they wanted to show me. I was instantly in love. It was the one, so we went for it.
The buildout of Luli Creative House began! After mocking up roughly 87 different versions of my dream space, questioning myself and if I knew what I was doing every single second of every single day, the buildout and furniture ordering began.
I learned one thing at a time. I knew nothing about taking out a loan. I knew nothing about looking at space or working with a commercial realtor. I knew nothing about building a business plan or doing projections. I knew nothing about cabinets and flooring. I knew nothing about working with contractors. I knew nothing about engineering and lighting and specs.
I knew nothing when I started this project, but slowly along the way, I learned. I googled and I asked questions and trusted myself.
October 1st, 2022, Luli opened its doors to the public. I’m so grateful to have a space where the community can gather and celebrate each other through photoshoots, celebrations, team meetings, fundraisers, workshops and more. We get to help people celebrate happy moments in their lives. What a dream.
Ariel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
After graduating high school, like most 18 year olds, I found myself lost and confused. Unsure of where my journey would take me, my Dad pointed out that I could try and give photography a go as a career. I always had a camera in my hand growing up, but it had never crossed my mind that I could actually make a career out of this. So, I found a program I loved in a place I was drawn to and I applied. A few months later, I was living in Denver, attending the Art Institute of Colorado. After receiving my BFA in Photography and having a brief stint in LA, I found myself back in my hometown of Omaha, NE.
FAILURE, I thought. I was convinced that coming back to my hometown meant I had failed in some way. Quite the contrary, I came to soon find out. I found myself falling in love with Omaha in a new way after living away for so many years. I saw the potential here and wanted to be a part of it.
I started my photography career and slowly built it. Questioning myself and my work along the way, but staying true to myself by creating work that felt authentic to me and my subjects.
14 years later, my journey would take me to pursue a dream I never realized I had. Opening a creative space full of color and life that the community I loved so dearly could create happy memories in.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My main goal is to help people see the beauty in creating and connecting with themselves and others. Life is heavy and hard and I believe we need more happy spaces where people can feel comfortable being their authentic selves.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I often get asked this question and my forever answer is this. Be. Yourself. Have a very nimble strategy and don’t be rigid with it. I know that’s, like, the opposite of what most people will tell you, but that’s what has worked for me. Post what you want, when you want and trust that the right audience will find you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lulicreativehouse.com / www.arielpanowicz.com
- Instagram: @arielpanowicz @lulicreativehouse
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lulicreativehouse + www.facebook.com/arielpanowiczcreative
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/luli-creative-house-omaha
Image Credits
All taken by me, Ariel Panowicz Creative!