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

Etheldreda , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

Since I could remember I knew that I wouldn’t be someone that would limit myself or my capacitates to a singular/linear career. It was always a variation of “I want to be an astronaut and a librarian and an author and and and…”. So needless to say it was a no-brainer that when I decided to officiate my brand as a company back in 2019 that I would include my photography, wardrobe styling and everything in-between.

Around that time I was soaking up a lot of knowledge and experience while working with the lovely ladies over at Hous11 Studios and in retrospect I probably should’ve officiated my business sooner much to their forewarnings. Unfortunately, fear will keep you just far away from where you want to be that you can convince yourself that what you seek is unattainable. Luckily, once I got past it there was a freeing element in knowing that my previous reservations we quite miniscule and are a mere memory in comparison for what’s to come.

Needless to say, I knew it was an objective worth reaching due to the fact that it’s quite frankly all I’ve wanted and what made the most sense to do. I have had a goal to be a business owner and I the fact that my first official business is one that gives me the freedom to expand on my various talents makes it one that will grow in parallel as I do.

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 define myself as a creative visionary due to my expansive range of works and subjects. I am a photographer, wardrobe stylist, personal shopper, production designer, and writer (among a few other titles) and I know that what sets myself apart is my ability to match my client where they are to expand their vision often times using resources that are often overlooked.

Originally starting in wardrobe and creative direction as I worked with agencies around Atlanta, my work itself has expanded to include a range of different mediums such as editorials, documentary, journals, lookbooks, and album covers. I think the element I am most proud of is that as easy as it can be to get lost in the titles, I am able to fully express myself while including my unique signature of juxtaposition.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Considering my service is essentially one of self, I attribute my reputation largely to my way of interacting with people I meet wherever I go. I find it natural for me to be wholesome when connecting with people and that creates a space for those who relate to be open to effortlessly exploring my art and envisioning how my work can work for them or someone else they know. In turn, that may present itself as a word of mouth recommendation, a booking, or a new alliance.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson that I had to recognize and am actively unlearning is the fact that my work/productions are not an accurate form of identifying or quantifying my internal value. With the combination of being a black woman in America as well as choosing to work in a rather unconventional market, the oddity of mid twenties and just being a product of a third-culture, there’s a common theme or rather social idea that places a heavy emphasis on the work I do (or don’t do) and it’s ties to how much space I’m “expected” to take up in the world. Releasing myself from such a suffocating narrative hasn’t been linear but I’m looking forward to how I’ll experience life once the lesson has been overcome in its entirety.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arcmnd.co
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/arcmnd
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzSpGH36PrZSiU1l2osGgJw

Image Credits
Ademide Adeoye