We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Jackson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Jennifer, appreciate you joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

Growing up, I always knew that I would have my own business. I remember the days when I was sitting in my room envisioning having my studio and how much excitement it brought me. I had a plan but did not know how to execute it fully. When I was in college, I began blogging about makeup along with combining my love of photography by taking my photos of myself and staging products. While blogging, I was teaching myself different techniques on makeup application and people started taking notice of my work and wanted to book me for makeup. Granted, I knew how to apply makeup, but I did not consider myself a professional makeup artist. I started practicing applying makeup on friends and taking pictures of my work and posting it on social media. My hard work paid off because a fellow professional makeup artist took notice of my work and offered me a position to work with her and other professional makeup artists at her emerging studio in Cleveland, Ohio. Working with our team, not only did I learn about being a makeup artist at a professional level, but I also learned how to incorporate makeup artistry into a business. A year later, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and grew my business as a professional makeup artist – it was the best decision I made. Two years later, I took my love of photography and turned it into my second business.

Jennifer, 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?

My name is Jennifer Jackson, and I am a professional makeup artist, published photographer, and the owner of Jennifer J. Artistry, based in Atlanta, Georgia. I am a natural-born creative who has a passion for beauty, content design, photography, and healthy living. As a native of Cleveland, Ohio, I’ve always dreamed of moving to another city while achieving my dreams of expressing my God-given creativity to its fullest potential.

As a self-taught makeup artist, I have been an avid lover of makeup and practicing in my artistry for over fifteen years. Before my relocation to Atlanta, I was trained as a professional makeup artist, perfecting my craft in bridal and in-studio makeup, including airbrushing, proper application and color correction, and custom blended skin-enhancing with foundation, concealer, and powder. My objective as your makeup artist is to provide a professional, yet quality service of makeup artistry that you deserve. My signature look will have to feel stunning, sophisticated, and glamorous Plus, heads will turn once you enter the room!

I am also a published photographer with a passion for capturing all things beauty. While studying Graphic Design during college and with over fifteen years of makeup artistry experience, my passion for mixing beauty and art as a visual storyteller is inevitable. My photography business under Jennifer J. Artistry loves to shoot beauty and lifestyle portraiture for phenomenal business owners.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

This is a good question! Being an artist and/or creative is a God-given gift. We are born with this gift and it is something that isn’t taught – we just have it embedded in us. I remember a time when I was afraid to share my gifts (what was I thinking), but a close friend of mine told me that your gifts from God are meant to be shared with the world. Being a makeup artist and photographer gives me complete joy! When I am working in my creative space, it feels right and my adrenaline is at an all-time high. It is a feeling that I never want to go away! The best feeling is when my clients loves their makeup, when they are constantly in the mirror, and taking plenty of selfies because they love their look. I love when clients love their photos that I capture of them. The excitement and joy that I feel when my clients are satisfied with my work is the most rewarding feeling. It is the confirmation that I am living in my purpose and sharing the gifts that God has given me to the world.

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

As an artist, I come from the era of growing without social media. During college, social media hasn’t evolved as it has today. I studied graphic design in college, where we created our designs from the ground up. We did not have programs that provided templates, such as Canva. We had to create physical portfolios that we traveled everywhere to showcase our work. This was with makeup as well. After college, I took myself more seriously as a makeup artist and remember applying for jobs at all of the department stores with my portfolio at hand, showcasing all of my work. For some reason, not one store hired me. Of course, it made me feel discouraged as an emerging makeup artist because I was hungry to learn and knew my work was good. I firmly believe that God had a bigger plan for me, so I continued to teach myself different techniques on how to apply makeup and take pictures of my work. When I was discovered and offered a job to work at the makeup studio, the owner was a previous educator for MAC Cosmetics, where I learned everything that was taught to the employees at MAC and the practices of being a business owner. I got two for one! I remember thinking to be a professional makeup artist, you had to have experience working at the makeup counters/stores, but I didn’t have that. I had one-on-one teachings and I grew my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jenniferjartistry.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenniferjartistry
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenniferjartistry
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-jackson-mba-153b6963/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/jenniferjmua
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhCruZ6qhK1dGgVkkZ4uUg
• Other: Makeup Product Recommendations Guide by Jennifer J. Artistry https://jenniferjartistry.com/jja-makeup-recommendations/a590otodo3uig63msax77p4oi2zo7n

Image Credits
Jennifer J. Artistry Belle Rouge Photography Shan Roberts Photography Stephania Briana Photography