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

Nathaly, appreciate you joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

It didn’t start in a boardroom. It didn’t come from a place of comfort or convenience. The idea for my creative services business was born during one of the most broken, uncertain chapters of my life.

But the truth is, my creativity started long before I even knew what to call it.

I grew up in Guatemala, during a time in my life when I didn’t have the luxury of just being a child. Life was heavy and complicated far too early. But even in that darkness, I found ways to create light. I remember gathering mud to shape dishes, arranging flowers, sticks, and scraps into full table settings — not because anyone asked me to, but because my imagination needed somewhere to live. I was creating a world that felt safe, beautiful, and full of possibility, even when my real world wasn’t.

That spark never left me — it just waited for the right moment to catch fire.

I came to the U.S. at the age of 11, carrying more questions than words. I was hit hard by culture shock, and because of my dyslexia, learning a new language felt nearly impossible. But at 13, I found a lifeline: poetry. I began to write as a way to cope, to process everything I couldn’t say out loud. It became my first real language — the one my soul spoke fluently.

Not long after discovering the power of my voice through poetry, I picked up a paintbrush and started creating with acrylics. Visual art gave me another way to express what I felt inside, especially the things words couldn’t quite reach. That’s when I realized — my creativity wasn’t just an escape. It was a calling. That spark was always there, waiting to ignite something bigger.

Later in life, I reconnected with art in a way that began to shape my future. I started learning makeup — first the basics: foundation, contouring, blending. But makeup quickly became more than beauty for me. It became transformation. That curiosity led me into face and body painting, then special effects, and finally theatrical makeup. I loved how I could tell a story on a person’s skin — bring a character to life, express an emotion, or create a scene with just color and texture.

That journey naturally opened another door: photography. I picked up a camera to capture the looks I was creating, and slowly started teaching myself the fundamentals — lighting, composition, focus. But what started as documentation evolved into something deeper. I fell in love with the storytelling power of images. Photography became a new language for me. I moved into conceptual photography — where emotion, meaning, and vision collide. It gave me the freedom to express not just what I saw, but what I felt.

And while all of that was happening, behind the scenes I was walking through one of the darkest seasons of my life — as a single mom, recovering from heartbreak, homelessness, a cancer diagnosis, and healing from a past life of domestic violence. I was searching for meaning, clinging to hope, and trying to hold myself together for my kids.

At the same time, I was going to barber school, taking classes to earn my high school diploma, learning better English, and doing everything I could to be the best mom possible. I was juggling survival and self-reinvention, all at once.

That’s when God led me to production. I began serving on the production team at my church, and every moment behind the camera felt like a reminder: this is who you are. This is what you were created for. I wasn’t just surviving anymore — I was creating again, with purpose.

I knew I had something different to offer. Not just skill, but soul. My experiences — from mud pies in Guatemala to theatrical makeup, to a lens capturing the unseen — gave me a unique voice in the creative world.

That’s how my creative services business was born — not out of luxury, but out of survival. Out of resilience. Out of a deep belief that stories matter, and creativity can heal. That every person deserves to be seen, heard, and beautifully expressed.

This isn’t just business for me. It’s ministry. It’s memory. It’s movement.

I’m not just a creative. I’m a storyteller. An artist. A survivor. And proof that when you walk through darkness with your eyes open, you’ll always find the light — and the vision — on the other side.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a multi-disciplinary creative based in Southern California with a focus on makeup artistry, conceptual photography, and video production. I specialize in work that blends visual storytelling with emotional depth, whether through beauty or special effects makeup, portrait and conceptual photography, or purpose-driven creative direction.

My journey into this industry has been deeply personal. I began exploring makeup and photography as a form of healing and expression, and over time, those tools became the foundation of my creative business. I work with individuals, small brands, churches, and artists who are looking for more than just a service, they’re looking for someone who can help them tell their story with authenticity and heart.

What sets me apart is my lived experience and the way I approach each project with empathy, vision, and intention. I don’t just focus on what looks good, I focus on what feels true. I bring together a wide range of creative skills, allowing me to offer a cohesive, full-scope visual experience.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve turned some of the hardest seasons of my life into something meaningful and that my work now helps others feel seen, empowered, and beautifully represented. At the core of my brand is faith, storytelling, and the belief that creativity can be both healing and transformational.

More than anything, I want people to know that my work is deeply rooted in purpose. Whether I’m behind a camera or behind a brush, my goal is always to help my clients show up as their fullest, truest selves.

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

What’s helped me build my reputation is consistency, authenticity, and heart. I don’t just deliver a creative service, I build real relationships with my clients. People come to me because they feel safe, seen, and understood. I take the time to really listen to their stories and translate them into visual work that feels deeply personal and impactful.

Many of my clients have met me in real-life settings, often in environments where they’ve seen me simply being myself, especially as a mother. That tenderness, patience, and care I have for my children naturally comes through in how I work with people. I believe that has helped create a level of trust and comfort that makes clients feel cared for and respected, not just creatively, but personally.

I’ve also had the opportunity to work with the City of San Diego, with several of my photography exhibits featured in public libraries across the city. Those moments helped validate my work publicly and gave me a platform to share my creative voice with a broader community.

Most of my opportunities have come through word-of-mouth, people who experienced my work and shared it because it meant something to them. That kind of organic growth, built on trust and integrity, has been the foundation of my reputation.

What sets me apart in my market is that I’m not trying to compete … I’m trying to connect. I stay true to my values, I lead with purpose, and I put my heart into everything I do.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is watching something that once lived only in my imagination come to life — and then seeing how it resonates with others on an emotional level. Whether it’s a photo, a makeup transformation, or a video project, the moment someone says, “That’s exactly how I feel,” or “That captured me perfectly,” I know I’ve done more than just create something — I’ve connected.

On a personal level, being a creative allows me to lead by example for my children. They’re growing up watching their mom turn pain into purpose, and through that, they’re learning that they have a voice too … that their thoughts, feelings, and creativity matter. That’s something I never had growing up.

As a child, I experienced abandonment and neglect, and my imagination became my escape. My mind was my safe place. Where I could dream, build, and create a world far from my reality. I didn’t have tools or materials, but I had vision. Now, as an adult, I finally have access to resources and platforms that allow me to bring those inner worlds to life in real, tangible ways.

So in many ways, every creative project I complete is a form of healing. It’s me giving voice to the little girl who once felt invisible, and at the same time, paving the way for others, especially my children, to believe in the power of their own imagination and voice. That’s the greatest reward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nathalyalvizures.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathaly_alvizures_58/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaly-alvizures-38642a314

Image Credits

All photos credit to Nathaly Alvizures.
Chair portrait of Nathaly Alvizures: credit to Jorge Almaraz