Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Theresa Campbell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Theresa, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Autumn Artistry was born out of frustration, heartbreak and ultimately, deep purpose.

Back in 2018, while planning my own wedding, I found myself struggling to find hair and makeup artists who could actually work with my features. I’m a light-skinned Black woman with textured hair and warm olive undertones, and every time I searched for bridal beauty vendors, I saw the same thing: a lack of representation. I couldn’t find examples of women who looked like me, had my skin tone, or wore their curls proudly on their wedding day.

It felt like the industry had a very narrow definition of bridal beauty and I didn’t fit into it.

To make things more complicated, I was marrying a woman. And while I was excited to celebrate our love, I quickly realized that many vendors weren’t as excited to celebrate with us. I was turned down more than once because I was queer. And that cut deep. It made what should have been the most joyful time feel isolating. I kept asking myself: Why is it so hard to feel seen in this space?

That’s when it hit me, I could either keep trying to squeeze into an industry that wasn’t built for me, or I could build something new. Something better.

I had already been doing hair for years, mostly in TV and on set. Eventually, people started asking if I could do makeup too, and being the kind of person who loves a challenge (and hates saying no!), I took classes, practiced, and grew my skills so I could offer both. But it wasn’t until my wedding experience that I truly felt called to step into the bridal world, with purpose.

The name Autumn Artistry came naturally to me. Autumn is my favourite season, it’s vibrant, warm, full of richness and depth. My birthday is October 1st, and I’ve always loved the mix of colours, textures, and moods that the season brings. It felt like the perfect reflection of the work I wanted to do: celebrating diversity, embracing contrast, and making people feel radiant in their own skin.

From the start, I knew this business had to be inclusive at its core, not as a tagline, but as a lived value. That meant creating a team that reflected real-world beauty: women of colour, queer artists, artists who understood the importance of colour matching every skin tone, who could work with every hair texture, and who made their clients feel safe, celebrated, and seen.

As our reputation grew, I kept hearing the same things from clients: “I couldn’t find anyone who knew how to work with my hair texture.” “I’ve been turned away by vendors before.” “It’s so hard to find someone who knows how to match my foundation without making me look grey.”

And I thought, Exactly. This is why we’re here.

I invested heavily in training for my team, making sure every artist understood not just the technique, but the impact. We don’t just do hair and makeup, we help people feel like the best version of themselves. And when a client scrolls through our Instagram and sees someone who looks like them, with their curls, their skin tone, their story, that’s when the magic happens. That’s when the trust begins.

Autumn Artistry isn’t just about pretty looks (though, yes, we serve glowing skin, glossy lips, and bomb brows on the regular!). It’s about visibility, connection, and rewriting what luxury bridal beauty can look like.

What got me most excited then and still keeps me going now, is the joy of helping someone finally feel seen. That moment when a bride looks in the mirror and says, “Wow…that’s ME.” That’s everything.

And I’ll never stop creating space for that.

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.

Hi! I’m Theresa, the founder of Autumn Artistry Makeup & Hair, a luxury, on-location (and now in-studio!) beauty team based in Southern Ontario. We specialize in bridal, branding, boudoir, and special event hair and makeup services that celebrate real beauty in all its forms.

But here’s what we really do:
We create transformational experiences that help people feel seen, celebrated, and empowered.

My journey into this industry wasn’t linear, it was rooted in purpose. I started out in social work, supporting folks with mental health challenges and disabilities. That taught me the power of presence, empathy, and human connection. Beauty was always a passion of mine, I worked behind the scenes on sets doing hair, and later picked up makeup to offer a more seamless experience. But the real turning point came during my own wedding planning process in 2018.

As a Queer Black Woman, I struggled to find beauty vendors who could work with my hair texture, match my skin tone properly, or simply honour my love story without hesitation. I kept asking myself: Why is it so hard to feel seen in the wedding industry? That frustration turned into fuel and that’s when Autumn Artistry was born.

At Autumn Artistry, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all beauty. We believe in bold, brilliant, beautifully you beauty. Our team is made up of talented, diverse artists, many of whom are women of colour or part of the LGBTQ+ community, who are professionally trained and personally invested in creating an inclusive, luxurious, and stress-free experience for every client.

What we offer:
• Bridal hair and makeup (from natural glow to full glam)
• In-studio and on-location beauty for events and photoshoots
• Branding & boudoir styling
• One-on-one artistry lessons + business mentorship for creatives
• A studio space in Kitchener for trials, weekday appointments, and private sessions

We’re known for our signature touch: glossy lips, glowing skin, fluffy lashes, and bomb brows. But what sets us apart even more is how we show up for our clients, every skin tone, every hair texture, every story. We don’t just make you look beautiful, we remind you that you already are.

The problems we solve?
• “I’ve never had my foundation matched properly.”
• “Stylists don’t know how to work with my curls.”
• “I want to look like me, just elevated.”
• “I want to feel safe, celebrated, and heard.”

These aren’t small things. These are identity-affirming moments. And that’s the kind of artistry we’re here for.

What I’m most proud of:
Honestly? It’s when a bride sees herself in the mirror and gets emotional because for the first time, she feels like the main character. It’s when clients say, “I finally found someone who understands my hair.” Or when artists on my team tells me that this is the first space where they’ve felt truly valued and empowered to grow.

This work is more than hair and makeup. It’s about healing, representation, and confidence. I want people to know that we’re here to hold space for their joy, beauty, and authenticity.

If you’re looking for an artist who’s going to hype you up, listen deeply, and make sure your glow-up feels like you, we’re ready when you are.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One of the most defining moments of resilience in my journey came right at the intersection of personal heartbreak and professional breakthrough.

I started Autumn Artistry after experiencing firsthand the deep gaps in representation within the wedding industry. I had been turned away by vendors simply because I was marrying a woman. I couldn’t find hair or makeup artists who knew how to work with my textured hair or properly match my skin tone. And while that experience hurt, it also sparked something powerful in me, a commitment to building the very thing I couldn’t find.

But resilience didn’t stop with the launch. A few years into the business, as our name was growing and we were getting booked out, I hit a point of burnout. I was doing everything, leading the team, managing the back end, servicing clients, creating content, and constantly being “on.” I knew something had to change. So I leaned on my background in social work and mental health, reevaluated how I ran the business, and began building systems and team support that allowed both me and my artists to breathe.

Resilience isn’t just about surviving, it’s about adapting with care. It’s saying: This isn’t working the way it used to, but I’m willing to build something new. And that mindset has helped me scale my business, mentor other artists, and most importantly, protect the heart of why I started: to help people feel seen, celebrated, and beautiful in their own skin.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I first started posting on Instagram, it wasn’t about perfect lighting or viral trends. It was about representation. I wanted brides and beauty lovers to scroll through and see themselves. So I focused on showcasing real clients with real skin tones, natural hair textures, queer love stories, and soft glam looks that enhanced their uniqueness instead of masking it.

I built trust by being intentional. Every caption, every photo, every behind-the-scenes reel was an opportunity to connect. I wasn’t just posting transformations, I was telling stories. And over time, people started finding us not just because of the artistry, but because they felt safe and celebrated in our space.

My advice for anyone just starting?
Don’t worry about the algorithm, worry about the connection.
• Show the face behind the brand.
• Share your why just as much as your what.
• Be consistent, but also be kind to yourself.
• And most importantly, don’t try to be like everyone else. The thing that makes you different is exactly what people are looking for.

Social media is more than a marketing tool, it’s a mirror. Use it to reflect the values, beauty, and community you’re building.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://autumnartistrymakeupandhair.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autumnartistrymakeupandhair/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autumnartistrymakeupandhair/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-campbell-29070645/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@autumnartistrymakeupandhair

Image Credits

Chantel Dirksen Photography, Alex del Mundo, Ariana del Mundo, Scarlet Lens Photography & Honey House Photography