When photographer and friend Bryant Littrean asks if I want to do any sort of test shoot with him, I jump at the opportunity. You know you love what you do when you aren’t always getting paid for it and hustling the rest of the time. It really is amazing – finding something that moves you and lights up your eyes. As tiring as it can be sometimes, it’s worth every second.

We shot in A Sixty Hotel at Columbus Circle,  a retro-chic boutique hotel with mid-century modern decor. Was it the best room to work with or ideal in terms of space? Not quite, but in any given situation, we always make it work – we have no choice! Hah.

Our talent for the evening was Stephanie Obasi, a model who travels between North Carolina and New York while attending nursing school (and she is back and forth frequently). What I think is really valuable in this industry is not just how talented the people are, but rather being surrounded by their undying drive, hard work and hustle. Even though I too work around the clock,  it’s always inspiring hearing others story. I am truly grateful to be in such an industry- between the makeup world and design world that I coexist in. There are a lot of people who have a passion for the creative world but their fear of possible instability steered them into a different profession- something that sounded more promising (but in actuality .. half of the time it wasn’t). When you follow your heart, it is surprising where life takes you.