Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Sanchez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Vanessa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I can still remember the brand of the first lipstick I bought. It was a 99 cent wet and wild lipstick. It was a nude shimmery shade because that’s all my mother would let me wear. I remember doing my friend’s makeup in high school, sometimes for a special occasion but mostly for fun. It’s always been something that I’ve enjoyed doing and was always interested in. I wish that I had had someone to point me in the right direction so that I could have started my career in the beauty industry right out of high school when I graduated in 2002.
Fast forward to 2010, I’m looking for a smokey eye makeup tutorial on YouTube that I can follow to do my own makeup for a special event. It was then when my addiction to makeup tutorials was born and reignited my love for all things makeup. Within a couple of months, I decided to start my own channel. A few months later, I did my sister’s makeup for her wedding and soon after she encouraged me to start doing makeup for other people, so I did. My husband and I were stationed in Twentynine Palms, CA at the time and since I didn’t know anyone, I started by offering free makeovers in exchange for pictures to start working on my portfolio. I networked on Facebook and connected with a local photographer. We worked together on a few shoots and I immediately fell in love with the whole experience.
The reaction my client would have to see her makeup done was priceless. It was then that I knew this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to make people feel more beautiful and more confident. I became obsessed with making women feel good! In 2013, we moved back to Texas and with the help of family and friends, I built my clientele. To this day I still have clients that I started with 5 years ago. I’m grateful for each and every one of them and for referring me to their family and friends. I enjoy all types of makeup from soft everyday looks to weddings to creative styles shoots.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Having your own business is never easy. I think the first couple of years, I didn’t have a lot of bookings. I didn’t make a lot of money.
My advice to anyone that is starting their journey is to NEVER give up. Have faith in yourself because no one will work as hard for what you want as you will. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, network, network, network! Meet people. Pass out business cards. Take pictures of all of your work. Don’t be afraid to ask family and friends to borrow their faces for practice. You don’t need to have the most expensive products to do makeup. Nothing that is worth having comes easy.
Please tell us about Makeup by Vanessa.
I’m a makeup artist. I love to do bridal makeup. Weddings are so much fun and I love the energy that it comes with. I’m very proud of my ability to listen to my client’s needs and deliver exactly what they picture for their special day.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
I was raised to be very respectful and my parents had amazing work ethics. I believe that the way my Mom and Dad brought us up has a lot to do with the way I carry myself, the way I treat others and the determination to work hard and do what I love.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Makeupbyvanessasanchez.Com
- Phone: 469-364-1130
- Email: makeupbyvanessasanchez@gmail.com
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/makeupby_vanessasanchez
- Other: Www.youtube.com/mzvanessanchez
Image Credit:
Mei Yang, IFlores Photography, Cindy Portillo, Omar Ramos, Mei Yang, Velvet Sage Photo
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