We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Coming from a working-class family, the thought of taking risks was not the norm. I was raised to get an education, get a job, build your career, and retire. However, that was not the case with me. I am a natural-born risk-taker. Growing up, I took many risks and drove my mother crazy! I remember taking a risk by begging my mother to switch me and attend a high school to enroll in their cosmetology program, beginning in my junior high school year. My mother had my plan mapped out, but I did not want to go to the school she had initially planned for me to attend. However, I chickened out and did not enroll in cosmetology – to this day, I still regret it. I’ve always wanted to achieve my dreams. I remember quitting my job just months after signing a lease to a luxury apartment in Downtown Cleveland to my most significant risk, dropping everything and moving to Atlanta. Relocating to Atlanta was the best decision and risk that I’ve made. I was recently going through my high school senior memory book, and one of the goals I’ve written down was to live in Atlanta. I was shocked to read that after being out of high school for 21 years now. Risk-taking is not easy, I was scared for every single risk that I have taken, but in the end, I am happy that I’ve done so. My career in the creative arts has been nothing less than enjoyable. If I did not take any risks, my life would have remained stagnant and miserable. It is so important to go for your dreams. Take that risk! When I reflect on my life, I can honestly say that I am happy about the decisions that I have made.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a professional makeup artist and a new photographer. I have been doing freelance makeup for over ten years. Before relocating to Atlanta, I took my profession more seriously by turning my freelance makeup artistry into a business – Jennifer J. Artistry. I have worked tirelessly with many photographers in Atlanta and my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, and learned how to apply makeup on all skin tones and types. As a self-taught makeup artist, my beginning stages did not begin with makeup application. I was solely obsessed with eyebrows. I enjoyed filling in my eyebrows and drawing them in my sketchbook. Eventually, I fell into makeup because I would practice different techniques on my face. Many people took notice and asked me to do their makeup. After declining one too many offers, I was forced to do makeup on friends and enjoyed it. Later, I applied to many makeup counters and stores to which I received rejections for every job. The constant rejection caused me to feel discouraged in my artistry, but I kept learning and doing makeup on clients. In 2016, I accepted an offer to work with a team of makeup artists at Cleveland Makeup Artistry. I learned not only many techniques but also the business itself as a professional makeup artist. My journey has not been easy. There have been plenty of times where I wanted to give up, but where I am today came from a lot of trial and error. I have learned that it is okay not to work at makeup counters and stores – I was meant to work independently. I now have a studio with the dreams of opening up a bigger space to give other makeup artists a chance to grow and flourish in their artistry. My new photography career stemmed from my days of blogging. I have a somewhat dormant blog, where it catered to beauty. I would purchase makeup (or sometimes work on sponsored content), apply it to my face, and take pictures. While I was knee-deep in blogging, I was attending grad school simultaneously. When I graduated with my Master’s degree, my mother purchased a DSLR camera as a graduation gift. I have always enjoyed taking photos of myself, fellow bloggers, friends, and family. I also enjoyed flat lay photography for blogging. I decided to take another risk and give myself a chance as a photographer. Going back to my roots, my late grandfather was a great photographer and my stepfather. With that serving as motivation, I now have a second business, Coffee+ Shots Photography (obviously for my love of coffee and photography), that is doing reasonably well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a great question! My best friend and I love the culture, and we are city girls! I am artsier than her, but we do love culture. Atlanta is rich in culture, and there is plenty of things to dive into. I love the High Museum of Art and the Botanical Gardens, so we will most definitely begin there. I am obsessed with the street art and graffiti on the Atlanta Beltline, and it is fun to take a stroll on too! Piedmont Park is a beautiful place to enjoy outdoor concerts and events. As I am still new to the city, I am continually learning new places to check out. I love all of the restaurants and shops in Downtown Decatur, Ponce City Market, and Westside Provisions. For a great evening of enjoying libations, we would head over to The James Room. It’s a speakeasy, and live for a great speakeasy experience. As a side note, I love coffee, and I enjoy checking out all of the city’s local coffee shops. Drip Coffee Shop, Brash Coffee, Coffee Comma, Cafe Intermezzo, and Gilly’s Coffee shop are to name a few of my favorites. My newest favorite restaurant, Apt. 4B has topped my list of favorite places, especially if you love Caribbean food. I would not complete her trip without a trip to The Garden Room. The ambiance and food are amazing!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my mother. She is my rock and she supports everything I do. I know I drive her nuts with my antics, but she motivates me thrive and keep going. I don’t know where I would be without her. To my family, thank you for allowing me to be me. This journey has not been easy, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My friends and support groups – thank you so much. I love you all!

Website: www.jenniferjartistry.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenniferjartistry
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jenniferjmua
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenniferjartistry
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhCruZ6qhK1dGgVkkZ4uUg
Other: My photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffeeplusshots/

Image Credits
Belle Rouge Photography www.bellerougephotography.com Shan Roberts Photography www.shanroberts.com

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