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

Hi Camille, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

I’ve had a job since I was 14 years old and over time my idea of work-life balance has certainly evolved. I used to get so much enjoyment out of saying “yes” to everything. I would spread myself so thin and barely have time for sleep, exercise, and self-care. As a millennial that came up during the emergence of platforms like Facebook, I can look back now and see that social media had a powerful impact on my understanding of a good work-ethic. Social media gives us the ability to selectively conflate personal and social identities in a way that can be ultimately damaging to our authenticity – making us more loyal to the reactions of others than to ourselves. The internet can make you feel like you are never quite keeping up or doing enough. I can recall times I would schedule my day around curating content solely for the purpose of posting to Facebook or Instagram. I would wake up at 4 and 5am some days just to film tutorials or put together vision boards. I didn’t know how to sit still and I was constantly burning out.

Now, I focus so much more on my own happiness and authenticity and I find that the rest just sort of falls into place. Balance is tantamount to adaptability and honesty about what my needs are in this moment or season. Balance is also compromising with the ways or the frequency in which I share and engage with my client base on social media platforms. If I’m burnt out I’m not at my best creatively – which in turn isn’t good for my business. Simply put, if I need a day off, I take one. I create content when it makes me happy and when the desire to do so feels genuine. At the end of the day, so long as I’m taking care of the brains behind my brand, my business will always thrive.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

When I set off to the University of Virginia in 2005, I had no clue what I wanted to do career wise. At the time, I just wanted to put myself in a position to experiment and learn more about what I was drawn to. It wasn’t until after graduating that I found my niche. In 2011, I began styling my roommate by shopping my own closet. They say “necessity is the mother of invention” and as a young and inexperienced professional at the time, I didn’t have a lot of money and this forced me to be creative with what little wardrobe I had. As time went on, I posted pictures of outfits to Instagram and eventually garnered the attention of photographers and other creatives that wanted to collaborate. I leapt at opportunities to work with modeling agencies, brand campaigns, and editorial projects just to build my body of work. It was not always easy as I routinely had to juggle working a full-time job in Washington, DC and tackle my styling endeavors in my spare time. Not to mention, as anyone in their early 20s has likely encountered, I dealt with my fair share of life experiences that set me back physically and emotionally.

I am now a fashion stylist, creative director, and make-up artist in training. I have been published for my styling work six times in various editorial and magazine publications. Every time I style or curate for a project, I am putting a piece of my heart and soul out into the world to be judged and viewed by everyone. Creativity is so vulnerable! Respect your process and be patient with yourself. I will always say this: the biggest challenge and the greatest reward is to be yourself.

I want the world to know that style is something everyone naturally has and it’s just one way to convey who you are. My ultimate goal with Styling by Camille, LLC is to bring fashion and confidence into people’s lives in an effortless, connective, and fun way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If my best friend were visiting Washington, DC for a week, I would be sure to plan some quintessential touristy things with them such as: bar hopping in Adams Morgan or on U Street, walking around the Monuments and down the National Mall, hiking in Great Falls, checking out Cherry Blossoms and paddle-boating at the Tidal Basin, seeing a baseball game at Nationals Park, shopping in Georgetown, taking in the city view at the W rooftop, photos in front of the White House, and watching planes take off and land at Reagan National.

For me the most exciting museums and monuments to see are the MLK Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House, the Holocaust Museum, the Museum of African-American History, and Hirshorn Museum for art. It would be non-negotiable for my best friend to eat at the following restaurants/places: Joe’s Seafood – Prime steak and Stone crab for everything, Old Ebbitt Grill for oysters, Daikaya for ramen and spirits, Lauriol Plaza for tex-mex and the strongest (but sneakiest) margaritas ever, and Georgetown Cupcake for sweets.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are two individuals I need to shout out! The first is my partner, Ricky. In the past few years my business has grown a lot and I owe this in part to Ricky because he has been one to encourage me and get me out of my own head. He’s taught me the value of taking risks and being unafraid of failure. The second is Carla Pressley. Carla used to do my hair about 10 years ago. Soon after we met she began doing hair and makeup for weddings. We all have to start somewhere and she was the first person to give me an opportunity to style in a public, photoshoot setting. I will never forget her taking this chance on me and giving me a platform to grow into my own. If it had not been for her reaching out, I may not have gotten started when I did.

Website: www.stylingbycamille.com

Instagram: @stylingbycamille

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stylingbycamille

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1NUGoe3C8J-NtXrPH697MQ

Other: to contact with any inquiries: info@stylingbycamille.com

Image Credits
Clarence Williams, Look2C Photography

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