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

Hi Shaina, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Being an entrepreneur is all about risk. You have to have an intense faith and tenacity to keep any business alive and thriving. I took a huge risk 7 years into my career leaving a stable job. I was working at salons and makeup counters previously and I had no idea if I would be able to sustain myself financially off my own clientele. It was terrifying at first, but I have been fortunate enough to create consistent income over time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been a makeup artist for 12 years. It is a really saturated market now so I think the timing of when I started essentially helped my trajectory. People often see the highlights and assume one can become successful quickly but that was not the case for me. I worked really hard in the beginning of my career and said yes to everything, constantly in feast or famine mode. Now, I am able to be more selective with the jobs I take on. I put an emphasis on the connections I build with people and I believe that is what makes me stand out in my field. I am passionate about people and I put my heart and soul into my work.

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.
I am from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I would say the downtown area or Brookside. Lots of good restaurants and social events.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The saying, “it takes a village” is so accurate. Throughout my career, I have had an unrelenting amount of support from clients, friends, colleagues and other business owners. Soul Aesthetics was the last business I worked for before I stepped out as a full time freelance artist. The owner, Kelle Christianson, was a very inspiring mentor to me. She always encouraged me to, “work smarter, not harder” and gave me a lot of confidence to pursue my dreams.

Website: https://Soultulsa.com

Instagram: Shainazeffmakeup

Facebook: Shainazeffmakeup

Image Credits
Andi Bravo
Colette Elyse
Emily Holbrook

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSoCal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.