Conversations with the Inspiring Brittany Merrick

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Merrick.

Brittany, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was working in a salon when a friend of mine asked me to work with her photographer friend on a photo shoot he had been planning. I worked with him on several photoshoots and eventually started working with other photographers, and I quickly realized that I had a passion for doing hair and makeup for these photoshoots and decided that I wanted to make a business out of it!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road to where I am was definitely a mixture of bumpy and smooth. At first, things were going great, but when I suffered a serious foot injury, in February of 2019, everything came to a screeching halt. I wasn’t able to bear any weight on my foot for nine weeks, had to have surgery where I had a plate and screws put in, and I’m still in physical therapy. When the injury happened I lost all momentum I had built up, and coming back from that has been a difficult path, but I’m working through it and have honestly learned a lot from those experiences that have made things difficult. My passion for my business was reignited when I started teaching at the beauty academy after my injury, and I’m excited to be ready and able to work on more projects again!

What should we know about Off Beat Designs, LLC? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a licensed cosmetologist offering professional hair and makeup services for photoshoots and special events such as weddings, birthdays, prom, etc. I specialize in hair and makeup for editorial-style photoshoots and work side by side with the photographers and creative designers in order to achieve the desired look. I also work on set as a photographers assistant, helping models with posing, prop placement, and to make sure that hair is in place and makeup is fully intact throughout the process. I am proud to be versatile in my work, while still providing quality looks for my clients.

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
Growing up, I was surrounded by strong women. They instilled in me the need to be independent and strong, and not to let people push me around. I learned that you set your own limitations, and you have to keep going and continue working hard. And I hope other women learn the same. Put in the long hours, the hard work, and just keep going. You can build and grow your business into whatever your heart desires as long as you put in the effort.

Contact Info:

• Email: offbeatdesigns@outlook.com
• Instagram: @off.beat.designs
• Facebook: Facebook.com/OBDesignsLLC

Image Credit:
Photographers: Cris Rodriguez, Mindy Delmez
Models: Samantha Simmons, Asha Bee, Charity Musgrave, Waverleigh Graff

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