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Life and Work with Michelle MnM

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle MnM.

Michelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in East Atlanta, Georgia as a first-generation American born to Guyanese parents. Mahogany Lenz and DJ MnM are passions that were both created to provide audio and visual content that is creative, confident and customer service oriented. Today it has become a reminder to be a web historian of this generation and to preserve life experiences through music, art & design.

Mahogany Lenz was created to be a photography brand to capture the beauty of different cultures around school campus. Growing up as a first-generation American, there were differences all around. During my college days at the Savannah College of Art & Design, stylish content remained all around which kept me in an inspirational environment. My freshman year there, I purchased my first DSLR camera.With experience the year before as a Senior Yearbook Editor, my ambition to document and layout content was budding. My approach to digital photography was to ‘push the limits’ while learning to keep it realistic. Over time my photography developed into incorporating graphic elements, hyperrealistic retouching, and motion design.

Mahogany Lenz today offers a list of multimedia services that have been cultivated by classes including film photography, color theory, research, development, and history. Although my environments have changed from being in art school, I continue to have a passion for being able to invest in equipment to capture portraiture, events, nature, products and more.

The passion of photography lead to the development of DJ MnM. From a very young age, I was introduced to the love of music. I spent lots of time dancing to different genres and remember spending many weekends listening to old school music with my family. I played the violin for eight years and although the school orchestra was small, I attended Southwest DeKalb, a band dominant high school that produces some of the most hype southern bass vibes which boosted our panther pride during our years of high school. That type of energy inspired me to want to put my art into more than just visuals.

‘DJ MnM’ which is an alias for my initials, started out just for fun hosting house parties freshman year of college. From there, I started learning about technical skills and musical events that inspired me to want to get better with transitions, finding new sounds, and bringing a crowd together for a good time. Being able to watch videos on Youtube and hear mixes online instead of the radio showed me that if I stayed consistent and kept creating content, I could eventually start providing music services on a professional level. Because of that DJ MnM and Mahogany Lenz work together through the love, joy, energy, and technical skills of wanting to create. I have found this to be a satisfying balance of doing things I enjoy and investing it into displaying a unique cultured lifestyle that is Michelle MnM.

Has it been a smooth road?
No it has not been a smooth road. There have been many challenges along the way but there have also been times when everything was in alignment too. When things are smooth, the flow is an amazing feeling and it is what keeps me inspired. Some of the struggles experienced along the way have included inconsistency, digital miscommunications, feeling rushed, taking comments personally, feeling judged, underestimating project scopes, feeling fear to turn down projects, and overall not developing a solid work-play schedule.

Many of these challenges are experiences that I’ve learned to manage through reading books and communicating respectfully to find peace. It requires accountability in being a business owner, so my advice to other women is to stay encouraged, be passionate and have a solid purpose. When you have a vision/idea/project/goal in your mind that won’t go away and it is something you would dedicate your time to just for its enjoyment, stick to it. Be mindful that what’s for you is for you and most times if you can become diligent and consistent, it will grow.

Sometimes when you share too early its easy to become discouraged from the fear of others, so its best to keep your plans quiet within a small circle until it’s in motion. Find your tribe/mastermind group aka those fearless people who make you feel good about yourself and about the world around you. Confide in older women who are full of wisdom and experience that can share stories and encouragement from their journey. Make sure your partner is loving, supportive, respectful and light-hearted to encourage and appreciate you through your growth phases together and also passionate about their own interests so you complement each other’s time spent together. Find time to exercise. Self-care is always the best care and that’s mentally, physically, and spiritually. How can you do your best work if you can’t operate as your best self?

Lastly, remember to give love and it will come back to you. Do not take negative experiences personally. Most of these things are easier said than done however I truly believe when you strive to do your best and have a team to build with, opportunities flow from an effortless abundance of giving to others.

Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
My work is unique in that it develops by the scope of a project, assignment or event from a client. The level of freedom for creative control can be approached as the art director, photographer, DJ, designer, web developer, project manager, and consultant. I provide multimedia services with the technical skills of graphic design, the scientific understanding of light, color and sound, the storytelling vision with motion graphics, the analytical patience for web development, and the business mindset to drive positive results with public relations.

I specialize in connecting with others. I enjoy creating and documenting content, and I enjoy assisting others with their creative ideas. Many could say I am a “Jill of all trades” however my specialties are in photography and music curations. Graphic design, motion design, and web design are all embellishments to that raw data. I think my approach to be adaptable and think outside the box is what sets me apart from others. It keeps my style agile, distinct and ever-changing. I give my best and I communicate when it’s tough. My work here is to fulfill needs, inspire others, and encourage people to give their ideas the best shot.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
Depending on perspective, barriers to female leadership in general can be viewed as a hindrance or it could be viewed as a superpower to navigate a leadership role. I think one of the biggest superpowers is being able to compartmentalize. It’s learning to separate emotion to handle business, communicate effectively, delegate work, set the example, and then soften up for self-care including family time, decompressing, and taking solo time to refresh.

We are living in a generation where technology has allowed us to utilize a vast amount of resources and hold a voice that can spread globally. The only barrier these days are the people who don’t value the hard work of women striving to make a positive difference and provide ethics towards diversity and inclusion.

Pricing:

  • Photography Packages start at $150
  • Logo Designs start at $125

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Profile Pic taken by St. Julien Photography. DJ pic taken by Marquis International

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