#GIRLBOSS SPOTLIGHT: CHANTE RAMSEY

Written by: Kabrea Thomas

Accountant by day and photographer by night meet our #girlboss of the hour Chantè Ramsey. This #girlboss shares with us why #artislife and how it influences her life as well as her peers and mentees. In such a male dominated field Chantè isn't afraid to show her #GirlBossness! Read more to find out why we want to share the spotlight with our #girlboss Chantè!

Kabrea Thomas:

As a #girlboss you wear many hats - you’re an artist, photographer, mentor and so much more! How are you able to balance out your life?

Chantè Ramsey:

I schedule my time out so if it’s Tuesday that’s my photography day, or if it’s Wednesday I’m focusing on the youth art stuff. From the website to social media to brainstorming about ideas, strategic planning, and figuring out what those priorities are for the months ahead. Whether it’s a photoshoot, or meeting with the board of directors for the arts program or trying to figure out the next project or phase of something. And I think the best approach is to carve out time for those things so you’re not feeling overwhelmed. If you don’t things won’t get done, or you’ll feel like you’re drowning. So creating the safe space to do each thing helps you move forward.

KT:

How did art inspire you? What does art mean to you? And how does it impact your daily routine?

CR:

Art means that it belongs to me, so my voice is what helps my creative juices flow. I don’t compare myself to anyone else, and so it’s my serenity. Sometimes I’ll wake up at 3’ o clock in the morning (which I do) and an idea will spark and I’ll write it down. After a few hours I’ll go back to that same idea and read it over to see if it’s still a good idea and if so I’ll build on it. Art to me is a source of strength, independence and it’s my own space that I’ve created for me. By day I am an accountant so it’s so devoid of any creative thought, but art helps me when I’m dealing with people. It allows me to think of different ways to relate to others. People are deeper than the surface, and art makes it flexible enough to think outside the box.

KT:

As an entrepreneur what were your daily struggles when starting out? What were some things you wish you knew before starting?

CR:

Getting the clients and keeping them, that’s been the biggest thing! Also undervaluing myself. I wish I valued my work more, because I was comparing myself to artists. And then I would realize that I don’t have the right equipment, and in photography that’s the game. You have to have the best of the best of the best. The best body cam, the best lens, the best lighting and honestly a lot of the great artists like Gordon Park he didn’t have all of these things. He had a very simple film camera, and he shot the most amazing and inspirational work and to this day it still moves me as well as others. I’ve learned that you don’t need to have the bells and whistles, you don’t need to compare yourself to other people. Just figure out what your voice is. This is something that I tell my students all the time. I wish I knew that, but we all have to go on our own journey to figure out the truth about your art and how passionate you are. There are thousands of photographers but there’s only one YOU! And that’s how you start figuring out your market, and how to relate to people and to then keep your current clients.

KT:

Many people may not know, but you’re really big on supporting other small businesses. Why do you think that’s so important as an entrepreneur?

CR:

When I look at my community there are a lot of start up businesses but they don’t last long because the support isn’t there. People tend to go to a starbucks, rather than their local cafe. And that local cafe doesn’t get that constant stream of foot traffic. So how are they suppose to pay rent, light, overhead? All these other costs that they have to deal with. It’s important that we support those businesses because they’re the ones that really help our economy. And it also inspires others to build businesses in the community, so it’s a ripple effect. We need small businesses to thrive for this economy. I think it’s important, and then you also get to meet the owners, and hear stories behind the business concept. One of the businesses in my community, I remember the manager as a kid - we grew up together. That business is still in my community!

KT:

You own just about all of our scents - tell us which one is your favorite, and how does it make you feel when wearing it?

CR:

The first scent ‘Yours,’ was like my first entry to knowing who is this person creating these scents in her house. I really love the earthiness of it! Tux is for the boyfriend - he loves the warm masculine feel to it. But also my best friend loves Tux. But my favorite is Nicole, and I think what pushed me more was the story behind it. I really really like that scent. I use the roll ons and when I wear it it makes me feel girly. I like that it’s not too potent. The Nicole is just very soothing for me.

KT:

What is BAE? Where did the inspiration come from?

CR:

Blueprint to Art Excellence (BAE) was inspired by the memory of my mom. I remember when I was 5 in my little tutu, I had no clue what I was doing. I was just twirlin’ around and I had a great time. And then I became a dancer, I was writing - I was doing all of these artsy things and my mother wasn’t pressuring me to pick and choose. She would ask me “What do you want to do today?” And we just did it! We would go to the park one day and the museum the next. It was just so free flowing in that house. She really inspired us to explore our creative side. It all started when I volunteered at a retreat with my job and I chaperoned and met two awesome kids who were photographers. And we kept in touch after the retreat and it became me mentoring. And now they both have their own businesses and are currently in college. That’s basically how I started. After the retreat I started looking for work to coach and mentor young ones full time. A good friend of mine suggested that I should just start my own thing. And that’s when I started the journey of creating the non profit BAE. BAE is all about creating that art space for kids to explore and immerse themselves into art without feeling pressured to choose their future. Being able to just be happy as kids, and I think kids today don’t do that. They’re doing things for a purpose. They pick activities to do based on a career choice versus I just want to draw because it makes me feel good.

KT:

Tell us about your next upcoming projects, and where can our audience keep up with you.

CR:

My next project is arte is life, which is when fashion meets culture magazine and my goal is to tap into a lot of visual art expressions. Really blending the lines of fashion. The goal is to get the magazine to speak to people who appreciate fashion as an art, and not just as something you wear. Fashion is wearable art.

There’s also the SHE project which is focusing on women from all walks of life who have gone through struggles, conflicts and have seen the light at the end of the tunnel and aren’t afraid to share their story. I’ve been working on this project for a long time and it’s all about women who are brave enough to talk about it. There are some people who aren’t courageous enough to talk about it or think that their story isn’t impactful enough. And I’m saying if you’ve transformed, then you have a story to tell. If you were one way and now you’re stronger and a bigger person at the end then that’s a story to share with someone.

Stay up to date with Chantè and her boss moves by visiting her website www.vysynphotos.com.