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Three Black customers to learn more about their personal adventures, the mentors who helped them get to the point they are now, as well as their hopes and dreams for our collective future.

       Karl Ferguson Jr.  

Karl lives by the creative belief that your work should be able to fund your passion until the passion you have can finance your entire lifestyle. Karl is able to achieve precisely that, through balancing work with his passion for portrait photography. One glance at the website will make you awestruck at the number of stars he's captured within the world of entertainment. Karl's online presence has allowed show off his work to a plethora of clients with ease. "One one of the best attributes is the way that I can just drop and drag images to rearrange them at a moment's need," Karl says.

The community has played an important role in Karl's success with photography. The sharing of ideas among other Black photographers helps him feel a sense of camaraderie in this field which can feel isolating in times. Karl hopes to pass on the love through his career in order to foster a similar type of community for the newest artists in the industry. "Paying it forward involves that I am accessible," Karl says. By openly sharing his experience as well as his knowledge, Karl hopes to help more creatives be the best that they can possibly be.

When asked what he might say to the younger version of himself, a person just starting the photography journey Karl's suggestion is: "Don't get so intense that you lose interest in creating. Taking a beat and enjoying your process is probably the best thing to do as a photographer."

For more details about his work, head over to his website.

        Black In Corporate  

Ambassador and social media consultant Candace Marie is the founder of Black In Corporate The Black In Corporate group that advocates for Black people working in the corporate world. The inspiration for Black In Corporate was born through her personal experience of navigating workplaces where racism is a major factor that makes it hard for Black employees to be successful. "While Black In Corporate was created from my personal experience," Candace says, "a key reason for starting the non-profit was because I realized that there are numerous Black members of my community whose experiences were similar if they were not exactly the same as my personally."

One of the many pillars that Black In Corporate is based on is the Virtual Mentorship Program, which gives Black professionals with access to possibilities, resources, and collaboration. Black In Corporate's website has been pivotal in helping spread the word about the program to their target public. "While social media and press are the major drivers for visitors, the gorgeous style and ease of the navigation on the site ensures that our customers are engaged and coming back," Candace says about the effectiveness of their website.

The saying "it takes the whole village" especially rings true in the case of Candace and her journey with the creation of Black In Corporate. It has grown immensely with the assistance of sponsors, mentors as well as friends and family who have helped her along her journey. There are many ways that Candace offers the same assistance to Black professionals. "This experience isn't easy enough on its own," she says. "Whenever I can offer some advice or participate on a panel or even make an introduction to a potential friend, I'm committed to nurturing others Black people in this space."

Discover more regarding Black In Corporate on their website.

       Elton Anderson Jr.  

For nearly 14 years, Elton Anderson Jr. worked in the field of photography as a photographer, shooting famous people and of the most popular brands. He decided to change direction when he realized that the career he had always been enthusiastic about wasn't satisfying. After a serious case of malaria on a trip to Brazil, Elton vowed to commit his whole life in improving himself and others.

In the present, Elton is doing just that with the work each day. In addition to seeking out new positions such as creator, producer, and travel show host, Elton also launched Creators of Color which is a platform that tells the tales of Black creators in various fields.

For Elton taking these changes is a crucial element of creativity. Elton's suggestion for younger Black creatives who want to make a change in their career is to trust their instincts. "If it's not a Hell Yes, then it's a Yes," Elton says. "This principle has made my numerous career transitions a lot more successful and true to my experience."

For a creator like Elton, who has multiple projects on his plate, digital marketing plays an important role in telling his ongoing story. The goal of Elton is to be a "Master Storyteller." Both of his sites, as well as his social media profiles, allow him to do precisely this. "I use my website as an opportunity for people to visit, sit down in an seat and get acquainted with me," Elton says. "My social media is where you can take the journey with me at any time."

Find out more information on Elton and his background on his website.