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We sat down with three Black customers to talk about their personal journeys, the mentors that helped them get to the point they are now, as well as their dreams and hopes for our collective future.

       Karl Ferguson Jr.  

Karl is a believer in the idea that work is to support your passion until your passion can fund your lifestyle. Karl has managed to do precisely that, through balancing work along with his passion for portrait photography. A quick scan of his website will make amazed by the amount of famous people he's shot in the entertainment industry. Karl's online presence has allowed him showcase his work to an array of clients with ease. "One among the greatest tools is the method that allows me to move and drop pictures and arrange them at a second's notice," Karl says.

Community has played a big factor in Karl's growth in photography. Sharing ideas with fellow Black photographers allows him to feel the camaraderie of this field which can feel isolated at times. Karl hopes to pay it forward within his professional life, in order to foster an identical type of community for the newest artists in the industry. "Paying it forward means being accessible to others," Karl says. Through sharing his experiences as well as his knowledge, Karl hopes to help others become the most creative that they could be.

When asked what he might advise the younger version of himself, a person just starting his photography practice, Karl's advice is this: "Don't get so intense that you lose interest in creating. Being patient and enjoying your process is probably the best thing that you can accomplish as photographer."

For more information about the work of Karl, go over on his site.

        The Black Corporate  

Ambassador and social media specialist Candace Marie is the founder of Black In Corporate Black In Corporate, a group that advocates for Black employees in workplaces. The idea for Black In Corporate was born out of her own experiences in workspaces where systemic racism has made it difficult for Black employees to succeed. "While Black In Corporate was born out of my own personal experiences," Candace says, "a major reason I decided to start the nonprofit was that I knew that there were several Black individuals within my circle that had experiences similar, but they were not exactly the same as my personally."

One of the many foundations Black In Corporate has to stand on is their virtual Mentorship Program, which offers Black professionals with access to possibilities, resources, and collaboration. Black In Corporate's website has been pivotal in promoting the program to their target public. "While the press and social media are the main drivers of traffic, the beautiful layout and the ease of navigating the page keeps our audience interested and returning," Candace says about the effectiveness of their website.

The saying "it takes a village" is especially true in the case of Candace and her experience the launch of Black In Corporate. Her success has been bolstered through the support from mentors, sponsors as well as family members and friends who helped her along through the process. Many ways, Candace is now offering this same level of support to Black professional. "This process is difficult enough doing it alone," she says. "Whenever I'm able to offer an advice or suggestion or participate on a panel or make an introduction to someone who is a friend, I'm committed to nurturing other Black individuals in this field."

Discover more regarding Black In Corporate on their website.

       Elton Anderson Jr.  

Over the span of 14 years, Elton Anderson Jr. worked in the photography industry, shooting celebrities and some of the biggest household brands. He decided to change his direction after noticing that the profession he'd once been so passionate about was no longer so fulfilling. After a serious case of malaria during a trip through Brazil, Elton vowed to commit his whole life to bettering himself as well as the lives of those around him.

Now, Elton is doing just this with his work that every day. Alongside taking on new roles like producers, director of creative and travel show host, Elton also launched Creators of Color the platform dedicated to telling the stories of Black creators in various fields.

For Elton the adjustments is an essential part of the creative process. Elton's advice for youngsters Black creatives looking to switch careers is to trust their instincts. "If you don't feel it's a Yes and it's not a no," Elton says. "This mantra has helped me make my career switch much more effective and authentic to me."

For a creator like Elton, who has multiple projects on his plate digital marketing plays an important role in telling the story of his life. The goal of Elton is to be a "Master Storyteller." Both websites, as well as his social media accounts let him do precisely that. "I treat my website as an area where visitors can come in, take the time to sit down, and come acquainted with me," Elton says. "My social media is an opportunity for people to continue my journey live in real-time."

Learn more details about Elton and his story through his site.