Meet Lauren Baetz

We recently connected with Lauren Baetz and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Can I just say? That this is an excellent question!
I think first I need to explain what “imposter syndrome” is to me because to be honest, I had to look it up. It is defined as “the subjective experience of perceived self-doubt in one’s abilities and accomplishments compared with others, despite evidence to suggest the contrary”.
For me, imposter syndrome manifests itself as if I’m not enough, or that I’m not worthy of my accomplishments or the life that I have today, but truth be told…I earned it.
I developed a really strong work ethic and being that I’m a people pleaser, that suits me well in my chosen field.
I remember I had this one steady gig as a makeup artist at a photo studio in Las Vegas for a major supplier. I’ve never doubted myself or my skillset as much as when I initially started working there.
Having the imagining department pulling up my work on a large and highly pixelated monitor, telling me all the things I need to fix and what is wrong with my work is daunting & difficult to hear. It would provoke such anxiety everytime I went to work, I began to question my skillset and compare myself to my colleagues. I’d wonder if I was good enough or if it was personal.
That was at first, but I’d been doing makeup for quite sometime at that point, and what I have learned is that it’s not about me. It’s about achieving the desired look for my client, whether it be for a bride or a major global distributor.
Once I shifted my perception and became eager to accept criticism and make the requested changes, I flourished there & I become their preferred and most trusted makeup artist. It also made me the artist I am today and gave me the eye that I have.
I without a doubt, would not have the skillset I have now had I not been willing to learn and possibly entertain the idea that I was wrong.
It was like this question you asked me, I wanted to provide the most informed response possible and that entailed me to look up the information so I could give the most honest and transparent answer because now I know exactly how it pertains to me.
Once I entertain the idea that I’m the problem or that I am incorrect, only then am I able to tackle the issue and implement a solution, this can be done both personally and professionally.
If I at least entertain the idea that I am wrong, I can begin to look at it more objectively. When I do that I can change my past, present and future simply because I’ve shifted my perception to do so.
In doing that, I become a part of the solution and am not riddled with anxiety over any and everything that is a challenge to me.
I’ve also learned that I’m exactly where I am suppose to be, my only job is to be the best version of myself and remain teachable.
Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t easy, and it’s a sneaky little thing that can creep into your mind, but ultimately I had and have to trust in the process. I have learned that we all bring something different to the table and that not everyone wants what I have or will appreciate it, and that is okay.
And, just a friendly reminder to stop comparing yourself to others, because flowers and sunsets look nothing alike and both of them are beautiful.
We have to stop this competitive mentality or thinking of it as being better than or worse than – if you compete with yourself to be better than you were the day before, you’ll find your peace.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I relocated to Memphis this past March from Las Vegas, where I’d been a professional freelance makeup artist for over 15 years in that city, and I started Lu home in January of 2023.

Moving to Memphis has had its challenges, as I have no clientele or colleagues here, but I have been doing my best to network and create a brand of my own in this town.

In Vegas, I worked with a lot of locals and had established connections with the agencies that represent me there, but in Memphis it’s like a blank slate. I have to rebuild myself from the ground up, which has meant creating an online presence, building a new website and doing my part to make new connections within the industry I love.

The hair, makeup & wedding/events community in Memphis has been amazing, very warm and welcoming. I haven’t encountered anything like it in all my 18 years as a makeup artist, it literally warms my heart when I think about how receptive these women have been. I consider it a privilege to start a new beginning in a community of like minded individuals, albeit is different.

Given that I am starting from scratch here and have less work than I am used to, it’s really given me the ability to turn more of my attention to Lu home.
Lu home is my online home decor store, we are on Etsy and sell from our own website.

As far as our brand, I built it to work as a cohesive collection of handmade goods. All of the products I have either sourced, designed or made myself.
I create all my shop’s content for social media and our website, assist customers with their purchase, and I pack & ship everything from my home base in Memphis.

Since moving to Memphis, I’ve added candle making to my repertoire and I absolutely love it. Except my candles, I consider more art and I’ve worked really hard to create fragrances that have great hot and cold throws, since a lot of my customers don’t even want to light them. It was important to me to create a quality home fragrance line, that if the customer wanted, it could be a signature scent in their home.

As far as my brand is concerned, I really wanted it to be a line that anyone could identify with, one that felt good as well as looked good. Where someone wanting to decorate their home wouldn’t feel overwhelmed with self doubt when it came to product selection, inspiration and styling ideas or whether or not it will work with one thing or the other.
I believe l that home decor should be a reflection of you, it should promote all the things that you as a person want to be & it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Hence, I worked to create an entire line that is cohesive and essentially works as a mood board. We created Lu home bundles for example, that include vases and preserved florals. So the customer can make their purchase with confidence, and being so hands on enables us to guide and assist them post-purchase too. That was partly why I chose Etsy in the end, because I wanted my customer’s e-commerce experience to still be human.

We are having our first in person shopping experience at the Holiday Market here in Memphis on October 25th through October 27th, located in the Agricenter International (7777 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis, TN 38120).

I am so excited for this opportunity to meet and greet the Memphis community and to be afforded the opportunity to offer Lu home to buyers in person.

I’ve been working tirelessly to create an experience for those that visit with me those 3 days, which is what I pride myself on in all of my endeavors.
Creating a memorable experience, whether that is with a client in my makeup chair or a person who has chosen Lu home to be a part of their home.

I think candles, blankets and makeup services can be a dime a dozen, but when you invest yourself in the moment and the products or looks you create, magic happens there.

People pay for a product or service but they remember and return for the experience, which is why I cannot wait to offer Lu home in person & hopefully build a strong makeup clientele and industry connections here in the heart of Memphis, my new home.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I heard a quote once that really resonated with me, “kill your ego, because that mother (explicative) has no room in your growth!”
It was such a revelation to me, because I know now, the older I get, that my pride and ego can be the death of me if I let them.

Once I adopted the mentality to entertain the idea that I was wrong and the ability to remove myself from the equation and to remember that not everything was about me, I commenced to grow.

If I am working with a client, I abandon myself and my ideas completely, of course I offer them, but not everyone is willing to “play” and after all, it is their face.
My goal is to make whomever is in my chair feel and look beautiful, and that means giving them what they want.

I’ve learned that it can be the most beautiful makeup, but if a client doesn’t feel like themself or comfortable in their own skin then they won’t feel confident or beautiful.
Which is far more important to me than making it about me & feeling self conscious about my ability as an artist.

Once I did that, I thrived and clients wanted me because I heard them and not the other way around. Simply put, I afforded them the opportunity to be themselves by creating a safe space for them.

My goal, personally and professionally, is to be small enough to leave a big impact by making my customers and clients feel seen, beautiful & heard.
I take great pride in all the things I do, because I take the time to learn from my mistakes, this is where my pride and ego can be helpful, because I never want to make the same mistake twice.

I learned to do unto others as you would have done unto you. Now, I’m not perfect, I struggle and those days are hard, but I always ask myself what kind of woman do I want to be and the answer usually becomes crystal clear.

My advice to those trying to find their way is to listen to their heart, to ask themselves honestly if they’re running on ego, if they’re willing to entertain the idea they’re wrong (because this is where we learn) and what kind of person they want to be.

I find that when I am honest with myself and others, the course of action usually will reveal itself, personally and professionally.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My Mom, Sandra has been probably my biggest asset and ally in life. She has supported me in ways that, if ever become a mom, I can only dream of. I truly wouldn’t be where I am without her.
She supports me in every sense of the word. Every endeavor, idea, adventure, all the things.

For me, I have learned from her whether it’s what I want to do or not do. I’m not sure, perhaps you’d have to ask her how I was as a child, but I remember being more fearless and adventurous. From moving across the country, to out of the country, to becoming a makeup artist and starting Lu home.

Whether she has helped me financially, emotionally or quelled the self-doubt that creeps in, I’ve never met someone so ready to be exactly what I need them to be in the exact moment. To be fair, it isn’t 100% of the time, but for the most part she is.

I think partly because of her and how she raised me, I was able to become the girl that approached life and dreams with the mentality of ‘I’m going to do it and we will cross that bridge when I get there.’

I would always tackle things that way. For example, I moved to Ireland for a year. I had it in my head that I wanted to move there, and rather than talk myself out of it with a plethora of ‘what ifs?’
I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and doing my part to make it happen, all the while telling myself I would give up on it when I finally hit a roadblock that made me forfeit.
I approached everything that way. And usually if I hit a roadblock like that, my mom always showed up and helped me achieve my goal. I think ultimately, the most telling was when I faced one of the most difficult times in my adult life, I was struggling with alcohol and had made a huge mess of the life I’d worked so hard to build. She showed up for me when I couldn’t or wouldn’t show up for myself, she believed in me when I’d all but given up. I think if that isn’t testament to a mother’s love, I don’t know what is.

I think we’re a culmination of the best and worst of every person we meet, and our parents are no different. I’ve learned a great deal from the relationship I have with my Dad as well, or lack thereof, but the older I get I can appreciate what I’ve learned and it’s made me see and appreciate the relationship my mom has built with me.

She continues to choose me and show up for me, and because of her I’ve learned how to choose love and life and to show up for the relationships I’ve been blessed with today.

I think the biggest thing I’ve learned from both of them is just to try, that it is better to be happy than right & that a lot of what people do has more to do with them than it does with you.
I’m grateful for the life and experience I have today, because I wouldn’t be who I am without it or them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Luhomestudio.com
• Instagram: @shopluhome
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeupartist.LuLuB?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/oh6DeCcvOj
• Other: www.LuLuBaesthetics.com
  @makeupartistlulub