We were lucky to catch up with Emma Galantich recently and have shared our conversation below.
Emma, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I get my bounce-back power from the setbacks themselves, whether they’re emotional, physical, or mental. When I find myself stuck in a bad place, ex a toxic work environment or the people around me, I make it a point to snap out of it and refocus on what I truly want and how I want to feel at the end of the day. There aren’t enough hours in a day or days in a week to waste time dwelling on negativity because that only holds you back. I always strive for better, because I know those setbacks are as low as it gets, and from there, things can only improve. Every day is a chance to level up, and I remind myself of that constantly.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started wanting to build a career in Visual Arts after high school, and throughout college, most of my photography work was inspired by editorial artists and fashion makeup icons. When I transferred from college, it was a blessing in disguise because it gave me time to sit down and really think about a realistic game plan for my future. I realized I wanted more than just the act of taking pictures. I thrive on connecting with people and having the freedom to create.
I had always done makeup for friends and family for parties, tying it back to photography, but never fully considered becoming a makeup artist. Growing up, there were a lot of egos around me when it came to choosing careers. I remember being in 6th grade, sitting in a library, and shyly writing down “makeup artist” as my dream job, wondering is that even a real career? Deep down, I always knew it was, and I never stopped thinking about it.
Fast forward to the world shutting down I found myself falling down a YouTube rabbit hole, watching “day in the life of an esthetician” vlogs. A few days later, after doing my research, I told my parents I wanted to pursue a career change. I enrolled in online classes at Capri in Newburgh, New York, where I was about to meet, for the first time, the lifelong girlfriends who still motivate and support me to this day. We built strong bonds studying for our state boards, running out for last-minute coffee, shedding tears, and, most importantly, sharing pride in what we were accomplishing.
I felt so empowered attending trade school and entering a career that wasn’t just beauty-focused but also rooted in science. I fell in love with ingredients and formulations. At my first job as an esthetician, I would spend hours reading the backs of skincare bottles, researching and writing notes, asking myself: Why does this product work? What makes this ingredient effective? That curiosity and passion have stayed with me ever since.
I’ve gained a lot of experience in both the good and the challenging working for others in the beauty and spa industry. On the makeup side, I’ve found incredible opportunities collaborating with other creatives, like participating in Tyler Green’s SFX workshops, working on film sets in the Hudson Valley, doing makeup for Couture Modeling Agency for almost three years now, and curating wedding photoshoots with local hairstylists. And all of this has happened in just a handful of years in the industry! I know there is still so much to come.
Even now, as a new business owner with my beauty studio in Beacon, New York, I still feel like I’m just getting started. I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve created not just for myself, but for my craft and that creative drive I know I’ll never run out of. Whether I’m waxing a client’s brows, creating an acne-safe skincare routine, or being part of a bride’s special morning, I find art and creativity in nearly every service I provide.
Looking ahead, I hope to continue embracing the creative freedom I have while growing my business and brand in both the beauty and wedding industries.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back a few qualities come to mind are acceptance, support, and creativity. These three have shaped my journey in meaningful ways, especially because they were consistently encouraging throughout my life. I think of both my parents my mother, a nurse, and my father, a 4th-grade teacher. They never discouraged me from pursuing what I’m passionate about. They’ve always supported me. My mom pushed me to start working at 16, and together, they instilled in me a strong work ethic and the drive to keep going, no matter what.
If I had any advice to share, it would be just that: keep going. I’ve quit jobs, been fired, felt incredibly happy, and also completely stuck. All of those feelings and experiences are steps toward what you’re truly meant to do.
Creativity has always been part of my life. As a young girl, I was constantly writing stories or drawing, and as I’ve grown up, I’ve made sure to always have a creative outlet. That way, it doesn’t always feel like work it feels like something I can love and grow with.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
As a new business owner, I totally get that there’s a lot of stress involved it honestly feels more like having a newborn! Hehe!
To help manage overwhelming moments, I love taking long walks or working out bc it helps me quiet my mind and focus on my body and staying grounded. Red light therapy is another favorite, and if I’m responding to something that feels emotionally charged, I’ll often write it out over and over until it feels like I’m reacting in the way I truly want to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.4goodluckbeautystudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4goodluck.beautystudio/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/4goodluck.beautystudio/
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