We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julia Findlay a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Julia , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My mom. We joke a lot that she never sits still. I am the exact same. I never really stop. I always seem to have a new idea of something I want to try. I don’t feel right unless I am working on something at all times. My mom has her degree in Early Childhood Development she also has a physical therapy degree and she also owned a Art Gallery most of my high school life. She is also a very talented artist who specializes in bird houses, stationary and floor mats. She was also the chair person for a huge organization in Tucson helping feed homeless kid. On top of that she is a full time Mimi. I fell in love with photography when I was younger and she always supported that. She would drive me to the park and let me play with her camera and she would help me set up all my barbies in the living room to do ” Fashion Photoshoots” with my disposable camera. When I was in my early 20’s she really encouraged me to go to Esthetician school as well because she knew how much I loved to do makeup and take care of others. She was the first one who encouraged me to open my photography business and my Waxing Studio. If I wasn’t around a woman who constantly pushed herself and showed me what it was like to not only be a mother but a strong go getter I wouldn’t have the work ethic I do now.


Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am Julia I am 35 years old. Mother of two incredible humans. When I was younger I feel in love with photography I can’t really remember a time that I didn’t have a camera in my hands at all time. I would bug my friends to do photoshoots from middle school all the way to high school. In my 20’s I worked for a alternative fashion store and was able to attend a lot of local events and help out with the photoshoots and that inspired me to finally take it more seriously.
In my mid 20’s I attended Esthetician school and still did photography part time. I have always kept photography as part of my life and always find time to do it here and there. Two years ago my best friend Jessica and I opened up our very own Waxing Studio ‘ Esthi Besties Waxing Studio” after working together for 13 years and specializing in waxing we thought “Hey lets do this on our own” Throughout my Esthetician career I got my educator license and was also a regional wax trainer in the city of Chicago. Now I own my waxing studio with my business partner in Tucson Arizona.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Honestly as cliche as it sounds just believe in yourself. There is no reason why you can’t push yourself to reach your goals. You have to always know. your a badass and worthy of everything you want. Just don’t give up on what you want. If you want something bad enough you will make It work and it may take longer than you hoped for but that just make you all the better because once you reached it you know how much you deserved it.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
For photography I love couples who really are up for anything, I defiantly have an eye for more editorial imagery. I love to incorporate florals and work with local florist in my photography and fashion is honestly once of my favorite aspects about it. So my ideal client would be a couple who just truly trust my vision.
For the Esthi Besties Waxing Studio my business partner and I want woman all over to feel confident and badass and amazing in their skin. No matter what they are going through, a new job, relationship, becoming a mother, for self love no matter what it is we want you to feel beautiful and confident in your skin. We want you to come to our studio and fee like you are just visiting your Besties.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.esthibestieswaxingstudio.com
- Instagram: Esthi besties waxing studio
- Facebook: Esthi Besties Waxing Studio
- Other: photography
instagram- Julia Lea Photography
Website- https://julialeaphoto.com






Image Credits
all photos Julia lea photography
( picture of myself) Emily Jayne Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
