Meet Monica Reyes

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Monica Reyes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Monica below.

Monica, thank you so much for making time for us today. We can’t wait to dive into your story and the lessons you’ve learned along the way, but maybe we can start with something foundational to your success. How have you gone about developing your ability to communicate effectively?

To me communication is an act of care, where efficiency takes the lead and empathy rides alongside. I’ve learned that my brain often moves faster than my speech, so I make a conscious effort to slow down, ground myself so I can be very intentional with my words. It’s an ongoing learning process to communicate clearly, succinctly, and with impact.

Over the years I’ve observed how people speak when they’re overwhelmed, under-supported, fearful, or lacking confidence, and how that can unintentionally affect others. I believe we always have a choice about how we show up. It’s important to be mindful of what fuels our communication, while taking ownership of our own emotional state. It’s not just about what we say; it’s about how we make others feel in the process.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I work in commercials and the music world as a wardrobe stylist, photographer, and creative director. Over the last two years I’ve started working with larger clients, including Toyota, Walmart, and Apple, as a wardrobe stylist, and that side of my business has grown a great deal. I’m expanding into a new wardrobe studio this month, and I can’t wait to see what ideas will be able to take root in that new space. Part of the space will be devoted to a small photography studio for work that I pick up in my downtime between wardrobe jobs. One of my favorite things about being multi-disciplinary is that I’ve worked in almost every role of production, and that background and experience (photography, creative direction, and even producing) helps me provide a uniquely streamlined service for my clients. I love growing and striving to improve, both personally and professionally, and I take the lessons I learn on each job with me to the next one. This is probably one of my favorite aspects of styling. Each job is completely unique with its own set of challenges, but I’ve begun to feel that these challenges no longer surprise me. I get a lot of fulfillment from using my knowledge base and experience to help a client bring their ideas to life, and it’s always a joy to see the final polished product after so much hard work from so many different departments.

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?

1. Patience. Understand that success happens in stages. First comes survival, then stability, and finally alignment, where you can say yes only to what resonates. Having a strong foundation before you build your brand is essential, and that takes time. No one really prepares you for how long it takes to find “success,” especially in the age of social media. There’s this illusion that success should be instantaneous, and should never have peaks and valleys. It’s important to remember that real life happens not in a curated grid, but in the actual moments that make up our lives. It often takes years, even decades, before you hit your stride or get your big break.

2. Strongly defined boundaries. Boundaries are not barriers. When you let others bypass professional protocol — in the name of being liked, staying booked, or avoiding conflict — you’re sending the message that your boundaries are negotiable. The right people will respect you more when you respect yourself first.

3. Be kind. Advocating for yourself does not mean being rude, hard-nosed, or abusive. I’m always impressed when I see someone weathering stress and the unexpected with a calm, measured response. Tensions will flair if they are fanned, and a strong, resolute kindness is a key ingredient to any high-functioning team, in whatever field. Except maybe pirates. They’re allowed to be mean.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My favorite clients are those who communicate with kindness and thoughtfulness. They understand that nothing good comes from toxic, dis-regulated, or unsupportive work environments — and it shows in how they treat people. They’ve been around the block too, and expect the unexpected. They know that “scope creep” is real (when the scope changes but the budget doesn’t), and they anticipate challenges rather than just put out the fires. Their foresight comes from wisdom and experience. They listen, and strive to understand their team. They trust in people’s expertise, respect their process, and advocate for their rate, because they know they’re paying not just for people’s time, but for the years of lessons and values each individual brings to the project. I also get inspired when a client puts care into their work. Seeing how they consider the many steps and layers within each job or department and add support where it’s needed sets the tone for the whole production, and makes it easier for everyone to shine in their various departments. Working with clients like this doesn’t just make the work smoother; it makes it meaningful, fun, and wonderful. They understand that we’re all working on our individual dreams together, and they take pride in their role as the guiding hand on the til.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Mike Deni
Geographer
Dan Monick
Brian Overend
Eddie Berman
Buckley
Christina Acevedo
Carol Gang
Floyd Zion
Low Leaf
Yoa Mizuno
Adrian Burgos
Jayla Maxwell
Nicole Chew
Maria Clara Macri
masculine de la femme
savoy vintage

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