Daily Inspiration: Meet Mia Oates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia Oates

Hi Mia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Ive always had a passion for fashion, art, and music, a lot of times as a kids i used to get in trouble from all the messes i made exploring different creative outlets. I spent a lot of time scrapbooking with my grandma, shopping with my mom or listening to music and watching horror movies with my brother. Around my junior year of high school my dad gave me a choice of a laptop or a camera and instinctively I chose the camera. I became very passionate about makeup and made a lot of tutorials as well I taking pictures and cute video montages of all the looks i did. I also spent a lot of time kickin it with my friends and taking pictures on a lot the thrills we went on. One day i got a dm from one of my peers from high school asking how much I would charge for a photoshoot and the rest is history. I also started to venture out more in my area and surrounded myself with like minded individuals with businesses who were in need of photos and video as well. 2021 I dropped the makeup for a bit and dove more into my creative director bag and started to create sick concepts that I later executed with my friends. My art would start to get more traction on apps like tiktok and it connected me to a whole other world of people.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I feel like with anything in life that you feel is worth pursuing, there always going to be some type of struggle. For me, a lot of my struggles are not feeling as seen especially being a creative and being a black woman. I feel I will always have to work ten times as hard as my peers. Work-life balance has been also another struggle Im facing as I’m ascending more into my passion. Also don’t let none of these mfs fool you, most creatives have another job or TWO and may or may not be struggling. I say this to say being a creative isn’t always easy and fun and getting flown out to different places. Its truly a process you have to trust. Imposter syndrome also has been a big one, especially in this day and age the world is not in the best place so sometimes I do have moments of doubt and uncertainty like “what the fuck am I even doing”.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Im a videographer, photographer, model, and graphic designer. I’m known for my colorful, retro, and cunty photoshoots- specifically my self portraits. I think was sets me apart is that I truly care and have empathy for life itself. I love bringing people together and showing them that they can do anything. A lot of times my friends and clients will tell me that they’ve never thought about modeling or doing anything creative. I have the power to capture people in a certain way to the point where I can invoke a new reality in them, you know? I love creating environments that are filled with laughs and memories I hope that people look back on as much as I do. I’m proud of the people that my creativity has brought me to, I’ve done many things and been in rooms that me three years ago wouldn’t be able to fathom. another thing that I think sets me apart I wear so many hats creatively I feel like its hard to put me in a box which is so fun! Put me on any set and I perfect and conquer the task.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
my favorite childhood memory has to be any time I spent with my grandma. she was definitely a huge impact on who I’ve become today. I spent my summers with her a thrifting and spending a bag at the local dollar tree. Any and everything I was interested in we spent time doing which I appreciate. She opened my eyes to a world where anything is possible. Ms. Marie Singleton was an icon.

Pricing:

• 2 hr photoshoot- 300 *price varies*
• graphic design poster -150 *price varies*
• videography- 350 *price varies*

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theehoneydipp

Image Credits
1 photo: (left to right) salem, gifty, eke
2 photo: (left to right) drew, salem
3 photo: charlene nguyen, mia oates
4photo: mia oates
5photo: cameron scott ,mia oates
6photo: mia oates
7photo: mia oates
8photo: briana lee, mia oates & dara pena