BY: JADE LEONARD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: NADIR JOHNSON
The Vision Room is a group of 10 talented people based in New Jersey who came together via Instagram and work with other creatives. If their creative work were edible it would be a charcuterie platter cuz it's a lot of everything but it's so bougie and so pretty and it tastes good! Jasmine started the project 3 years ago and the formula is working. They got selective in deciding their core team members, consisting of people establishing brands and businesses, ensuring to include like-minded people into the fold. The Vision Room has teamed up with men and women fashion designers from North to South, giving the opportunity to showcase the many talents that come through the studio, from influencers, beauticians, photographers, and videographers. "Our goal is to give a chance for our audience to see all the faces that are behind the camera in our studio as they rise!"
The Vision Room's ultimate goal is to bring a unique, creative style to the social media culture; everyone has their own brands so there’s always a new opportunity to reach and showcase other's unique ideas. They steer away from changing your brand or creativity, yet have a supportive team around getting your idea out there. They have a space, influencers, stylists, makeup stylists, and set designers to produce any vision you have for your visual arts needs. They have the resources so that you can execute your vision!
The Vision Room is not only a fun place to take cool pictures, it's about learning and empowering people and our community. The African American, Spanish, and minority community, and the young generation; this is their way of expressing themselves. Teaching them they have to be careful, do things with integrity, and teach them to love themselves, empower themselves, and know they can be their own business and own brand. Also, create generational wealth around themselves, their family, and the positive things they are doing.
I present to you The Vision Room.
"When you pull a bunch of experts together it's like a beautiful cake"
The UpNext: Why is having a team essential? What are some tips for building and maintain an effective team?
The Vision Room: Teams are essential because you need to build off of each other. You lose creativity when you do it by yourself. The purpose of our teams is to pull different ideas from each other. Not everyone is taxed; everyone is focused on their creativity and masters in their wheelhouse. Whether you’re a stylist, makeup, hair, photographer, or videographer. We expect you to be an expert in your field. When you pull a bunch of experts together it's like a beautiful cake, then you also get to learn from one another and learn a different opinion or perspective.
Setting boundaries and expectations of everybody and letting that person be as creative as they want to; don't stifle their creativity and what they can bring to the table. Most people are multifaceted, a videographer could be a set designer!
The UN: How do you work through differences?
The VR: We talk. We talk it out. We’re a family. We all know that we're coming from a place of love, growing. We tell the truth. You have to understand you’re taking critique. It's not personal...when you need time for yourself take it because a better you is a better us.
The UN: Tell us about the process of obtaining your studio?
The VR: Started off as a small studio, a stylist and makeup artist; then we grew by word of mouth.
The UN: What are some social media tips that small businesses use to increase their social media presence that actually work?
The VR: Be engaging. Engage. Engage. Engage. Our biggest selling point is the experience behind it over anything else.
It's our part-time full-time love that runs 24/7. When 1 is off, one is on. Multitasking. From a business perspective, when dealing with customer service and providing the response is so important.
The UN: What has been your favorite collaboration thus far? What went into planning those collaborations?
The VR: A team member said we want to do a group picture, something we could all do together. Got in talks with a fashion house in Alabama and worked with a distinguished fashion designer in North New Jersey, Marco Hall. So Official and at the point we came together, asked for some pieces. The fashion industry slowed down during the pandemic. They weren’t selling as many suits or prom gowns. We did a photoshoot of all the great work done in 2020. Celebration of bringing together the photographers; the people behind the camera got brought to the forefront, very rarely do they get their time to shine! It was their time to get the glitz and glamour, take their photos, and have them looking good.
And the INRVISION Series; it's where heavy-hitters come through and take poppin' people on social media and bring them to the forefront. RubyRed; Vanessa Viola music video and Dave East and Mary J. Blige. Sasha Sanao filmed scenes on Pose; it all started with an idea.
The UN: How have you had to adapt since COVID?
The VR: We had to revamp our scheduling to give clients to come in and out and cleaning; after the state of New Jersey was able to open up a little bit, we gave freelancers a way to fund themselves and get back on their feet. It hit our industry really hard, there was no turn-up. One of our members did a DJ battle. Hoping with the vaccine that more people will come into the studio.
The UN: How far will you take clients in the branding process?
The VR: We start small with consultations, assessments, and follow-ups; our goal is to stay with them throughout their entire career until they feel comfortable handling it on their own.
The UN: Have you ever doubted your talent? If so, how did you work through your doubt?
The VR: We don't doubt. We have no doubts. We have our moments when we're overwhelmed. We make sure we tap in with each other and talk to each other every day. And always keep our goal in mind that we’ll be successful; I always joke that we’re gonna get to the Roc Nation brunch. That's gonna be the first stepping stone to ruling the world.
Ultimately, The Vision Room wants to be the biggest creative space in America, better yet the world. A place where you can come in and fine-tune your skills and be the best version of yourself. "It's not enough space to bring in young people and have them come in and create people. Yes, it might be a little bit of an expense, but we do work with people and we do sponsor certain people, however, it is a reasonable price to invest. Keyword "invest" into what you need to be and I promise you it's worth it 120%.
Invest in yourself today and keep up with The Vision Room! Follow The Vision Room: @_thevisionroom
Website: visionroomnj.com
The Vision Room LLC
155 Van Wagenen Ave
Jersey City, NJ
TVR:
@dreamsovereverything_
@mal.clarkk
@MUAViola
@Qsandorebeaute
@Blanchardfilms
@Jimmysodope
@xaviersmark
@jay_marie_
@dijah_xo
Clothing:
Sew Official (@sew_official )
Dionicio' Closet (@dionicioscloset)
Marco Hall (@marcohall)
Photographer:
@dreamsovereverything_
Creative Director:
Asharah Simpson