Meet Michele Gibson | Owner of CookieSnaps HTX – Photos, Branding, & Videos

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michele Gibson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michele, why did you pursue a creative career?
The thought that I could pursue a career in the arts comes from, first, my life passions. The fact that the only topics, activities, and subjects that have always interested me were in the fields of photography, some form of design (graphic, interior, etc), dance, etc. And secondly, a big, so big leap of faith that God would bless me in my efforts to discover His purpose for my life through these passions that He has given me. This faith filled belief that came 3 years after I graduated college, couldn’t find work, and went through a tough season in my life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I began my multimedia business named CookieSnaps HTX around May of 2021. This business is the sum of my artistic passions I developed during my time in college studying Photography, Graphic Design, & Videography. I started this business from the encouragement of friends and strangers, and from the thought that I want to make a career from the activities that make me happy.

Starting the business has been the easiest part. Sign one or two documents, pay like $20, grab your domain and you have a business. It’s the refining of your image, voice, and mission plus discovering the best ways to gain an interactive audience that has been the challenge to overcome. I’m learning so much about the best ways to approach these challenges through the books I read on marketing, finance, relations, etc, and through trial and error. I’ve done outreaches where I succeed in gaining contacts, bookings, and added income, but I’ve also had the complete opposite. Both tears and joy come from starting a business.

The lessons I have learned I often share to my audience on Instagram @cookiesnaps_htx through Lives, but the biggest ones that I have learned are this:
1. You never know unless you try, and that will have to be done in order for you to succeed.
2. What you are selling you have to be passionate about it because that will be the driving force to keep you growing in the skillsets, the marketing of it, and your continued happiness.
3. Pray Before You Start and Be Thankful Through to The End
4. Lastly (for now), be easy on yourself and don’t be afraid to change. Change the product/service, change the tactics, change your goals. You have more time than you think to succeed, especially when you work smarter not harder.

My brand as of now is a means to a greater end. My true goal for this business is to create multiple revenues of income that I can use to start building Tiny Homes for people without homes and in low-income brackets. I’ve developed a passion to teach myself and the world around me that living comfortably can be done without living beyond your means. Almost, a minimalist approach to life. I want to create pocket communities designed to rehabilitate people to lives of healthy independence and knowledge from self-sustainability. Lives where they can truly see value and worth from within. Not from what the material world tries to give them at a costly price.

This goal is most certainly not an overnight goal, but I am ready and willing to make it my life’s work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely take my friend to Austion or Dallas because the nightlife is great for dancing, dining, camping, and the day life is great for hiking, shopping, or other commercial/landmark stuff. The people are weird but kind. The air of Texas can be fresh like nowhere else. Or I’d take them down south the Galveston just to look at the water, not get in lol, or visit some cool local museums and mom & pop shops. I’m a wide, open spaces kind of Gal which you don’t get a lot of from Houston. But Houston does have some amazing museums, the Menil collection is my absolute favorite. Different art collections all the time and surrounded by delicious food and cute parks.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I want to thank God! Because my faith will always be the corner stone of my life’s work. Second, I’d like to shoutout my friend V. Duffoo, Owner of Galveston Pet Sitters & loving friend, who I believe was a key player in me finding this desire to pursue self-employment. She brought me to a little place in Beaumont where I met encouraging people who spoke life into me and gave me vision when I had none.

ersonalMicheleGibson_

Website: https://www.cookiesnapshtx.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookiesnaps_htx/

Image Credits
CookieSnaps HTX