Today we’d like to introduce you to Adriana Khalil Christian.
Hi Adriana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Working in the wedding industry was purely a chance encounter. I had just graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management when I accepted a job working corporate at the Toyota Plant a little south of San Antonio. While working there, I realized how masculine the environment was.
I believe the ratio at the time was about 95% men and 5% women. I was desperate for some girl time! I had a best friend at the time who was a makeup artist in Houston who had shown me a few tips. I thought to myself, “Well, maybe, I’ll just take a few hundred dollars, get myself a makeup artist kit, and see if anyone is interested in me doing their wedding makeup.” My kit was horrible and beyond basic!
I was charging people so low though that I ended up getting quite a few clients. As those clients came, I invested everything I made into better products, brushes, and strengthening my technique. Within ten months, I had quit my job working corporate and left to open up Khalil & Co. and my first studio location.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wish I could say owning a business was easy! I would say the hiring process is one of the constant struggles. When hiring in this business, you need someone who is very skilled, artistic, nice, patient, organized, and will actually show up when they say they will. Let me tell you, it isn’t easy to find that combination. If even one of those traits is slightly below par we are unable to have them join our team.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d say we are known for our hair and makeup, although we are trying to change that to include our photo and video work as well. My husband is an amazingly talented man who has taught me how to shoot both photos and videos. It is a skill he has personally had for many years, we recently added it to our services about 2 years ago. It is definitely the baby of Khalil & Co. I love watching it grow.
What makes us unique is our small, yet incredibly tight-knit team. We all personally know and care about each other both at work and away from it. I truly believe this translates into our work with our weddings because you can’t beat that type of team environment.
Our hair and makeup team has been recognized within the San Antonio community for many years for being reliable and incredibly skilled, we are off to show our fellow colleagues they can trust our photo and video section as well.
What matters most to you? Why?
Honesty matters the most to me both in my professional and personal life. True and meaningful conversations instead of just going with the flow will take you very far in life. I try to create an environment where the team members can talk to me about anything. I love working in a place where we can all be open and honest with each other.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.khalilcobeauty.com
- Instagram: @KhalilCoSA and @KhalilCoPhotoVideo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanantoniowedding and https://www.facebook.com/sanantoniophotoandvideo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUjmuAQEdEinqYCjwqWJPMQ
Image Credits
Khalil & Co.
