Meet Camille Fenn: Designer

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

Hi Camille, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I believe to be a risk taker is to believe whole-heartedly in yourself. If you truly believe, with ever fiber of your being, in your own capabilities, how is it a risk at all? If you identify with the belief that you are capable, there is no other path available to you other than this one. From an outsider’s perspective, I could see how the career path that I have chosen may seem like a sort of risk. To me it has just been so obviously the path I was supposed to follow. What would my other options be? There has never been another path I have considered dedicating my life to. I find the most fulfillment in being my own boss and consistently creating every single day. That’s what brings me life. It was even worth it in the beginning when I was barely making it by each month because I loved it and it felt authentic. I have also always loved the challenge of it. Is everyone or should everyone else be wired like this? Absolutely not. This is just how I am wired. Is it scary to take that leap? Yeah. It’s totally freaky. And there might be nights in the beginning where you’ve ordered Chinese food for delivery for the third night in a row and you’re up until 2 am reworking and reworking. But if you believe in your heart that this is truly the path you were meant to follow, then just keep going because it gets better. How boring a life to never commit to taking a chance on yourself. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It took me years to figure out what my style was and what made me an “artist”. Until a few months ago, I would have identified as a “designer” and not an “artist” because I never felt like I had a specific style that someone in the industry would easily identify as Handsome Love. In all honestly, this was largely because I had clients who came to me with specific visions based on something they had seen online and, in all hopes to satisfy the client, I would run with those ideas. I have now come to a place where I am very aware of who MY ideal client is and the aesthetic and style that I bring to the table. It is really easy for me now to turn away clients whose vision does not match my aesthetic. There are so many amazing designers in Denver. If I am not the one for you, I absolutely know the person I would refer you to to bring your vision to life. It is my number one goal to deliver my absolute best work to my clients and if I am able to recognize right away, that I will not deliver for a client, I will without hesitation send them elsewhere. It is also the ultimate compliment to hear from a bride who is familiar with my work and who is reaching out to me because they love my aesthetic specifically. My number one piece of advice, to anyone who is looking to get in to this industry, is to say “no” to jobs that you do not feel align with your vision/aesthetic/work. Because in saying “no” you are creating space for the right job to come your way. There have been times where I have said “yes” to a job I wasn’t 100% over-the-moon excited about, and then I have had another client (a dream client) who has reached out for the same weekend but I was already booked up. Don’t make the same mistakes that I did. Was it quality work that I was still delivering? Of course. But it wasn’t me. It is additionally confusing for your audience when you do not have a clear aesthetic for your 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?
You can always find me at The Dairy Block or in The RiNo Art District. And then if you’re here for the week, get your butt to the mountains, take in that fresh air and those gorgeous views.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I truly believe we are a product of our environment and I have one million and one people I would love to shoutout who have challenged me and supported me unconditionally and made me in to the person that I am today. But this business would have failed or I would have quit a long time if it were not for my mother and step-dad. The truth is I REALLY struggled my first year or two in business. I struggled so much that I moved home to live with my mom and step-dad because I could not sustain myself on my business income (I couldn’t for A WHILE). I had no idea what I was doing – I was absolutely making it up as I went along. Late nights when I stayed up past 2 am, my mom would bring me a home made meal. Weekends where I had no idea how to construct a piece I needed, my step-dad would go out of his way and pull out all his tools in his spare time to bring my vision to life. When I was crunched on time, my mom would run to the store for me and bring back whatever supplies I needed before the stores closed. Both of them would deliver products for me HOURS away and stay up late through break-down. There were weeks at a time where I would take over their kitchen and living room with gigantic projects to the point where there was absolutely no space for them. They have always had my back. And I know they always will. It makes me emotional thinking about how loved and supported I am and have always been. Two book that have changed my life, that I believe every entrepreneur should read are Jen Sincero’s “How To Be A Badass” and Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck”. Highly recommended. Definitely changed my life.

Website: https://www.handsomelovecalligraphy.com
Instagram: @handsomeloveco
Linkedin: x
Twitter: x
Facebook: x
Yelp: x
Youtube: x

Image Credits
Photographers: Bridget Burnett Photography, Mado Photo, Murphy Weibel Photography, Kimberly Mitiska Photography