September 13, 2023 • 63 mins
Pull up a chair, and let's dive deep into the kaleidoscopic world of prop styling with the enchanting Gerri Williams! Ever felt that magnetic pull toward a beautifully staged photo and wondered about the magic behind it? Gerri is here to unravel that mystery, sharing her whirlwind adventures with powerhouse photographers, foodie visionaries, and clients who've pushed her creativity to soaring heights. Dive into her treasure trove of wisdom on sniffing out those oh-so-perfect props, marrying diverse creative imaginations, and weaving a tapestry of collaboration.
It's a journey into the soul as she delves into the sanctity of privacy, the emotional dance with cherished keepsakes, and the silent battles our beloved small businesses are navigating in these unprecedented times. Are you ready for this heartful, insightful ride? Let's dive in!
Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/gerriwilliams/ Website: https://micamccook.com/podcast Instagram: www.instragram.com/mica.mccook Instagram: www.instagram.com/thesavoryshotpodcast Would you like to be a guest on the show? Fill out the guest form, and we'll be in touch soon.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mica (00:00):
Welcome to the 32nd episode of The Savory Shot.
I'm your host, with the most, Mica, y'all!
I still can't believe that we'verecorded 32 episodes so far.
Oh my gosh.
I know I say it every show, butman, this little podcast, it
(00:23):
holds a big chunk of my heart.
So for the ones who've been here sinceepisode one, thank you for coming back.
Gracias.
Danke Shein, all the thank yousin every language, and for the
ones who are joining us for thefirst time, welcome to the show!
We besties now!
You fam now!
(00:44):
So come find me on Instagram and introduceyourself, because I want to know you.
I want to know what love is!
Okay, ignore all of that.
Except for the part where I saidwe're besties, because we are.
We're family.
We are family.
Okay, I can't quit.
(01:04):
Oh my gosh.
Okay, this is a serious podcast.
I am a serious host.
I got stuff and things to do, so...
Okay, who am I kidding?
This is a party.
I have some espresso in me.
I got some coffee in me.
I got some things to say.
But first things first...
Did you listen to thatepisode with Steve Hansen?
How freaking amazing was that?
(01:26):
Y'all, CGI is the future.
I'm like obsessed with Mid Journey.
I'm obsessed with ChatGBT,like all of those things.
I'm just obsessed with it.
And so having that conversationwith Steve was the shiznit.
I'm excited.
And if you are, thenlet's be excited together.
And if you're not, that's okay, too.
(01:48):
It's okay to be worried.
Let's talk about it.
Let's, uh, work it out.
But I want to give a shout out to Steve.
Thank you for being on the show.
Thank you for showering us withall of your knowledge and your
CGI and all the things and stuff.
Thank you so much for being on the show.
And if you ever want tocome back, please come back.
(02:08):
I enjoyed our conversation.
So thank you, Steve, somuch for being on the show.
But y'all, let's talk about today's guest.
Oh, y'all.
My heart, my cup, they both runneth over.
Let me tell you somethingabout today's guest.
Today's guest is the most sweetest,kindest, warmest soul I ever met.
(02:36):
I won't keep y'all hangin for long.
Meet Gerri Williams.
Gerri Williams is a prop stylist,and she's based in New York.
Y'all, you have seen her work everywhere.
And I do mean everywhere.
From magazines, to cookbooks,to commercial projects.
Y'all, Gerri has done it all.
(02:57):
Let me just say this.
I, and I know I say this everyconversation, but I loved, loved, loved,
loved everything about this conversation.
Have you ever met someone thatyou instantly connected with?
I'm not talking about like,oh, you seem like cool people.
(03:20):
Let's go on an awkwardcoffee meet in two weeks.
I'm talking about connectingon a deep soul level.
Like you've known eachother forever for years.
Even though you've only known eachother for like five minutes, but
you talk to each other, like you'veknown one another for 25 years.
(03:41):
There's just that, that safe, warmfeeling, like this is someone that
you are going to know for a very longtime and it feels really exciting.
That's what this conversation felt like.
It's just, like I said, my heart,my cup, they both runneth over.
(04:03):
Y'all, we talked about everything.
We talked about Gerri's beginnings,her risky move to New York for
Oklahoma, and y'all, it is a story!
And how she fosters her relationships.
Okay, I won't give away the whole show.
Not yet.
But I will say this.
Get ready.
This is one hell of a show,and I, I won't, I won't
(04:27):
keep you hanging any longer.
So, grab some coffee, and while you'redoing that, let's start the show.
(05:13):
Thank you so much for being on the show.
I'm very excited to have you here.
It's just such an honor that you'regonna, you're gonna share your
story and your journey with us.
So thank you for being on the show.
Gerri (05:25):
Thank you for having me.
I'm very excited to speak with you, Mica.
Very excited.
Mica (05:31):
I want to get right into this because I've got a whole meat
a potato of questions to ask you.
I'm introduced to you by thewonderful and amazing Robin Zachary.
Hey, shout out to Robin.
Gerri (05:43):
Hi, Robin.
Mica (05:46):
Yes, and she recommended that I talk to you.
So here we are, here I am talking to you.
When I was doing my research andlearning more about you, I found
an article that said, five blackprop stylists that you should know.
Your name was on that list, and youtold the story about your memory
(06:09):
of 12 year old you rearranging yourroom, without your parents permission.
And I was just like, oh mygosh, I have to talk to you.
I have to talk to you.
This is so cool.
So, you know, tell me aboutthat, that moment, that day.
What do you remember from that?
Gerri (06:25):
I remember just kind of being in my room and I was thinking
something is, doesn't feel right to me.
Most homes back then, back way backin the day had carpeting, right?
And I'm thinking there must be somethingunder this carpet that I need to see.
It was just, I don't knowwhy it was just bugging me.
(06:48):
So I moved a couple of things around and Iactually pulled up the carpeting and I saw
these beautiful wood floors and it just,it just kind of sparked something in me.
This was like probably early in themorning, and I'm pretty sure some
of my other siblings were home.
I can't remember, but it wasalmost like a project for me.
(07:11):
And I just started ripping up the carpetand ripping it up and ripping it up.
Now, the furniture in my room waskind of heavy because we had these
beautiful like, Haywood Wakefield,like a chest of drawers and a desk.
And I was struggling, butsomehow, I don't know how.
I got all of that furnituremoved and I got the carpet up.
(07:32):
And then my mom comes home andmy mom was like, Oh my God,
don't even get me started.
She said, Gerri, and she hadthis sweet little voice and she
said, what have you done here?
I said, Mom, I said, I just, I didn'tlike the carpet in my room anymore.
And I just felt like there wassomething nice under this carpeting.
(07:54):
And she looked at the floorand she said, Oh my God.
You're right.
These floors are beautiful.
And that was the beginning of ushaving all the carpeting pulled up
in most of the house and just havingbeautiful wood flooring just exposed.
And it was absolutely lovely.
Mica (08:13):
I love that.
It's like when you discover gold, you'reout in the field and, and you rub away
that dirt and then you find this beautifullittle jewel and you're like, wow.
Gerri (08:23):
A treasure.
Mica (08:24):
Yes.
Yes.
So you learn that about yourself.
How do you bring that intoyour work today as a stylist?
Gerri (08:35):
I'm always looking for something that's different or new.
I got really interested in Japaneseceramics about eight years ago, right?
And now I'm like, every time I seesomething that I feel like, Oh, this
could be a piece that was made in Japan.
I do my research and I have a fewplaces that I actually buy ceramics
(09:00):
from that are based in Japan.
I'm always trying to find a new thing.
Like I love things that I'mkind of used to, but I'm always
on the search for new things.
Does that make sense?
Mica (09:12):
That makes perfect sense.
It shows very much, how young 12year old you looked around and you're
like, I know that there's got tobe something more to this space.
It's like you find potential in everyprop and it feels a certain way to you.
Gerri (09:28):
Exactly.
It's kind of weird because my momhad a resale business where she
would go out and buy stuff, right?
And then she would resell it.
Her and my aunt had asmall resale business.
They would have garage sales,but also my dad was a chef.
So I grew up loving food and it'ssomehow those two things for me have
(09:50):
become my career, what I do, I workwith food and I work with props.
When my mom was having thosesales in her garage sales, we
would all pitch in and help.
We'd hang out signs, announcing thegarage sale that's going to happen
this weekend, you know, I would goout with her and we would find stuff.
It's the same thing that I'm doing today.
It's so crazy.
Mica (10:10):
Do you attend a garage sale still in New York?
Gerri (10:14):
It's not actually garage sales that I go to, but it's like,
you know, there are like thriftstores and I love the Salvation Army.
There's a company herecalled Housing Works.
It's kind of like the Salvation Army,but it's a little bit different.
And I find the most incrediblethings at these places.
Trust me, I have foundsome really, really...
(10:36):
beautiful, expensive things atthrift stores that I actually
use for my photo shoots.
Mica (10:42):
Oh, thrift stores are where it's at.
There's a, I don't know if it's anantique shop, but it's my, my husband
calls it like a hoarder's closet, butit is not a hoarder's closet lesson.
It's called Out Of The Past and it'sowned by this woman and her son.
They run it together.
(11:02):
It's her business, buthe he helps her run it.
When you walk in, it isoverwhelmingly packed with stuff.
And she knows where everything is.
It's a wonderful, wonderful place.
I tell every photographer that I know,I'm like, please go check this place out.
If you can get over the dirt and stuffeverywhere and see for what it is, you
(11:25):
will find the most beautiful things there.
Gerri (11:27):
Oh my God.
Okay.
See, now you have me.
I'm like kind of going crazy now.
Oh my God.
Out Of The Past.
Mica (11:34):
If you ever come to Austin to visit, that, that'll be one spot.
Gerri (11:37):
Yes, absolutely.
We'll have to have a little day there.
Mica (11:42):
Yeah, this isn't one of those places where you go for like an hour or two.
Like, you dedicate a day
Gerri (11:47):
A whole day.
Yes.
Mica (11:48):
She wants you to make noise.
She'll walk around and she'llbe like, it's too quiet in here.
Like, y'all need to get into some stuff.
And I look over at her andI'm like, you see me, like I'm
surrounded on the floor with things.
I'm, I'm doing my job.
Gerri (12:00):
Oh my God.
That sounds amazing.
I know there, there's aplace here in Brooklyn.
It's called Mother of Junk.
And I cannot tell you how manybeautiful things I've found at
this place, but it's like, it'slike a, it's like a treasure hunt.
You have to really, really lookand dig and go through the ten
(12:21):
thousand forks, knives, and spoonsin this big barrel of stuff.
But if you have the time and the patience,you can find some beautiful things.
Mica (12:31):
If you go to a store that's widely known Walmart or something, I
don't know where people go, Crate andBarrel, you're picking a prop that you
can find abundantly everywhere, butthere's just something special about
finding that one plate that doesn'treally exist in a lot of other worlds.
(12:51):
It's just, it's a very, very fun feeling.
Gerri (12:54):
It really is.
It really is.
Mica (12:57):
We talked a little bit about your mom and your family.
You are From Oklahoma City and you'vebeen in New York now for, for 20 years.
Gerri (13:06):
Well, actually, it may be a little longer than that.
I moved here in 1987.
Mica (13:14):
Of 1987.
So I, I'm not, I I stillcount with my fingers, so.
Gerri (13:19):
I don't even, yeah, don't even ask me to count.
Mica (13:21):
I'm, I'm
Gerri (13:24):
Oh
Mica (13:25):
I I got my calculator, so . Okay, so that's 36 years.
Wow.
36 years.
Gerri (13:34):
So I consider myself a New Yorker now, but I'll always be
like a, a Sooner from Oklahoma.
Mica (13:40):
Oh, yes.
Oh, yes.
Do you know Penny De Los Santos?
She.
Um,
Gerri (13:45):
Of course I know Penny.
Mica (13:47):
Okay, so y'all, y'all are BFFs.
Gerri (13:50):
She's so sweet.
Back in the day, we dida few shoots together.
I love Penny.
She's amazing.
Mica (13:55):
I worship the ground she walks on.
Gerri (13:58):
Yeah, she's, she's a real one.
Mica (14:00):
I interviewed her for the show and one comment that she made is that, yes,
she's from Texas and she'll always haveher heart in Texas, but she's lived in
New York for so long that at this pointshe's more of a New Yorker than a Texan.
Like your roots are are here forsure, and it's a place in your heart,
but New York is just fun, wonderful,amazing city to, to live and thrive in.
Gerri (14:25):
Oh, it's so exciting.
The possibilities are endless.
There's something to do on every street.
You go to Park Slope or you go toWilliamsburg or any of these small
little places, little cities orwhatever you want to call them, it's
like, there's always something to do.
That's the thing.
Sometimes it could be alittle bit overwhelming.
(14:48):
But then, you don't get bored so much.
There's always something to do.
Mica (14:52):
So do you remember the moment you decided to move to New York?
Was it a definitivemoment or was it organic?
Gerri (15:01):
I was talking to my daughter the other day, and I remember
back in, I'm going to say 1972.
And please forgive me if I'm going downmemory lane, but this is how this is, it
has something to do with where I am now.
In 1972, my second oldestsister, Irelene, she came to New
(15:21):
York to visit with our church.
And when she came back, she was tellingme all these fascinating things that she
saw and the things that were kind of alittle scary and the people on the street.
There were like drug addicts and.
And I was thinking, Oh,this sounds really cool.
(15:44):
Don't ask me why.
And I'm telling you, I'm telling you,I was like, Mica, I was, I was what,
maybe 10, but it was something abouther description of New York City that
I just fell in love with this place.
I would always watch the, um, moviesfrom like the thirties and stuff.
And that movie 42nd Street wasalways one of my favorite movies.
Mica (16:09):
Oh my gosh, 42nd Street!
Gerri (16:12):
Yes.
Something in my brain just said to me,one day you're going to move to New York
City and you have to make that happen.
So it was always kind of in the works,but I got a, an opportunity to move
here with one of my friends in Oklahoma.
She was moving here to work forthis person who owned a hotel.
(16:35):
It was called the Carter Hotelin Times Square of all places.
42nd Street.
Mica (16:40):
Wow.
Gerri (16:41):
She said, Gerri, we've been talking about moving to New York City and
I think I have a way for us to do that.
Well, fast forward, it happened.
I moved the day that I left, myparents were standing outside and
Mica, if I even think about itnow, it makes me like emotional.
(17:01):
My mom was looking at me and itwas, it was this look of like, Oh
my God, my baby is actually leaving.
She's going to this big bad cityas she would kind of call it.
And that was 1987 and I've been here,I, of course I go, I would go back to
Oklahoma, but it's, this is where I endedup and this is where I wanted to be.
Mica (17:23):
Are you the youngest in your family?
Gerri (17:25):
Oh no, I, I am, I'm number 10 of 12.
My mom had, yes, 12 children.
8 of us survived, 4 passed.
But yeah, huge family.
So I'm, um, yeah, I'm number 10.
10 of 12.
Mica (17:43):
My mom gets very emotional every time I leave.
I'm the youngest.
I'm her baby.
I have three older brothersand I'm the youngest.
But I'm always the one, leaving, going.
I'm out of state.
I like to travel.
And it's a really scary thingfor her because she just
wants to be there to protect.
So I can imagine your mom justbeing like, Oh my god, I want her
to like, go to this big city and,and make these big dreams come true.
(18:08):
But I'm really scared about Iwon't be there to protect her.
Gerri (18:11):
I know it was hard for her, but she let me shine.
She let me go.
And she said, Gerri, you know,if you ever get in trouble
or you need us for anything.
All you have to do is pickup the phone and call.
My dad, he didn't say much because mydad was kind of like a tough guy, but I
could see in his eyes, Mica, oh my God.
(18:33):
The sadness in his eyes and I thought tomyself when I got to my hotel that night
when we landed and we were settled in ourhotel, I must have cried myself to sleep.
I know I did.
I cried myself to sleep.
And then the next morning Igot up and it's like, okay.
(18:53):
It's time to, it's time to go towork, it's time for me to build
my, my life here in New York City.
Mica (18:58):
I identify with that so much.
I went to college in San Angelo,Texas, which is not as far as New
York, but it definitely wasn't Austin.
And my mom cried the entire drive.
All the way until we got me inmy dorm, gave everybody hugs.
Continued bawling her eyes out, and thenas soon as everybody left, I remember
sitting on my bed and just, blalalalala,
Gerri (19:19):
You lost, you lost it.
Mica (19:21):
I was like everything went out my wall, you know, fingers crossed.
Gerri (19:28):
So the same thing happened to you,
Mica (19:30):
Same thing happened to me.
It's one of those things whereit's like you think about it,
and think about it, and thinkabout it, and it's very exciting.
And then once it's actuallyhappened, you're like.
Gerri (19:40):
And you second guess yourself.
Like, did I do the right thing here?
You know, I really, I really questioned,was that the right move for myself?
And I thought, you know what?
I did it.
I'm going to try it out.
And like my mom said,you can always come home.
She would say that every time I talkedto her, you can always come home.
Mica (19:59):
That's a comforting thing to know is, is that there's a safe landing.
I don't know if it was the same for you,but for me it was like, I am determined to
blossom because I don't want to go home.
Gerri (20:13):
Oh yeah.
Oh my God.
Oh, of course.
It was an option, but thatwas not going to happen.
Not for me.
As long as you have that safetynet, it actually, I think it
kind of spurs you on to be more,willing and ready to make it work.
If you sometimes feel like youdon't have that to fall back on, I
(20:35):
don't know if that's a good thing.
I could be wrong.
Mica (20:38):
For some people, they thrive on not having a backup, not having a place to go.
I'm not one of those people.
I feel good if I know that there's aplace, there's a safe space for me to go
to, but it's always a last resort for me.
Gerri (20:54):
Last, last resort for sure.
And it can be, and it canbe really, really scary.
But you also prove toyourself that, you know what?
I'm a tough girl.
I can do this.
It's hard, but I'm goingto get through this.
Mica (21:08):
When you go back to Oklahoma City to visit your family and friends, do
you ever wonder what life would be likefor you had you stayed in Oklahoma?
Gerri (21:17):
No, cause I knew that wasn't an option.
Mica (21:19):
I don't want to deal with no tornadoes.
I ain't going back there.
Gerri (21:22):
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no 110 degrees 120.
I can't, you know, it's like Iknew that I was going to make it.
Whatever it took for me to do that.
Whatever it took for meto stay here and make it.
And thank you Lord, I'm still here.
Mica (21:40):
I love that determination.
It reminds me so much of mybrother, Anthony, he's one of
the most determined people.
He recently bought the company thathe worked for, for 25 years, and
he worked his way up to the top.
Yeah, until he bought it.
Gerri (21:56):
Oh my God, congratulations Anthony!
Mica (21:59):
Right?
He's, man, I admire him so much.
He's just full of gritand full of determination.
When I hear you say, moving backto Oklahoma City was not an option
because I was going to make it here.
I just, I love hearing that.
I love hearing that, that determination.
It's such an inspiring thing.
Gerri (22:19):
I really had help along the way.
People who loved me and supported me.
And those people, Ihave to give credit for.
My cousin actually lived here.
She was a cousin by marriage andmy mom used to babysit her children
(22:39):
when we were little, right?
Something happened at this hotel thatkind of freaked both me and my friend out.
I called my mom.
I said, Mom, we have to leavethis hotel because there are
things here that are nefarious.
We don't like the situationthat we're living in.
And she said to me, she said,Gerri, she said, I'm going
to call you back in an hour.
And when she said, just sit tight.
(23:02):
She calls my cousin wholived on the Upper West Side.
One of the most beautifulplaces in New York City.
She called me back and shesaid, Gerri, her name was Eva.
I'll never forget her.
She's the most beautiful, kind person.
She said, Eva said to pack your bagsand that she was going to come and get
(23:22):
you guys in an hour from that hotel.
And this was not just me, but myfriend that I moved up here with.
And do you know, Mica, she took us in toher beautiful apartment for six months.
Okay.
And she said, you have to get a job.
And I said, of course,I'm going to get a job.
(23:44):
She said, I'm going togive you six months.
She said, you don't have to pay rent.
You don't have to pay for food.
I'll buy your clothes.
But when you leave in six months,I want you to have at least 5, 000
dollars saved up so you can get anapartment and you can go out on your own.
And I had to do that because Ididn't want to embarrass my mom.
This was my mom's niece,her cousin, whatever.
(24:05):
I think she was, she's our cousin.
My mom said, Gerri, you haveto do what Eva tells you to do.
And that's the thing because itwas not just me, it was my friend.
And we were treated likeroyalty at this place.
But when that six months markcame up, we had to move and we had
already had an apartment set up.
So sometimes you need help to makethose goals happen and my cousin
(24:31):
even made that happen for me.
Otherwise, I may havehad to go home again.
I'm not sure, only God knows, but I knowshe helped us to stay here in New York
City and I'll never forget her for that.
Ever.
Mica (24:46):
That's amazing.
And that's so kind.
What a big heart to, todo that, to, I think.
Pay that forward.
We need more people likethat in, in this world.
I'm curious to find...
How you found yourself inthe world of prop styling?
I know it ties back toyou rearranging your room.
(25:06):
How did this form into a career for you?
Gerri (25:11):
I had met a couple of friends.
My friend Sonia and her sister Donna.
Donna worked for YM Magazine, Young Miss.
I don't know if you've ever heard of that.
Probably not.
I don't know because I don't thinkit's still in existence, but I
was between jobs and she askedme, she said, Gerri, I need help.
(25:33):
I need you to come on toa photo shoot with me.
I just need you to hang up theclothes and steam the clothes
because she was a wardrobe stylist.
So I went on set, but therewas this person who was like
arranging this living room set up.
And I was like thinking,what is this person doing?
And I asked Donna, I said,what is that girl doing?
Why is she arranging the furnitureand making everything look so pretty?
(25:57):
And Donna said, Well,she's a prop stylist.
I said, a what?
What is a prop stylist?
And she explained it.
It was like a light bulbwent off in my head, Mica.
I thought, this is whatI'm supposed to do.
This is the kind of job that I'm supposedto do and this is what I want to do.
And that's how it all started.
It was insane.
So I reached out to this person.
(26:18):
I don't remember her name, butDonna also connected me with
a couple of photographers.
And the ball just started rolling.
One job led to another job andone job led to another job.
One person reached out to me toassist on set bringing in some
plates and maybe bringing in somefurniture for this photo shoot.
And that's how it happened.
Mica (26:40):
Where that light bulb goes off, it's gotta be like one of
the most energetic moments ever.
Cause it just feels like things justfall into place after that moment.
Was it like that for you?
Gerri (26:54):
Absolutely.
It was almost like it washanded to me on a plate.
It was hard work, but it was thething that I had always thought
I wanted to do, but I didn'tquite know what it was called.
You know what I mean?
Does that make sense?
Mica (27:09):
That makes perfect sense.
When I talked to Robin, shewas describing that too.
She's like, I didn't even know
Gerri (27:15):
That was a thing.
Mica (27:16):
That that was a career.
That that was a thing.
I had no idea that thisis what styling was.
There wasn't a name to it.
And I'm like, yeah, but once youfind that name and, and there's like
a actual career, you're like, Oh,
Gerri (27:31):
Right?
Mica (27:34):
Guess that's what I'm doing.
Gerri (27:36):
I guess that's what I'm doing.
Absolutely.
And, and it's, it's a thingand it's a thing that I can do.
Mica (27:43):
Do you remember the first job that you styled?
By yourself on your ownas the lead stylist.
Gerri (27:54):
I do sort of.
It was a job for Home Depot.
And it was with this reallyamazing photographer.
His name is Bruce Wolfe.
He was just so kindand so patient with me.
(28:18):
He walked me through things.
It was intense.
It was an intense photo shoot, but withhis help and his guidance, I thought, you
know what, this is, it's hard, but it'snot as hard as I was making it to be.
Because I was so afraid.
When you're not afraid to dosomething, it becomes easier.
So yeah, that was my first,and it turned out beautifully.
(28:41):
It ran in a magazine, blah,blah, blah for advertising.
That was the one that reallyset me off in the direction
that, okay, this is, this is it.
This is what I'm going to do for sure.
Cause I can do it.
And I know how to do it and I've beenhelped by a person who knows how to do it.
Mica (28:59):
Did you see the the final shot in in an ad?
Gerri (29:03):
I did.
Mica (29:04):
What was that moment like?
What do you remember about that moment?
Gerri (29:07):
Bruce, I think he must have either emailed me or said something
like, Oh, our, our ad is running.
And I think it was Home Magazine.
And he said, our ad isrunning in Home Magazine.
I'm going to send you a copy.
And he did.
I thought to myself, I wasliterally almost in tears.
I was thinking, I actually did this.
(29:28):
I styled this photo shootand it was an amazing moment.
But then, you know what Istarted to do, Mica, I started
to pick apart what I had done.
Those flowers look like they're dying.
That towel should havebeen folded differently.
I think that's how you learn and you growwhen you can pick apart the things that
(29:48):
you've done and you can recognize youshould have done something differently.
I think that's how you grow.
I still do that to this day.
I think to myself, whatcould I have improved upon in
this story or in this photo?
Was there somethingelse I could have used?
That doesn't happen a lot,but I do still see that.
(30:10):
And I think that's howyou continue to grow.
Mica (30:14):
There's a food stylist.
Her name is Kristina Wolter.
She's...
absolutely amazing and just thekindest person, that I've ever met
and one thing that she advised me on.
She said, every shoot that Iwork on, I ask myself at the end,
what went well, what tool wouldhave made this shoot gone easier?
(30:36):
And what would I liketo do in the next shoot?
It's really cool to be reflective onevery project that you do to move forward.
Gerri (30:47):
Absolutely.
I try to do that on every job, and somethings I'm like really, really, really
happy with, but then there are those timeswhere I said, you know what, I should have
used that pink platter with the whatever.
And I think, okay, so the next time when Ido a shot like that, I'm going to really,
(31:07):
really think about what I want to use.
Cause sometimes when you're on setand you're feeling pressure to choose
something, you sometimes make the wrongdecision just to kind of get it done.
I'm telling myself I'mgonna stop doing that.
They're just gonna have to waitfor me to figure out what I need
and what they need and that's it.
(31:28):
No more rushing.
Because it doesn't help in the end.
You know what I mean?
Mica (31:33):
Absolutely.
When we're trying to get it asperfect in camera as possible, and
it's like, trust me, it's goingto save me time, later in post.
Gerri (31:41):
Exactly.
Mica (31:43):
Let's take the time now.
Gerri (31:45):
To do it right.
Mica (31:47):
To do it.
Right.
Exactly.
Exactly.
I very briefly worked at a retirementcenter and they were training
me to be a medicine technician.
Had no business giving people medicine.
I don't know why they chose me,but they chose me , but I thought,
You have a high school diploma.
(32:07):
Get in
Gerri (32:07):
Oh my God.
Mica (32:10):
Can you read that?
Yeah, so, they're showing me allof these medicines, and I'm like,
I am so not qualified to be here.
The person who trained me, said, I'm goingto teach you how to do this the right way.
I'm going to show you how I do it.
So mine way.
And then I'm going toshow you how not to do it.
(32:31):
It just goes to show that there'sjust so many different ways of
reaching an end goal of something.
Gerri (32:37):
Right.
Absolutely.
Mica (32:40):
How can you know that though, if you don't take a minute to take
a look at something and evaluate it.
Gerri (32:46):
And also, just try it.
Sometimes you're going to fail.
But not with giving someone medicine.
We don't want to do that,but I'm just saying.
We don't want to, we don't wantto give anyone the wrong medicine,
Mica (33:01):
I'm serious.
I have no, I have no idea why they thoughtI'd be a good a candidate for that.
Gerri (33:09):
I'm so happy you chose photography for sure.
Your work is beautiful.
I, I must say that again.
I know I said that to you earlier,but it's, it's, it's stunning.
So congratulations.
It is so beautiful.
Mica (33:23):
Thank you so much, I, I'm very much like you, I, I like to pick
my work apart as well, and I'm I'mprobably my, my toughest critic.
And so it really means a lotto me when people tell me,
how much they enjoy my work.
You mentioned earlier being, being drawnto objects and shapes and textures.
(33:45):
What interests you the most aboutthe objects, shapes, and textures?
Gerri (33:50):
You know, that's a hard question for me to answer because there are so
many things I see that are beautiful.
Like ceramics, right?
I love ceramics.
Anything that's like a beautifulglaze, anything that has an unusual
form, but that could be like a rug,or that could be like a platter.
(34:15):
I don't limit myself.
I have a very vast experienceappreciation of all things.
When I'm styling a job, Mica,I bring so much stuff on set.
Cause I can't decide.
Does that, is that weird?
I can't decide what I want to use.
Mica (34:31):
Not at all.
Not at all.
Gerri (34:33):
I'm the type of person.
I kind of make things up as I go.
I don't like sticking to a script.
I want to be able to justlike, freestyle, as they say.
I bring stuff to set that the clientdidn't even know they want it or need it.
So I don't know if that answers yourquestion, but it could be anything.
(34:55):
I am just a lover of beautifulthings and whatever that may be.
Mica (35:02):
It just shows that you're open to receiving all kinds of props because
they'll find a way, they'll find a way.
There's always going to be a situation,a shoot where maybe it doesn't work
for this shoot, but it definitelyworked for something down the road.
Gerri (35:20):
Right.
I've probably purchased andsold at least three collections.
Right.
Sometimes I think aboutthe stuff that I sold.
I'm thinking, Oh my God, you idiot.
Why would you do that?
But, I have so I'm much stuff, Mica.
You would not believe it because I'mconstantly buying and I'm constantly
(35:43):
trying to improve upon my collectionand get things that are varied.
Some things that are Middle Eastern,some things that are like Polish.
It's like certain things,certain looks that I just want
to have all of it just in case.
There's a shoot that I will mostlikely need those things for.
Mica (36:02):
I feel like I need to, you know, put, put like a plaque on on my garage
door that's titled just in case.
My, my husband Aaron, he is likeso over me collecting props.
Yes.
Gerri (36:19):
Oh my God, he needs to talk to my husband, Simon, because I'm pretty
sure they'll have a lot in common.
Oh my God.
If I hear one more time, whereare we going to put this?
I would say, you know what?
You really want to know?
Mica (36:34):
My prop storage area was a mess.
Aaron, finally put his foot down.
He was like, Okay, you needto, like, organize this.
So my friend Anna helped meorganize my prop space and now
it's like all neat and orderly.
And I'm like, look how muchspace I have for more props
.Gerri: Hahahahahaha Now you know that's not what he meant Mica.
(37:01):
I actually just picked up this like really old desk.
Um, it's from the 1800s.
How crazy is that?
Gerri (37:08):
What?
Mica (37:09):
Yes.
I gotta send you pictures.
Gerri (37:11):
Please do.
Mica (37:12):
So when I text my husband, I told him I'm on my way to get a desk.
And he's please, and I was like,we'll find a way we'll find a way.
Gerri (37:26):
Yeah, we'll, we'll make it work.
Yes.
Mica (37:29):
So, when you agreed to be on the show, and I was doing my research on you,
I was like, okay, I've talked to severalfood photographers when I asked, because
I asked them, who should I interview?
Who should I, who should I interview?
And they were like, youneed to talk to Gerri.
You need to talk to her.
And, I was looking around, andI could not, for the life of
(37:51):
me, find a single photo of you.
And I was like, who is thisgenius that I need to talk to?
Who is she?
Who is she?
I was telling my husband, I was like,I feel like I'm looking for Batman.
Like, who is this person?
Gerri (38:09):
That's hilarious.
Mica (38:11):
Who is she?
I feel like I'm late to the party.
But at the same time, I was like,wow, that's really cool that
you have this wonderful career.
We're told you need to have socialmedia, you need to have a website,
you need to do all of this, this,this, for people to know who you are.
And I'm like, here's Gerri.
So what I want to know is, was itwas this an intentional choice to
(38:34):
keep your face off of the internet?
Gerri (38:36):
Yeah, it's, it wasn't intentional.
I've never been the type ofperson that wants to just be
out there in the public domain.
It's not my thing, you know?
And sometimes having a bit of mysterymakes people even more interested in you.
You see my name, Gerri Williams,I could be anybody, right?
(38:58):
The way I look shouldn't matter to likehow I do my work, which sometimes it does.
So for me, it's, it wasn't reallyintentional, but in some ways it,
worked in my favor, if that makes sense.
Mica (39:15):
Especially in today's world, we are encouraged to overshare.
I've seen some stuff on Facebookwhere I'm like, you should not.
Gerri (39:21):
That be doing that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Mica (39:24):
It's like, you don't have anything for yourself.
Like, you just don't havesomething for you and only you.
I think my generation is the lastgeneration that knows what life
was like before the internet andhow much freedom there was in that.
Gerri (39:42):
And I'm, I'm at an age, Mika, that I don't really care.
I am who I am.
It is what it is.
I do my job.
I love what I do, but I don'tneed everybody's approval.
You know what I mean?
I just want to do whatI do and do it well.
I'm not trying to get followers or likes.
It's just, I do what Ido because I love it.
Mica (40:04):
You're here to do the work.
And it just shows more than anything,how many relationships you have.
Pretty much every photographer I talkedto in New York, they mentioned your name.
Gerri (40:17):
Oh my God, that is, that is so sweet.
Oh my God.
That makes, that's really sweet.
Mica (40:24):
That is the power of networking, the power of relationships
that you have with people.
You mentioned earlier that, you'vehad a lot of help along the way.
Is, do you think that that's, howyou've been able to have a career?
Without being
Gerri (40:42):
Out there.
Mica (40:43):
Out there
Gerri (40:44):
I, I think so because also a lot of the people that I work with,
we tend to end up being friends.
So it's kind of a personal relationshipand a professional relationship.
For me, the two things go handin hand because, most, I'm going
(41:05):
to say 98 percent of the peoplethat I work with, photographers
and things, we're like friends.
I know these people.
I've known them for years.
They trust me.
I trust them.
You don't have to really think aboutwhat you're doing too much because
you have that thing with each other.
Like, you know what they need.
They know what you need.
And so you do the work together.
Mica (41:28):
I talked with Rishon Hanners recently.
She's a food stylist basedout in, in Birmingham.
And one thing that she mentionedwhen building out your team,
it's like sometimes you work withpeople because they bring a certain
energy, like a certain calmness.
If you know what type of client thisclient is and they're, maybe they're
(41:50):
persnickety and very picky and, andyou as the photographer might be
nervous and so you want to surroundyourself with a team where you
just trust them and they trust you.
And it's such a good vibeand such a good energy.
That stuff that happens, itdoesn't happen instantly.
It's, it's a very organic thingthat just happens naturally.
Gerri (42:11):
For sure.
For sure.
I worked very recently with a group ofwomen that I hadn't worked with before.
They're a lot younger than I am.
But I must tell you, it's like,it was almost like we had been
working together forever becausewe all had the same goal in mind.
It's like to create beautifulphotos, it was very collaborative.
(42:33):
So it was kind of easy toform that relationship with
these, these wonderful women.
It was a shoot for Tyson.
It was for the Middle Eastclient, or I think it was,
you know, for the Middle East.
But it was just like we hadbeen working together forever.
Mica (42:51):
Have there ever been times when you felt pressure to reveal more of yourself?
And if so, how do youhandle those situations?
Gerri (42:59):
To be very, very honest, Mica, I have not.
It's just like, I'm the person that I am.
If you take it or leave it.
If someone is, is trying to like,go too deep into my personal life
and thing, I'm, that's just not me.
I, I, I'm going to put a halt to that.
It's like, you know what?
Maybe this is not the thing for me to do.
(43:21):
I can't.
Mica (43:23):
We had like this winter storm and the ice weighed down all the
trees around Austin and so we had alot of power outages all over Austin.
And my mom needed to chargeall four of her phones.
Gerri (43:41):
All four?
Oh
my
Mica (43:43):
four.
All four.
There was a Starbucks right nextdoor to our apartment complex,
but she didn't want to wait the 15minutes for them to open their lobby.
So she walked two and a half milesto a hospital so she could charge
her four phones in their lobby.
And my sister in law, my brother,the whole family was searching all
(44:08):
over South Austin for this woman.
Gerri (44:10):
Oh my god, Mica.
Don't tell me that.
Are you kidding me?
Mica (44:13):
Yeah.
I kept calling her numberover and over and over.
And it Would just gostraight to voicemail.
So my sister in law called herthrough Facebook Messenger and my mom
told her, Hey, I'm at the hospital.
Come get me.
And we went and I
Gerri (44:29):
Oh my god.
Mica (44:29):
Get in this car, woman.
Getting this.
I was so mad at her.
And so on the way back to herapartment, I was like, Mom, we need
to know where you're at at all times.
And she was not in favor of that.
She said, I'm a grown woman.
I like my privacy.
(44:50):
I like my independence.
If I want to go somewhere.
I just want to go.
And sometimes I don't want people toknow where I'm at and it's my business.
It's my business where I am at.
I mean, I get it.
I get what she means by sometimesyou just want to unplug and you
got to have things for yourself.
I'm really big into genealogy and I.
(45:12):
I've researched my family for severalyears now, but one thing that disturbed me
how much information I found on Facebook.
Like, I found names, I founddate of births, I found...
Addresses, pictures of their children.
Their houses like it justI it personally alarmed me.
(45:32):
I've become very protectiveover what I share.
But the challenge is I do have topromote myself and my business and
my podcast and everything like that,but I don't have to share everything.
Gerri (45:45):
My daughter's been, I believe she's on my Instagram page,
maybe, or in one of our stories.
But even that makes me feel weird,you know, because that's my baby.
It's a little weird for me.
But, you know, she's 24, so I know shewants to be out there, but even with her,
she's not going to overshare with people.
Mica (46:04):
So let's take it to when you work with a food stylist on a project.
How do you align your creative visions?
Gerri (46:12):
It depends on the project, actually.
If I'm doing a test with a food stylist,then we collaborate on, on like what foods
we want to shoot and what's the look.
Is it going to be, a Japanesekind of food shooter?
Is it going to be something more American?
It's always a collaboration for me,but when I'm working on a project
(46:36):
that someone else is in control of,
like a client.
Then it's kind of what the client wants.
I try to bring in my vision and liketalk to them about what I think they
need or what I think we should use.
And then the food stylist, I thinksometimes we'll do the same, but
(46:59):
it's always about a collaborationand sometimes it's out of my control.
Mica (47:04):
Do you work closer with the food stylist or with the photographer?
Gerri (47:09):
I would say the photographer.
I work with the people thatI'm working with and we, I
always try to include them in.
Sometimes for me, when there's toomuch input, it kind of throws me off.
So I'll say let's use thisplatter versus, like an oval
(47:29):
platter versus a square platter.
Let's use a shallow bowl as opposedto a flat bowl or a flat plate.
It's those kinds of tweaksI try to bring to the table.
A photographer may have a differentidea about what, how he wants or how
she wants to plate a certain food.
(47:49):
So I'm, I'm always willing to listen, butthat's why I bring so many options on set.
Cause sometimes we just, you justdon't know until you're on set.
Mica (47:59):
Just go with the flow and you come in with an idea with also the knowledge
that this could go a different direction.
Gerri (48:09):
Yeah, it may not work.
Mica (48:11):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Gerri (48:13):
So let's figure out something else, and that's what really bugs
me on set is when, something is notworking, but either the photographer
or the food stylist, whatever theythey're trying to make it work.
And it's like, you know what?
I, but I have so many otherthings we can choose from.
So let's, let's play a little bit.
Let's not get stuck in one on one.
(48:35):
Plate or one bowl or one glass.
You know, let's play a little bit,but I've been in that situation
where we spend an hour on tryingto make something work and I that's
a waste of time in my opinion.
That's just my opinion.
Mica (48:49):
My, my former professor said, and he's like, I will try
to fix a problem three times.
If it doesn't get fixed by the third try,
I move on.
Gerri (48:59):
Then move on.
Mica (49:00):
Time is precious.
We're on a schedule.
We do not have the time.
This is not working.
So we need to find something else.
Gerri (49:07):
Especially too, when you have so much to choose from, don't
get stuck on one thing, please.
Mica (49:13):
What do you do in moments where you see a prop and you just
don't feel a connection to it.
Like how do you know whenit's time to let go of a prop?
Gerri (49:25):
I can just feel it.
I can feel it like this is not.
It's not moving me.
If something has to move me and I knowthat it's right or it's not right.
And it doesn't happen a lot, but thereare times when it's like, Oh, and even
for me, I had a vision for something.
Right.
And I'm thinking this is going tolook beautiful and it doesn't work.
(49:47):
So I figure out something else to useand that's the beauty of like being
on set and you, you collaborate aboutthings because I'm not always right.
I can admit that, but some peoplecan't, you know what I mean?
Mica (50:01):
I'm, I'm I'm one of those people.
Gerri (50:05):
Are you really Mica?
No, really?
Mica (50:11):
Little bit bullheaded.
When there's a will, there's a way.
Gerri (50:13):
Okay, Mica, so when we work together,
Mica (50:17):
Yeah, you're gonna have to pull me to the side and be like, well, let it go.
Gerri (50:21):
No, I'm pretty sure I won't have to do that.
Mica (50:26):
Very true.
Very true.
I mean, I, I gone more to like thingsthat have nostalgic feelings, you know,
like I love collecting birthday cardsthat people have gotten me over the years.
I have, well,
several boxes of birthday cardsthat I've just collected over
the years, and I, I don't know,someone takes the time to write a
thoughtful message on a card, it just,
Gerri (50:48):
Oh, that's so sweet.
Mica (50:51):
Yeah, my love language is, is giving gifts and receiving gifts.
Gerri (50:55):
I understand.
No, I, I, I get it.
Sometimes it's, is it about thesentimental aspect of it or just
Mica (51:02):
Very much.
Very much.
I mean, the handwriting.
Especially when a friend has passedaway and the picture is wonderful,
the picture is wonderful, but.
There's just something differentabout holding a piece, you know,
a, a, a with their handwriting.
Like you can't, that'sjust so unique to them.
(51:24):
No one writes like
Gerri (51:26):
Like that.
Yeah.
I totally agree.
I still have cards that my momwrote to me and like birthday
cards and letters and stuff.
And it's like, I couldnever get rid of those ever.
Mica (51:38):
So you mentioned when you explore like various prop houses, antique shops,
your mission is to find unique items.
What makes a certainprop stand out to you?
Gerri (51:50):
I don't know.
It could be, it could be anything.
It's just, it's just a feeling, youknow, it's just a feel like I was
recently at a prop sale and therewas so much stuff to choose from.
But I saw these, this beautifullike soda bottle, but it was purple.
(52:13):
And there was a purple one and a blue one.
And I'm thinking, what is that?
I'm thinking, I've never seen this.
Absolutely beautiful.
So I bought them.
It was something thatI hadn't seen before.
And it's, they were obviously very old,and of course it may not have even been
(52:34):
for soda, but it was a bottle of somethingthat's, that held some kind of liquid.
Absolutely beautiful.
So if I see something that speaks to meand something that I've never seen before,
I'm very drawn to those kinds of things.
Mica (52:48):
It's like you, you just want to know what life, what,
what its existence was like.
Gerri (52:53):
What, exactly, like, you know, who, who held this
bottle, what did they use it for?
Like, what, what is it aboutthis thing that I'm so drawn to?
A prop house that I had quite a bitof history with recently closed.
It's called Prop Workshop and I wasthere, you know, to buy some things.
(53:15):
I was looking at all the things thatI had used in past shoots and it was
just, it was almost painful for me.
There was a brief period whereI stopped styling for a while.
And I became manager of this place.
It was called Prop Workshop, as I said.
And I, I knew almost every piecepersonally, because I was there every day.
(53:39):
I was looking at stuff.
I was arranging things on the shelvesand to see that, you know, a lot of
this stuff, and I can't even tellyou some of the stuff, like when
in the track, it was just too much.
It was, it was, it was like painful.
Mica (53:54):
It makes you wish, like, gosh, I wish I had a, a giant
warehouse where I could just graball of that and take it with me.
Gerri (54:01):
Yeah, it was, it was, it was pretty, it was pretty emotional for me.
I can't lie about that.
And I know a lot of my peoplewho hear this will have the
same kind of feeling about it.
Because, you know, a lot of myProp Stylist friends were there.
Robin was there, actually, and wewere thinking, looking at each other
like, Is this really happening?
It's, it was so weird.
(54:22):
It was really, really sad.
Mica (54:24):
When the pandemic started, it was, it was really hard, I mean,
on top of seeing so many people,lose their lives, you're also
seeing so many loving businesses.
In Austin, we have the South bySouthwest Festival and it really,
it's a, it brings in a lot of revenue.
Gerri (54:45):
It's major.
Mica (54:46):
Major, major.
Major.
Major.
When this was all starting, Iwas like, if they cancel South
by Southwest, then I'll know it'sserious, because Austin would never.
And then they did it.
I was like, what is this rule?
What is happening?
Then everything shut down,and so many local restaurants
were just left and right.
(55:07):
All my shoots got canceled,and it was a really scary time.
It was really hard to see the businessesstruggling and now that things are
turning around, you think about allthose businesses that weren't able
to keep open, to stay open, and it'sjust like, it's really heartbreaking.
Gerri (55:24):
So, so Mika, what did you do during that time?
Like, what, how did you fill your time?
Mica (55:30):
Believe it or not, I ended up getting a lot busier.
So I actually booked a lot of brandsthat were outside of Austin, and they
would just mail me their food products,or they'd, you know, reimburse me.
I could go to the grocery storeand the other thing that really was
helpful is that, my husband, he has...
A day job that was able to support uswhile, while I was figuring this out
(55:54):
because that was like my whole, wholequarter, whole year, whole everything.
It's very scary.
But, it put me back in the studiobecause I did a lot of on location
shoots, I was like, I never wantto be in the studio ever again.
But it brought me back in the studioand I'm actually pretty grateful
for it because now I can get socreative and so crazy in the studio
(56:18):
that I couldn't do on location.
It's just different.
Gerri (56:22):
It's a different vibe, right?
Mica (56:24):
Yes.
Yes.
Much different vibe.
Much much different vibe.
So I cannot end this interviewwithout talking about your
cookbook that you worked on.
Congratulations.
That book is gorgeous!
Gorgeous.
Gerri (56:43):
The, the Meyer, Meyer Feller.
Mica (56:46):
Yes, The Eating
Gerri (56:47):
Eat from our roots, yes!
Mica (56:49):
yes.
What, that book is so colorful.
The colors were just jumping off.
It's so beautiful.
Gerri (56:57):
Thank you, Mica, thank you so much.
It was, it was incredible.
The photographer, Christine Han.
She's so talented and so sweet.
The food stylist was Monica Perini.
Incredibly talented.
It was just, it was a dream job.
(57:17):
It really was.
And I'm so happy withthe way it turned out.
But I have to say too, Mica, Ihave another cookbook coming out.
I'm not trying to plug anything, but.
Mica (57:28):
Oh, please do.
Plug in.
Plug in.
Tell me about this cookbook.
Gerri (57:33):
So I styled a cookbook with, do you know Yowande Kamalafe?
Mica (57:40):
No, I don't.
Gerri (57:41):
You should look her up.
She's, you know, she's a recipe developer.
She's a cookbook writer.
And it's called MyEveryday Lagos, I believe.
She's Nigerian.
And we did this cookbook,and it was during COVID.
It was shot during COVID.
Which was a challenge, but we wereat a photographer's apartment.
(58:06):
And it was intense.
Everyone was masked up and, youknow, we were trying to be very
thoughtful of like, each other'sspace, but it was, it was intense.
We got through it and it's, we gotsome beautiful shots, but yeah, it
was, it was a bit of a challenge.
Mica (58:22):
What was the favorite memory or one of your favorite memories
from, from that experience?
Gerri (58:27):
Oh, actually there was a moment when we were trying to figure out.
What should be the cover of this cookbook?
We just couldn't figure it out.
And I'm so happy that they decidednot to do like an image of like a
dish of like food, but they hiredin the end, an illustrator to draw.
(58:53):
Oh my God, the cover of thisbook is absolutely stunning.
It's really special.
So yeah, I think that's comingout maybe in October of this year.
So yeah, I'm excited.
I've had a pretty busy, like I'm goingto say three years, I've been doing
quite a few cookbooks and working quitea bit, so I'm, I feel very blessed.
Mica (59:15):
Okay, so I have one last question for you.
Gerri (59:18):
Yes.
Yes.
My dear.
Mica (59:19):
What do you hope the listeners gain from today's episode?
What advice would you give to a newstylist who, especially stylists of
color who are coming into this industry?
Gerri (59:33):
I, I would say know your craft, do your research, try to align
yourself with like minded people.
Like photographers who have thesame, creative vision that you have.
Allow yourself to learnfrom the people that.
(59:54):
Even though you may not know thepeople that you're going to be working
with, try to learn from those peopleand establish relationships, because
that's kind of what I've done.
Some of the photographers you probablytalk to, I've learned probably so
much from those people, from thosephotographers that you spoke to.
It's like creating a relationshipand learning from, from the
(01:00:15):
people that you're working with.
That's my advice.
Go in.
Be determined, know your craft, work hard.
You have to work hard becausein some ways, people of color
sometimes have to really, you haveto prove yourself to people like
I'm the person you should hire.
I'm going to work hard.
(01:00:37):
You might have to work a little bit harderthan other people, but do it because
I can guarantee you it'll be worth it.
That's, that's my advice.
Mica (01:00:47):
That's such great advice.
Especially as a person of color,because, we are always put in positions
where we have to work twice ashard, prove ourselves twice as hard.
Just to prove that wedeserve a seat at the table.
Gerri (01:00:59):
But it's doable.
We've probably both had those experiences,but we're here, we're doing our thing.
We're still doing it.
So there's something to it.
Mica (01:01:07):
Gerri, thank you so, so much for being on the show.
Where can we respectfully follow you?
Gerri (01:01:16):
On Instagram.
I'm actually going to launch awebsite in the very near future.
So I'm working on that.
But for now, my Instagram is the bestway to see my work and see, you know,
the kind of things that I like it.
So will you do seven on Instagram.
I just have to say that, I thankyou so much for reaching out to me.
(01:01:38):
I feel so honored that you.
That you reached out to meand have me on your show.
I thank you so much.
It's been such, such a nice hour.
Has it been an hour?
Oh my God.
It may have been more.
I don't
Mica (01:01:52):
It's been more.
People are shocked and they're like,Oh my gosh, how much time has passed?
Then it's like I told you,it's like a conversation.
Gerri (01:02:00):
I mean, it's like, you know, when you're talking to your friend on
the phone and you lose track of time,that's how I, I'm feeling right now.
But so thank you so much.
Mica (01:02:09):
Really the honor is all mine and I'm just so glad that we connected because.
You have a reputation for being the bomb.
com and I can say for sure that the riveris a true you are just an amazing person
and I'm so glad we know each other now.
We're besties.
You're my
Gerri (01:02:28):
I know.
And you know what?
If you come to New York, ifyou come to Brooklyn, you
have to, we have to hang out.
You know that, right?
Mica (01:02:36):
Oh my gosh, I, I, I'm definitely coming to New York now.
I, I've
Gerri (01:02:40):
Please do.
Mica (01:02:41):
I've got to miss it.
If I'm not going to live, then Imight as well come every chance that
I can, so I'm definitely, definitely.
Oh my gosh.
Oh my gosh.
Well, thank you again somuch for being on the show.
Gerri (01:02:54):
Thank you for having me.
Thank you, Mica.
I appreciate it.
Welcome to the 32nd episode of The Savory Shot.
I'm your host, with the most, Mica, y'all!
I still can't believe that we'verecorded 32 episodes so far.
Oh my gosh.
I know I say it every show, butman, this little podcast, it
(00:23):
holds a big chunk of my heart.
So for the ones who've been here sinceepisode one, thank you for coming back.
Gracias.
Danke Shein, all the thank yousin every language, and for the
ones who are joining us for thefirst time, welcome to the show!
We besties now!
You fam now!
(00:44):
So come find me on Instagram and introduceyourself, because I want to know you.
I want to know what love is!
Okay, ignore all of that.
Except for the part where I saidwe're besties, because we are.
We're family.
We are family.
Okay, I can't quit.
(01:04):
Oh my gosh.
Okay, this is a serious podcast.
I am a serious host.
I got stuff and things to do, so...
Okay, who am I kidding?
This is a party.
I have some espresso in me.
I got some coffee in me.
I got some things to say.
But first things first...
Did you listen to thatepisode with Steve Hansen?
How freaking amazing was that?
(01:26):
Y'all, CGI is the future.
I'm like obsessed with Mid Journey.
I'm obsessed with ChatGBT,like all of those things.
I'm just obsessed with it.
And so having that conversationwith Steve was the shiznit.
I'm excited.
And if you are, thenlet's be excited together.
And if you're not, that's okay, too.
(01:48):
It's okay to be worried.
Let's talk about it.
Let's, uh, work it out.
But I want to give a shout out to Steve.
Thank you for being on the show.
Thank you for showering us withall of your knowledge and your
CGI and all the things and stuff.
Thank you so much for being on the show.
And if you ever want tocome back, please come back.
(02:08):
I enjoyed our conversation.
So thank you, Steve, somuch for being on the show.
But y'all, let's talk about today's guest.
Oh, y'all.
My heart, my cup, they both runneth over.
Let me tell you somethingabout today's guest.
Today's guest is the most sweetest,kindest, warmest soul I ever met.
(02:36):
I won't keep y'all hangin for long.
Meet Gerri Williams.
Gerri Williams is a prop stylist,and she's based in New York.
Y'all, you have seen her work everywhere.
And I do mean everywhere.
From magazines, to cookbooks,to commercial projects.
Y'all, Gerri has done it all.
(02:57):
Let me just say this.
I, and I know I say this everyconversation, but I loved, loved, loved,
loved everything about this conversation.
Have you ever met someone thatyou instantly connected with?
I'm not talking about like,oh, you seem like cool people.
(03:20):
Let's go on an awkwardcoffee meet in two weeks.
I'm talking about connectingon a deep soul level.
Like you've known eachother forever for years.
Even though you've only known eachother for like five minutes, but
you talk to each other, like you'veknown one another for 25 years.
(03:41):
There's just that, that safe, warmfeeling, like this is someone that
you are going to know for a very longtime and it feels really exciting.
That's what this conversation felt like.
It's just, like I said, my heart,my cup, they both runneth over.
(04:03):
Y'all, we talked about everything.
We talked about Gerri's beginnings,her risky move to New York for
Oklahoma, and y'all, it is a story!
And how she fosters her relationships.
Okay, I won't give away the whole show.
Not yet.
But I will say this.
Get ready.
This is one hell of a show,and I, I won't, I won't
(04:27):
keep you hanging any longer.
So, grab some coffee, and while you'redoing that, let's start the show.
(05:13):
Thank you so much for being on the show.
I'm very excited to have you here.
It's just such an honor that you'regonna, you're gonna share your
story and your journey with us.
So thank you for being on the show.
Gerri (05:25):
Thank you for having me.
I'm very excited to speak with you, Mica.
Very excited.
Mica (05:31):
I want to get right into this because I've got a whole meat
a potato of questions to ask you.
I'm introduced to you by thewonderful and amazing Robin Zachary.
Hey, shout out to Robin.
Gerri (05:43):
Hi, Robin.
Mica (05:46):
Yes, and she recommended that I talk to you.
So here we are, here I am talking to you.
When I was doing my research andlearning more about you, I found
an article that said, five blackprop stylists that you should know.
Your name was on that list, and youtold the story about your memory
(06:09):
of 12 year old you rearranging yourroom, without your parents permission.
And I was just like, oh mygosh, I have to talk to you.
I have to talk to you.
This is so cool.
So, you know, tell me aboutthat, that moment, that day.
What do you remember from that?
Gerri (06:25):
I remember just kind of being in my room and I was thinking
something is, doesn't feel right to me.
Most homes back then, back way backin the day had carpeting, right?
And I'm thinking there must be somethingunder this carpet that I need to see.
It was just, I don't knowwhy it was just bugging me.
(06:48):
So I moved a couple of things around and Iactually pulled up the carpeting and I saw
these beautiful wood floors and it just,it just kind of sparked something in me.
This was like probably early in themorning, and I'm pretty sure some
of my other siblings were home.
I can't remember, but it wasalmost like a project for me.
(07:11):
And I just started ripping up the carpetand ripping it up and ripping it up.
Now, the furniture in my room waskind of heavy because we had these
beautiful like, Haywood Wakefield,like a chest of drawers and a desk.
And I was struggling, butsomehow, I don't know how.
I got all of that furnituremoved and I got the carpet up.
(07:32):
And then my mom comes home andmy mom was like, Oh my God,
don't even get me started.
She said, Gerri, and she hadthis sweet little voice and she
said, what have you done here?
I said, Mom, I said, I just, I didn'tlike the carpet in my room anymore.
And I just felt like there wassomething nice under this carpeting.
(07:54):
And she looked at the floorand she said, Oh my God.
You're right.
These floors are beautiful.
And that was the beginning of ushaving all the carpeting pulled up
in most of the house and just havingbeautiful wood flooring just exposed.
And it was absolutely lovely.
Mica (08:13):
I love that.
It's like when you discover gold, you'reout in the field and, and you rub away
that dirt and then you find this beautifullittle jewel and you're like, wow.
Gerri (08:23):
A treasure.
Mica (08:24):
Yes.
Yes.
So you learn that about yourself.
How do you bring that intoyour work today as a stylist?
Gerri (08:35):
I'm always looking for something that's different or new.
I got really interested in Japaneseceramics about eight years ago, right?
And now I'm like, every time I seesomething that I feel like, Oh, this
could be a piece that was made in Japan.
I do my research and I have a fewplaces that I actually buy ceramics
(09:00):
from that are based in Japan.
I'm always trying to find a new thing.
Like I love things that I'mkind of used to, but I'm always
on the search for new things.
Does that make sense?
Mica (09:12):
That makes perfect sense.
It shows very much, how young 12year old you looked around and you're
like, I know that there's got tobe something more to this space.
It's like you find potential in everyprop and it feels a certain way to you.
Gerri (09:28):
Exactly.
It's kind of weird because my momhad a resale business where she
would go out and buy stuff, right?
And then she would resell it.
Her and my aunt had asmall resale business.
They would have garage sales,but also my dad was a chef.
So I grew up loving food and it'ssomehow those two things for me have
(09:50):
become my career, what I do, I workwith food and I work with props.
When my mom was having thosesales in her garage sales, we
would all pitch in and help.
We'd hang out signs, announcing thegarage sale that's going to happen
this weekend, you know, I would goout with her and we would find stuff.
It's the same thing that I'm doing today.
It's so crazy.
Mica (10:10):
Do you attend a garage sale still in New York?
Gerri (10:14):
It's not actually garage sales that I go to, but it's like,
you know, there are like thriftstores and I love the Salvation Army.
There's a company herecalled Housing Works.
It's kind of like the Salvation Army,but it's a little bit different.
And I find the most incrediblethings at these places.
Trust me, I have foundsome really, really...
(10:36):
beautiful, expensive things atthrift stores that I actually
use for my photo shoots.
Mica (10:42):
Oh, thrift stores are where it's at.
There's a, I don't know if it's anantique shop, but it's my, my husband
calls it like a hoarder's closet, butit is not a hoarder's closet lesson.
It's called Out Of The Past and it'sowned by this woman and her son.
They run it together.
(11:02):
It's her business, buthe he helps her run it.
When you walk in, it isoverwhelmingly packed with stuff.
And she knows where everything is.
It's a wonderful, wonderful place.
I tell every photographer that I know,I'm like, please go check this place out.
If you can get over the dirt and stuffeverywhere and see for what it is, you
(11:25):
will find the most beautiful things there.
Gerri (11:27):
Oh my God.
Okay.
See, now you have me.
I'm like kind of going crazy now.
Oh my God.
Out Of The Past.
Mica (11:34):
If you ever come to Austin to visit, that, that'll be one spot.
Gerri (11:37):
Yes, absolutely.
We'll have to have a little day there.
Mica (11:42):
Yeah, this isn't one of those places where you go for like an hour or two.
Like, you dedicate a day
Gerri (11:47):
A whole day.
Yes.
Mica (11:48):
She wants you to make noise.
She'll walk around and she'llbe like, it's too quiet in here.
Like, y'all need to get into some stuff.
And I look over at her andI'm like, you see me, like I'm
surrounded on the floor with things.
I'm, I'm doing my job.
Gerri (12:00):
Oh my God.
That sounds amazing.
I know there, there's aplace here in Brooklyn.
It's called Mother of Junk.
And I cannot tell you how manybeautiful things I've found at
this place, but it's like, it'slike a, it's like a treasure hunt.
You have to really, really lookand dig and go through the ten
(12:21):
thousand forks, knives, and spoonsin this big barrel of stuff.
But if you have the time and the patience,you can find some beautiful things.
Mica (12:31):
If you go to a store that's widely known Walmart or something, I
don't know where people go, Crate andBarrel, you're picking a prop that you
can find abundantly everywhere, butthere's just something special about
finding that one plate that doesn'treally exist in a lot of other worlds.
(12:51):
It's just, it's a very, very fun feeling.
Gerri (12:54):
It really is.
It really is.
Mica (12:57):
We talked a little bit about your mom and your family.
You are From Oklahoma City and you'vebeen in New York now for, for 20 years.
Gerri (13:06):
Well, actually, it may be a little longer than that.
I moved here in 1987.
Mica (13:14):
Of 1987.
So I, I'm not, I I stillcount with my fingers, so.
Gerri (13:19):
I don't even, yeah, don't even ask me to count.
Mica (13:21):
I'm, I'm
Gerri (13:24):
Oh
Mica (13:25):
I I got my calculator, so . Okay, so that's 36 years.
Wow.
36 years.
Gerri (13:34):
So I consider myself a New Yorker now, but I'll always be
like a, a Sooner from Oklahoma.
Mica (13:40):
Oh, yes.
Oh, yes.
Do you know Penny De Los Santos?
She.
Um,
Gerri (13:45):
Of course I know Penny.
Mica (13:47):
Okay, so y'all, y'all are BFFs.
Gerri (13:50):
She's so sweet.
Back in the day, we dida few shoots together.
I love Penny.
She's amazing.
Mica (13:55):
I worship the ground she walks on.
Gerri (13:58):
Yeah, she's, she's a real one.
Mica (14:00):
I interviewed her for the show and one comment that she made is that, yes,
she's from Texas and she'll always haveher heart in Texas, but she's lived in
New York for so long that at this pointshe's more of a New Yorker than a Texan.
Like your roots are are here forsure, and it's a place in your heart,
but New York is just fun, wonderful,amazing city to, to live and thrive in.
Gerri (14:25):
Oh, it's so exciting.
The possibilities are endless.
There's something to do on every street.
You go to Park Slope or you go toWilliamsburg or any of these small
little places, little cities orwhatever you want to call them, it's
like, there's always something to do.
That's the thing.
Sometimes it could be alittle bit overwhelming.
(14:48):
But then, you don't get bored so much.
There's always something to do.
Mica (14:52):
So do you remember the moment you decided to move to New York?
Was it a definitivemoment or was it organic?
Gerri (15:01):
I was talking to my daughter the other day, and I remember
back in, I'm going to say 1972.
And please forgive me if I'm going downmemory lane, but this is how this is, it
has something to do with where I am now.
In 1972, my second oldestsister, Irelene, she came to New
(15:21):
York to visit with our church.
And when she came back, she was tellingme all these fascinating things that she
saw and the things that were kind of alittle scary and the people on the street.
There were like drug addicts and.
And I was thinking, Oh,this sounds really cool.
(15:44):
Don't ask me why.
And I'm telling you, I'm telling you,I was like, Mica, I was, I was what,
maybe 10, but it was something abouther description of New York City that
I just fell in love with this place.
I would always watch the, um, moviesfrom like the thirties and stuff.
And that movie 42nd Street wasalways one of my favorite movies.
Mica (16:09):
Oh my gosh, 42nd Street!
Gerri (16:12):
Yes.
Something in my brain just said to me,one day you're going to move to New York
City and you have to make that happen.
So it was always kind of in the works,but I got a, an opportunity to move
here with one of my friends in Oklahoma.
She was moving here to work forthis person who owned a hotel.
(16:35):
It was called the Carter Hotelin Times Square of all places.
42nd Street.
Mica (16:40):
Wow.
Gerri (16:41):
She said, Gerri, we've been talking about moving to New York City and
I think I have a way for us to do that.
Well, fast forward, it happened.
I moved the day that I left, myparents were standing outside and
Mica, if I even think about itnow, it makes me like emotional.
(17:01):
My mom was looking at me and itwas, it was this look of like, Oh
my God, my baby is actually leaving.
She's going to this big bad cityas she would kind of call it.
And that was 1987 and I've been here,I, of course I go, I would go back to
Oklahoma, but it's, this is where I endedup and this is where I wanted to be.
Mica (17:23):
Are you the youngest in your family?
Gerri (17:25):
Oh no, I, I am, I'm number 10 of 12.
My mom had, yes, 12 children.
8 of us survived, 4 passed.
But yeah, huge family.
So I'm, um, yeah, I'm number 10.
10 of 12.
Mica (17:43):
My mom gets very emotional every time I leave.
I'm the youngest.
I'm her baby.
I have three older brothersand I'm the youngest.
But I'm always the one, leaving, going.
I'm out of state.
I like to travel.
And it's a really scary thingfor her because she just
wants to be there to protect.
So I can imagine your mom justbeing like, Oh my god, I want her
to like, go to this big city and,and make these big dreams come true.
(18:08):
But I'm really scared about Iwon't be there to protect her.
Gerri (18:11):
I know it was hard for her, but she let me shine.
She let me go.
And she said, Gerri, you know,if you ever get in trouble
or you need us for anything.
All you have to do is pickup the phone and call.
My dad, he didn't say much because mydad was kind of like a tough guy, but I
could see in his eyes, Mica, oh my God.
(18:33):
The sadness in his eyes and I thought tomyself when I got to my hotel that night
when we landed and we were settled in ourhotel, I must have cried myself to sleep.
I know I did.
I cried myself to sleep.
And then the next morning Igot up and it's like, okay.
(18:53):
It's time to, it's time to go towork, it's time for me to build
my, my life here in New York City.
Mica (18:58):
I identify with that so much.
I went to college in San Angelo,Texas, which is not as far as New
York, but it definitely wasn't Austin.
And my mom cried the entire drive.
All the way until we got me inmy dorm, gave everybody hugs.
Continued bawling her eyes out, and thenas soon as everybody left, I remember
sitting on my bed and just, blalalalala,
Gerri (19:19):
You lost, you lost it.
Mica (19:21):
I was like everything went out my wall, you know, fingers crossed.
Gerri (19:28):
So the same thing happened to you,
Mica (19:30):
Same thing happened to me.
It's one of those things whereit's like you think about it,
and think about it, and thinkabout it, and it's very exciting.
And then once it's actuallyhappened, you're like.
Gerri (19:40):
And you second guess yourself.
Like, did I do the right thing here?
You know, I really, I really questioned,was that the right move for myself?
And I thought, you know what?
I did it.
I'm going to try it out.
And like my mom said,you can always come home.
She would say that every time I talkedto her, you can always come home.
Mica (19:59):
That's a comforting thing to know is, is that there's a safe landing.
I don't know if it was the same for you,but for me it was like, I am determined to
blossom because I don't want to go home.
Gerri (20:13):
Oh yeah.
Oh my God.
Oh, of course.
It was an option, but thatwas not going to happen.
Not for me.
As long as you have that safetynet, it actually, I think it
kind of spurs you on to be more,willing and ready to make it work.
If you sometimes feel like youdon't have that to fall back on, I
(20:35):
don't know if that's a good thing.
I could be wrong.
Mica (20:38):
For some people, they thrive on not having a backup, not having a place to go.
I'm not one of those people.
I feel good if I know that there's aplace, there's a safe space for me to go
to, but it's always a last resort for me.
Gerri (20:54):
Last, last resort for sure.
And it can be, and it canbe really, really scary.
But you also prove toyourself that, you know what?
I'm a tough girl.
I can do this.
It's hard, but I'm goingto get through this.
Mica (21:08):
When you go back to Oklahoma City to visit your family and friends, do
you ever wonder what life would be likefor you had you stayed in Oklahoma?
Gerri (21:17):
No, cause I knew that wasn't an option.
Mica (21:19):
I don't want to deal with no tornadoes.
I ain't going back there.
Gerri (21:22):
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no 110 degrees 120.
I can't, you know, it's like Iknew that I was going to make it.
Whatever it took for me to do that.
Whatever it took for meto stay here and make it.
And thank you Lord, I'm still here.
Mica (21:40):
I love that determination.
It reminds me so much of mybrother, Anthony, he's one of
the most determined people.
He recently bought the company thathe worked for, for 25 years, and
he worked his way up to the top.
Yeah, until he bought it.
Gerri (21:56):
Oh my God, congratulations Anthony!
Mica (21:59):
Right?
He's, man, I admire him so much.
He's just full of gritand full of determination.
When I hear you say, moving backto Oklahoma City was not an option
because I was going to make it here.
I just, I love hearing that.
I love hearing that, that determination.
It's such an inspiring thing.
Gerri (22:19):
I really had help along the way.
People who loved me and supported me.
And those people, Ihave to give credit for.
My cousin actually lived here.
She was a cousin by marriage andmy mom used to babysit her children
(22:39):
when we were little, right?
Something happened at this hotel thatkind of freaked both me and my friend out.
I called my mom.
I said, Mom, we have to leavethis hotel because there are
things here that are nefarious.
We don't like the situationthat we're living in.
And she said to me, she said,Gerri, she said, I'm going
to call you back in an hour.
And when she said, just sit tight.
(23:02):
She calls my cousin wholived on the Upper West Side.
One of the most beautifulplaces in New York City.
She called me back and shesaid, Gerri, her name was Eva.
I'll never forget her.
She's the most beautiful, kind person.
She said, Eva said to pack your bagsand that she was going to come and get
(23:22):
you guys in an hour from that hotel.
And this was not just me, but myfriend that I moved up here with.
And do you know, Mica, she took us in toher beautiful apartment for six months.
Okay.
And she said, you have to get a job.
And I said, of course,I'm going to get a job.
(23:44):
She said, I'm going togive you six months.
She said, you don't have to pay rent.
You don't have to pay for food.
I'll buy your clothes.
But when you leave in six months,I want you to have at least 5, 000
dollars saved up so you can get anapartment and you can go out on your own.
And I had to do that because Ididn't want to embarrass my mom.
This was my mom's niece,her cousin, whatever.
(24:05):
I think she was, she's our cousin.
My mom said, Gerri, you haveto do what Eva tells you to do.
And that's the thing because itwas not just me, it was my friend.
And we were treated likeroyalty at this place.
But when that six months markcame up, we had to move and we had
already had an apartment set up.
So sometimes you need help to makethose goals happen and my cousin
(24:31):
even made that happen for me.
Otherwise, I may havehad to go home again.
I'm not sure, only God knows, but I knowshe helped us to stay here in New York
City and I'll never forget her for that.
Ever.
Mica (24:46):
That's amazing.
And that's so kind.
What a big heart to, todo that, to, I think.
Pay that forward.
We need more people likethat in, in this world.
I'm curious to find...
How you found yourself inthe world of prop styling?
I know it ties back toyou rearranging your room.
(25:06):
How did this form into a career for you?
Gerri (25:11):
I had met a couple of friends.
My friend Sonia and her sister Donna.
Donna worked for YM Magazine, Young Miss.
I don't know if you've ever heard of that.
Probably not.
I don't know because I don't thinkit's still in existence, but I
was between jobs and she askedme, she said, Gerri, I need help.
(25:33):
I need you to come on toa photo shoot with me.
I just need you to hang up theclothes and steam the clothes
because she was a wardrobe stylist.
So I went on set, but therewas this person who was like
arranging this living room set up.
And I was like thinking,what is this person doing?
And I asked Donna, I said,what is that girl doing?
Why is she arranging the furnitureand making everything look so pretty?
(25:57):
And Donna said, Well,she's a prop stylist.
I said, a what?
What is a prop stylist?
And she explained it.
It was like a light bulbwent off in my head, Mica.
I thought, this is whatI'm supposed to do.
This is the kind of job that I'm supposedto do and this is what I want to do.
And that's how it all started.
It was insane.
So I reached out to this person.
(26:18):
I don't remember her name, butDonna also connected me with
a couple of photographers.
And the ball just started rolling.
One job led to another job andone job led to another job.
One person reached out to me toassist on set bringing in some
plates and maybe bringing in somefurniture for this photo shoot.
And that's how it happened.
Mica (26:40):
Where that light bulb goes off, it's gotta be like one of
the most energetic moments ever.
Cause it just feels like things justfall into place after that moment.
Was it like that for you?
Gerri (26:54):
Absolutely.
It was almost like it washanded to me on a plate.
It was hard work, but it was thething that I had always thought
I wanted to do, but I didn'tquite know what it was called.
You know what I mean?
Does that make sense?
Mica (27:09):
That makes perfect sense.
When I talked to Robin, shewas describing that too.
She's like, I didn't even know
Gerri (27:15):
That was a thing.
Mica (27:16):
That that was a career.
That that was a thing.
I had no idea that thisis what styling was.
There wasn't a name to it.
And I'm like, yeah, but once youfind that name and, and there's like
a actual career, you're like, Oh,
Gerri (27:31):
Right?
Mica (27:34):
Guess that's what I'm doing.
Gerri (27:36):
I guess that's what I'm doing.
Absolutely.
And, and it's, it's a thingand it's a thing that I can do.
Mica (27:43):
Do you remember the first job that you styled?
By yourself on your ownas the lead stylist.
Gerri (27:54):
I do sort of.
It was a job for Home Depot.
And it was with this reallyamazing photographer.
His name is Bruce Wolfe.
He was just so kindand so patient with me.
(28:18):
He walked me through things.
It was intense.
It was an intense photo shoot, but withhis help and his guidance, I thought, you
know what, this is, it's hard, but it'snot as hard as I was making it to be.
Because I was so afraid.
When you're not afraid to dosomething, it becomes easier.
So yeah, that was my first,and it turned out beautifully.
(28:41):
It ran in a magazine, blah,blah, blah for advertising.
That was the one that reallyset me off in the direction
that, okay, this is, this is it.
This is what I'm going to do for sure.
Cause I can do it.
And I know how to do it and I've beenhelped by a person who knows how to do it.
Mica (28:59):
Did you see the the final shot in in an ad?
Gerri (29:03):
I did.
Mica (29:04):
What was that moment like?
What do you remember about that moment?
Gerri (29:07):
Bruce, I think he must have either emailed me or said something
like, Oh, our, our ad is running.
And I think it was Home Magazine.
And he said, our ad isrunning in Home Magazine.
I'm going to send you a copy.
And he did.
I thought to myself, I wasliterally almost in tears.
I was thinking, I actually did this.
(29:28):
I styled this photo shootand it was an amazing moment.
But then, you know what Istarted to do, Mica, I started
to pick apart what I had done.
Those flowers look like they're dying.
That towel should havebeen folded differently.
I think that's how you learn and you growwhen you can pick apart the things that
(29:48):
you've done and you can recognize youshould have done something differently.
I think that's how you grow.
I still do that to this day.
I think to myself, whatcould I have improved upon in
this story or in this photo?
Was there somethingelse I could have used?
That doesn't happen a lot,but I do still see that.
(30:10):
And I think that's howyou continue to grow.
Mica (30:14):
There's a food stylist.
Her name is Kristina Wolter.
She's...
absolutely amazing and just thekindest person, that I've ever met
and one thing that she advised me on.
She said, every shoot that Iwork on, I ask myself at the end,
what went well, what tool wouldhave made this shoot gone easier?
(30:36):
And what would I liketo do in the next shoot?
It's really cool to be reflective onevery project that you do to move forward.
Gerri (30:47):
Absolutely.
I try to do that on every job, and somethings I'm like really, really, really
happy with, but then there are those timeswhere I said, you know what, I should have
used that pink platter with the whatever.
And I think, okay, so the next time when Ido a shot like that, I'm going to really,
(31:07):
really think about what I want to use.
Cause sometimes when you're on setand you're feeling pressure to choose
something, you sometimes make the wrongdecision just to kind of get it done.
I'm telling myself I'mgonna stop doing that.
They're just gonna have to waitfor me to figure out what I need
and what they need and that's it.
(31:28):
No more rushing.
Because it doesn't help in the end.
You know what I mean?
Mica (31:33):
Absolutely.
When we're trying to get it asperfect in camera as possible, and
it's like, trust me, it's goingto save me time, later in post.
Gerri (31:41):
Exactly.
Mica (31:43):
Let's take the time now.
Gerri (31:45):
To do it right.
Mica (31:47):
To do it.
Right.
Exactly.
Exactly.
I very briefly worked at a retirementcenter and they were training
me to be a medicine technician.
Had no business giving people medicine.
I don't know why they chose me,but they chose me , but I thought,
You have a high school diploma.
(32:07):
Get in
Gerri (32:07):
Oh my God.
Mica (32:10):
Can you read that?
Yeah, so, they're showing me allof these medicines, and I'm like,
I am so not qualified to be here.
The person who trained me, said, I'm goingto teach you how to do this the right way.
I'm going to show you how I do it.
So mine way.
And then I'm going toshow you how not to do it.
(32:31):
It just goes to show that there'sjust so many different ways of
reaching an end goal of something.
Gerri (32:37):
Right.
Absolutely.
Mica (32:40):
How can you know that though, if you don't take a minute to take
a look at something and evaluate it.
Gerri (32:46):
And also, just try it.
Sometimes you're going to fail.
But not with giving someone medicine.
We don't want to do that,but I'm just saying.
We don't want to, we don't wantto give anyone the wrong medicine,
Mica (33:01):
I'm serious.
I have no, I have no idea why they thoughtI'd be a good a candidate for that.
Gerri (33:09):
I'm so happy you chose photography for sure.
Your work is beautiful.
I, I must say that again.
I know I said that to you earlier,but it's, it's, it's stunning.
So congratulations.
It is so beautiful.
Mica (33:23):
Thank you so much, I, I'm very much like you, I, I like to pick
my work apart as well, and I'm I'mprobably my, my toughest critic.
And so it really means a lotto me when people tell me,
how much they enjoy my work.
You mentioned earlier being, being drawnto objects and shapes and textures.
(33:45):
What interests you the most aboutthe objects, shapes, and textures?
Gerri (33:50):
You know, that's a hard question for me to answer because there are so
many things I see that are beautiful.
Like ceramics, right?
I love ceramics.
Anything that's like a beautifulglaze, anything that has an unusual
form, but that could be like a rug,or that could be like a platter.
(34:15):
I don't limit myself.
I have a very vast experienceappreciation of all things.
When I'm styling a job, Mica,I bring so much stuff on set.
Cause I can't decide.
Does that, is that weird?
I can't decide what I want to use.
Mica (34:31):
Not at all.
Not at all.
Gerri (34:33):
I'm the type of person.
I kind of make things up as I go.
I don't like sticking to a script.
I want to be able to justlike, freestyle, as they say.
I bring stuff to set that the clientdidn't even know they want it or need it.
So I don't know if that answers yourquestion, but it could be anything.
(34:55):
I am just a lover of beautifulthings and whatever that may be.
Mica (35:02):
It just shows that you're open to receiving all kinds of props because
they'll find a way, they'll find a way.
There's always going to be a situation,a shoot where maybe it doesn't work
for this shoot, but it definitelyworked for something down the road.
Gerri (35:20):
Right.
I've probably purchased andsold at least three collections.
Right.
Sometimes I think aboutthe stuff that I sold.
I'm thinking, Oh my God, you idiot.
Why would you do that?
But, I have so I'm much stuff, Mica.
You would not believe it because I'mconstantly buying and I'm constantly
(35:43):
trying to improve upon my collectionand get things that are varied.
Some things that are Middle Eastern,some things that are like Polish.
It's like certain things,certain looks that I just want
to have all of it just in case.
There's a shoot that I will mostlikely need those things for.
Mica (36:02):
I feel like I need to, you know, put, put like a plaque on on my garage
door that's titled just in case.
My, my husband Aaron, he is likeso over me collecting props.
Yes.
Gerri (36:19):
Oh my God, he needs to talk to my husband, Simon, because I'm pretty
sure they'll have a lot in common.
Oh my God.
If I hear one more time, whereare we going to put this?
I would say, you know what?
You really want to know?
Mica (36:34):
My prop storage area was a mess.
Aaron, finally put his foot down.
He was like, Okay, you needto, like, organize this.
So my friend Anna helped meorganize my prop space and now
it's like all neat and orderly.
And I'm like, look how muchspace I have for more props
.Gerri: Hahahahahaha Now you know that's not what he meant Mica.
(37:01):
I actually just picked up this like really old desk.
Um, it's from the 1800s.
How crazy is that?
Gerri (37:08):
What?
Mica (37:09):
Yes.
I gotta send you pictures.
Gerri (37:11):
Please do.
Mica (37:12):
So when I text my husband, I told him I'm on my way to get a desk.
And he's please, and I was like,we'll find a way we'll find a way.
Gerri (37:26):
Yeah, we'll, we'll make it work.
Yes.
Mica (37:29):
So, when you agreed to be on the show, and I was doing my research on you,
I was like, okay, I've talked to severalfood photographers when I asked, because
I asked them, who should I interview?
Who should I, who should I interview?
And they were like, youneed to talk to Gerri.
You need to talk to her.
And, I was looking around, andI could not, for the life of
(37:51):
me, find a single photo of you.
And I was like, who is thisgenius that I need to talk to?
Who is she?
Who is she?
I was telling my husband, I was like,I feel like I'm looking for Batman.
Like, who is this person?
Gerri (38:09):
That's hilarious.
Mica (38:11):
Who is she?
I feel like I'm late to the party.
But at the same time, I was like,wow, that's really cool that
you have this wonderful career.
We're told you need to have socialmedia, you need to have a website,
you need to do all of this, this,this, for people to know who you are.
And I'm like, here's Gerri.
So what I want to know is, was itwas this an intentional choice to
(38:34):
keep your face off of the internet?
Gerri (38:36):
Yeah, it's, it wasn't intentional.
I've never been the type ofperson that wants to just be
out there in the public domain.
It's not my thing, you know?
And sometimes having a bit of mysterymakes people even more interested in you.
You see my name, Gerri Williams,I could be anybody, right?
(38:58):
The way I look shouldn't matter to likehow I do my work, which sometimes it does.
So for me, it's, it wasn't reallyintentional, but in some ways it,
worked in my favor, if that makes sense.
Mica (39:15):
Especially in today's world, we are encouraged to overshare.
I've seen some stuff on Facebookwhere I'm like, you should not.
Gerri (39:21):
That be doing that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Mica (39:24):
It's like, you don't have anything for yourself.
Like, you just don't havesomething for you and only you.
I think my generation is the lastgeneration that knows what life
was like before the internet andhow much freedom there was in that.
Gerri (39:42):
And I'm, I'm at an age, Mika, that I don't really care.
I am who I am.
It is what it is.
I do my job.
I love what I do, but I don'tneed everybody's approval.
You know what I mean?
I just want to do whatI do and do it well.
I'm not trying to get followers or likes.
It's just, I do what Ido because I love it.
Mica (40:04):
You're here to do the work.
And it just shows more than anything,how many relationships you have.
Pretty much every photographer I talkedto in New York, they mentioned your name.
Gerri (40:17):
Oh my God, that is, that is so sweet.
Oh my God.
That makes, that's really sweet.
Mica (40:24):
That is the power of networking, the power of relationships
that you have with people.
You mentioned earlier that, you'vehad a lot of help along the way.
Is, do you think that that's, howyou've been able to have a career?
Without being
Gerri (40:42):
Out there.
Mica (40:43):
Out there
Gerri (40:44):
I, I think so because also a lot of the people that I work with,
we tend to end up being friends.
So it's kind of a personal relationshipand a professional relationship.
For me, the two things go handin hand because, most, I'm going
(41:05):
to say 98 percent of the peoplethat I work with, photographers
and things, we're like friends.
I know these people.
I've known them for years.
They trust me.
I trust them.
You don't have to really think aboutwhat you're doing too much because
you have that thing with each other.
Like, you know what they need.
They know what you need.
And so you do the work together.
Mica (41:28):
I talked with Rishon Hanners recently.
She's a food stylist basedout in, in Birmingham.
And one thing that she mentionedwhen building out your team,
it's like sometimes you work withpeople because they bring a certain
energy, like a certain calmness.
If you know what type of client thisclient is and they're, maybe they're
(41:50):
persnickety and very picky and, andyou as the photographer might be
nervous and so you want to surroundyourself with a team where you
just trust them and they trust you.
And it's such a good vibeand such a good energy.
That stuff that happens, itdoesn't happen instantly.
It's, it's a very organic thingthat just happens naturally.
Gerri (42:11):
For sure.
For sure.
I worked very recently with a group ofwomen that I hadn't worked with before.
They're a lot younger than I am.
But I must tell you, it's like,it was almost like we had been
working together forever becausewe all had the same goal in mind.
It's like to create beautifulphotos, it was very collaborative.
(42:33):
So it was kind of easy toform that relationship with
these, these wonderful women.
It was a shoot for Tyson.
It was for the Middle Eastclient, or I think it was,
you know, for the Middle East.
But it was just like we hadbeen working together forever.
Mica (42:51):
Have there ever been times when you felt pressure to reveal more of yourself?
And if so, how do youhandle those situations?
Gerri (42:59):
To be very, very honest, Mica, I have not.
It's just like, I'm the person that I am.
If you take it or leave it.
If someone is, is trying to like,go too deep into my personal life
and thing, I'm, that's just not me.
I, I, I'm going to put a halt to that.
It's like, you know what?
Maybe this is not the thing for me to do.
(43:21):
I can't.
Mica (43:23):
We had like this winter storm and the ice weighed down all the
trees around Austin and so we had alot of power outages all over Austin.
And my mom needed to chargeall four of her phones.
Gerri (43:41):
All four?
Oh
my
Mica (43:43):
four.
All four.
There was a Starbucks right nextdoor to our apartment complex,
but she didn't want to wait the 15minutes for them to open their lobby.
So she walked two and a half milesto a hospital so she could charge
her four phones in their lobby.
And my sister in law, my brother,the whole family was searching all
(44:08):
over South Austin for this woman.
Gerri (44:10):
Oh my god, Mica.
Don't tell me that.
Are you kidding me?
Mica (44:13):
Yeah.
I kept calling her numberover and over and over.
And it Would just gostraight to voicemail.
So my sister in law called herthrough Facebook Messenger and my mom
told her, Hey, I'm at the hospital.
Come get me.
And we went and I
Gerri (44:29):
Oh my god.
Mica (44:29):
Get in this car, woman.
Getting this.
I was so mad at her.
And so on the way back to herapartment, I was like, Mom, we need
to know where you're at at all times.
And she was not in favor of that.
She said, I'm a grown woman.
I like my privacy.
(44:50):
I like my independence.
If I want to go somewhere.
I just want to go.
And sometimes I don't want people toknow where I'm at and it's my business.
It's my business where I am at.
I mean, I get it.
I get what she means by sometimesyou just want to unplug and you
got to have things for yourself.
I'm really big into genealogy and I.
(45:12):
I've researched my family for severalyears now, but one thing that disturbed me
how much information I found on Facebook.
Like, I found names, I founddate of births, I found...
Addresses, pictures of their children.
Their houses like it justI it personally alarmed me.
(45:32):
I've become very protectiveover what I share.
But the challenge is I do have topromote myself and my business and
my podcast and everything like that,but I don't have to share everything.
Gerri (45:45):
My daughter's been, I believe she's on my Instagram page,
maybe, or in one of our stories.
But even that makes me feel weird,you know, because that's my baby.
It's a little weird for me.
But, you know, she's 24, so I know shewants to be out there, but even with her,
she's not going to overshare with people.
Mica (46:04):
So let's take it to when you work with a food stylist on a project.
How do you align your creative visions?
Gerri (46:12):
It depends on the project, actually.
If I'm doing a test with a food stylist,then we collaborate on, on like what foods
we want to shoot and what's the look.
Is it going to be, a Japanesekind of food shooter?
Is it going to be something more American?
It's always a collaboration for me,but when I'm working on a project
(46:36):
that someone else is in control of,
like a client.
Then it's kind of what the client wants.
I try to bring in my vision and liketalk to them about what I think they
need or what I think we should use.
And then the food stylist, I thinksometimes we'll do the same, but
(46:59):
it's always about a collaborationand sometimes it's out of my control.
Mica (47:04):
Do you work closer with the food stylist or with the photographer?
Gerri (47:09):
I would say the photographer.
I work with the people thatI'm working with and we, I
always try to include them in.
Sometimes for me, when there's toomuch input, it kind of throws me off.
So I'll say let's use thisplatter versus, like an oval
(47:29):
platter versus a square platter.
Let's use a shallow bowl as opposedto a flat bowl or a flat plate.
It's those kinds of tweaksI try to bring to the table.
A photographer may have a differentidea about what, how he wants or how
she wants to plate a certain food.
(47:49):
So I'm, I'm always willing to listen, butthat's why I bring so many options on set.
Cause sometimes we just, you justdon't know until you're on set.
Mica (47:59):
Just go with the flow and you come in with an idea with also the knowledge
that this could go a different direction.
Gerri (48:09):
Yeah, it may not work.
Mica (48:11):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Gerri (48:13):
So let's figure out something else, and that's what really bugs
me on set is when, something is notworking, but either the photographer
or the food stylist, whatever theythey're trying to make it work.
And it's like, you know what?
I, but I have so many otherthings we can choose from.
So let's, let's play a little bit.
Let's not get stuck in one on one.
(48:35):
Plate or one bowl or one glass.
You know, let's play a little bit,but I've been in that situation
where we spend an hour on tryingto make something work and I that's
a waste of time in my opinion.
That's just my opinion.
Mica (48:49):
My, my former professor said, and he's like, I will try
to fix a problem three times.
If it doesn't get fixed by the third try,
I move on.
Gerri (48:59):
Then move on.
Mica (49:00):
Time is precious.
We're on a schedule.
We do not have the time.
This is not working.
So we need to find something else.
Gerri (49:07):
Especially too, when you have so much to choose from, don't
get stuck on one thing, please.
Mica (49:13):
What do you do in moments where you see a prop and you just
don't feel a connection to it.
Like how do you know whenit's time to let go of a prop?
Gerri (49:25):
I can just feel it.
I can feel it like this is not.
It's not moving me.
If something has to move me and I knowthat it's right or it's not right.
And it doesn't happen a lot, but thereare times when it's like, Oh, and even
for me, I had a vision for something.
Right.
And I'm thinking this is going tolook beautiful and it doesn't work.
(49:47):
So I figure out something else to useand that's the beauty of like being
on set and you, you collaborate aboutthings because I'm not always right.
I can admit that, but some peoplecan't, you know what I mean?
Mica (50:01):
I'm, I'm I'm one of those people.
Gerri (50:05):
Are you really Mica?
No, really?
Mica (50:11):
Little bit bullheaded.
When there's a will, there's a way.
Gerri (50:13):
Okay, Mica, so when we work together,
Mica (50:17):
Yeah, you're gonna have to pull me to the side and be like, well, let it go.
Gerri (50:21):
No, I'm pretty sure I won't have to do that.
Mica (50:26):
Very true.
Very true.
I mean, I, I gone more to like thingsthat have nostalgic feelings, you know,
like I love collecting birthday cardsthat people have gotten me over the years.
I have, well,
several boxes of birthday cardsthat I've just collected over
the years, and I, I don't know,someone takes the time to write a
thoughtful message on a card, it just,
Gerri (50:48):
Oh, that's so sweet.
Mica (50:51):
Yeah, my love language is, is giving gifts and receiving gifts.
Gerri (50:55):
I understand.
No, I, I, I get it.
Sometimes it's, is it about thesentimental aspect of it or just
Mica (51:02):
Very much.
Very much.
I mean, the handwriting.
Especially when a friend has passedaway and the picture is wonderful,
the picture is wonderful, but.
There's just something differentabout holding a piece, you know,
a, a, a with their handwriting.
Like you can't, that'sjust so unique to them.
(51:24):
No one writes like
Gerri (51:26):
Like that.
Yeah.
I totally agree.
I still have cards that my momwrote to me and like birthday
cards and letters and stuff.
And it's like, I couldnever get rid of those ever.
Mica (51:38):
So you mentioned when you explore like various prop houses, antique shops,
your mission is to find unique items.
What makes a certainprop stand out to you?
Gerri (51:50):
I don't know.
It could be, it could be anything.
It's just, it's just a feeling, youknow, it's just a feel like I was
recently at a prop sale and therewas so much stuff to choose from.
But I saw these, this beautifullike soda bottle, but it was purple.
(52:13):
And there was a purple one and a blue one.
And I'm thinking, what is that?
I'm thinking, I've never seen this.
Absolutely beautiful.
So I bought them.
It was something thatI hadn't seen before.
And it's, they were obviously very old,and of course it may not have even been
(52:34):
for soda, but it was a bottle of somethingthat's, that held some kind of liquid.
Absolutely beautiful.
So if I see something that speaks to meand something that I've never seen before,
I'm very drawn to those kinds of things.
Mica (52:48):
It's like you, you just want to know what life, what,
what its existence was like.
Gerri (52:53):
What, exactly, like, you know, who, who held this
bottle, what did they use it for?
Like, what, what is it aboutthis thing that I'm so drawn to?
A prop house that I had quite a bitof history with recently closed.
It's called Prop Workshop and I wasthere, you know, to buy some things.
(53:15):
I was looking at all the things thatI had used in past shoots and it was
just, it was almost painful for me.
There was a brief period whereI stopped styling for a while.
And I became manager of this place.
It was called Prop Workshop, as I said.
And I, I knew almost every piecepersonally, because I was there every day.
(53:39):
I was looking at stuff.
I was arranging things on the shelvesand to see that, you know, a lot of
this stuff, and I can't even tellyou some of the stuff, like when
in the track, it was just too much.
It was, it was, it was like painful.
Mica (53:54):
It makes you wish, like, gosh, I wish I had a, a giant
warehouse where I could just graball of that and take it with me.
Gerri (54:01):
Yeah, it was, it was, it was pretty, it was pretty emotional for me.
I can't lie about that.
And I know a lot of my peoplewho hear this will have the
same kind of feeling about it.
Because, you know, a lot of myProp Stylist friends were there.
Robin was there, actually, and wewere thinking, looking at each other
like, Is this really happening?
It's, it was so weird.
(54:22):
It was really, really sad.
Mica (54:24):
When the pandemic started, it was, it was really hard, I mean,
on top of seeing so many people,lose their lives, you're also
seeing so many loving businesses.
In Austin, we have the South bySouthwest Festival and it really,
it's a, it brings in a lot of revenue.
Gerri (54:45):
It's major.
Mica (54:46):
Major, major.
Major.
Major.
When this was all starting, Iwas like, if they cancel South
by Southwest, then I'll know it'sserious, because Austin would never.
And then they did it.
I was like, what is this rule?
What is happening?
Then everything shut down,and so many local restaurants
were just left and right.
(55:07):
All my shoots got canceled,and it was a really scary time.
It was really hard to see the businessesstruggling and now that things are
turning around, you think about allthose businesses that weren't able
to keep open, to stay open, and it'sjust like, it's really heartbreaking.
Gerri (55:24):
So, so Mika, what did you do during that time?
Like, what, how did you fill your time?
Mica (55:30):
Believe it or not, I ended up getting a lot busier.
So I actually booked a lot of brandsthat were outside of Austin, and they
would just mail me their food products,or they'd, you know, reimburse me.
I could go to the grocery storeand the other thing that really was
helpful is that, my husband, he has...
A day job that was able to support uswhile, while I was figuring this out
(55:54):
because that was like my whole, wholequarter, whole year, whole everything.
It's very scary.
But, it put me back in the studiobecause I did a lot of on location
shoots, I was like, I never wantto be in the studio ever again.
But it brought me back in the studioand I'm actually pretty grateful
for it because now I can get socreative and so crazy in the studio
(56:18):
that I couldn't do on location.
It's just different.
Gerri (56:22):
It's a different vibe, right?
Mica (56:24):
Yes.
Yes.
Much different vibe.
Much much different vibe.
So I cannot end this interviewwithout talking about your
cookbook that you worked on.
Congratulations.
That book is gorgeous!
Gorgeous.
Gerri (56:43):
The, the Meyer, Meyer Feller.
Mica (56:46):
Yes, The Eating
Gerri (56:47):
Eat from our roots, yes!
Mica (56:49):
yes.
What, that book is so colorful.
The colors were just jumping off.
It's so beautiful.
Gerri (56:57):
Thank you, Mica, thank you so much.
It was, it was incredible.
The photographer, Christine Han.
She's so talented and so sweet.
The food stylist was Monica Perini.
Incredibly talented.
It was just, it was a dream job.
(57:17):
It really was.
And I'm so happy withthe way it turned out.
But I have to say too, Mica, Ihave another cookbook coming out.
I'm not trying to plug anything, but.
Mica (57:28):
Oh, please do.
Plug in.
Plug in.
Tell me about this cookbook.
Gerri (57:33):
So I styled a cookbook with, do you know Yowande Kamalafe?
Mica (57:40):
No, I don't.
Gerri (57:41):
You should look her up.
She's, you know, she's a recipe developer.
She's a cookbook writer.
And it's called MyEveryday Lagos, I believe.
She's Nigerian.
And we did this cookbook,and it was during COVID.
It was shot during COVID.
Which was a challenge, but we wereat a photographer's apartment.
(58:06):
And it was intense.
Everyone was masked up and, youknow, we were trying to be very
thoughtful of like, each other'sspace, but it was, it was intense.
We got through it and it's, we gotsome beautiful shots, but yeah, it
was, it was a bit of a challenge.
Mica (58:22):
What was the favorite memory or one of your favorite memories
from, from that experience?
Gerri (58:27):
Oh, actually there was a moment when we were trying to figure out.
What should be the cover of this cookbook?
We just couldn't figure it out.
And I'm so happy that they decidednot to do like an image of like a
dish of like food, but they hiredin the end, an illustrator to draw.
(58:53):
Oh my God, the cover of thisbook is absolutely stunning.
It's really special.
So yeah, I think that's comingout maybe in October of this year.
So yeah, I'm excited.
I've had a pretty busy, like I'm goingto say three years, I've been doing
quite a few cookbooks and working quitea bit, so I'm, I feel very blessed.
Mica (59:15):
Okay, so I have one last question for you.
Gerri (59:18):
Yes.
Yes.
My dear.
Mica (59:19):
What do you hope the listeners gain from today's episode?
What advice would you give to a newstylist who, especially stylists of
color who are coming into this industry?
Gerri (59:33):
I, I would say know your craft, do your research, try to align
yourself with like minded people.
Like photographers who have thesame, creative vision that you have.
Allow yourself to learnfrom the people that.
(59:54):
Even though you may not know thepeople that you're going to be working
with, try to learn from those peopleand establish relationships, because
that's kind of what I've done.
Some of the photographers you probablytalk to, I've learned probably so
much from those people, from thosephotographers that you spoke to.
It's like creating a relationshipand learning from, from the
(01:00:15):
people that you're working with.
That's my advice.
Go in.
Be determined, know your craft, work hard.
You have to work hard becausein some ways, people of color
sometimes have to really, you haveto prove yourself to people like
I'm the person you should hire.
I'm going to work hard.
(01:00:37):
You might have to work a little bit harderthan other people, but do it because
I can guarantee you it'll be worth it.
That's, that's my advice.
Mica (01:00:47):
That's such great advice.
Especially as a person of color,because, we are always put in positions
where we have to work twice ashard, prove ourselves twice as hard.
Just to prove that wedeserve a seat at the table.
Gerri (01:00:59):
But it's doable.
We've probably both had those experiences,but we're here, we're doing our thing.
We're still doing it.
So there's something to it.
Mica (01:01:07):
Gerri, thank you so, so much for being on the show.
Where can we respectfully follow you?
Gerri (01:01:16):
On Instagram.
I'm actually going to launch awebsite in the very near future.
So I'm working on that.
But for now, my Instagram is the bestway to see my work and see, you know,
the kind of things that I like it.
So will you do seven on Instagram.
I just have to say that, I thankyou so much for reaching out to me.
(01:01:38):
I feel so honored that you.
That you reached out to meand have me on your show.
I thank you so much.
It's been such, such a nice hour.
Has it been an hour?
Oh my God.
It may have been more.
I don't
Mica (01:01:52):
It's been more.
People are shocked and they're like,Oh my gosh, how much time has passed?
Then it's like I told you,it's like a conversation.
Gerri (01:02:00):
I mean, it's like, you know, when you're talking to your friend on
the phone and you lose track of time,that's how I, I'm feeling right now.
But so thank you so much.
Mica (01:02:09):
Really the honor is all mine and I'm just so glad that we connected because.
You have a reputation for being the bomb.
com and I can say for sure that the riveris a true you are just an amazing person
and I'm so glad we know each other now.
We're besties.
You're my
Gerri (01:02:28):
I know.
And you know what?
If you come to New York, ifyou come to Brooklyn, you
have to, we have to hang out.
You know that, right?
Mica (01:02:36):
Oh my gosh, I, I, I'm definitely coming to New York now.
I, I've
Gerri (01:02:40):
Please do.
Mica (01:02:41):
I've got to miss it.
If I'm not going to live, then Imight as well come every chance that
I can, so I'm definitely, definitely.
Oh my gosh.
Oh my gosh.
Well, thank you again somuch for being on the show.
Gerri (01:02:54):
Thank you for having me.
Thank you, Mica.
I appreciate it.
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