Houston is a tricky place to grow up. You’re kind of submerged into this cultural melting pot that is the 4th largest and the most diverse, but it’s also one of the ugliest cities in the US. It’s flat, sandy, the beach is gross, the humidity is terrible and if that’s not bad enough, you have to sit in hours of traffic staring at some jacked up truck nuts dangling in your face. 
We’re an “industry ” city. We come from little  education making pretty decent money, it makes for a gritty yet “flamboyant” culture.  I grew up with a lot of first and second generation Americans. I had friends who’s parents never learned to read or write in English.  I’m Japanese, my grandfather was put in an internment camp after Pearl Harbor. My great uncle Tommy fought for the Americans in the 442 and came back one of the highest decorated in the history of the American Army. For whatever reason, our history was buried because (idk) maybe our families wanted to hide the fact that we came from an immigrant family.  I’m a “90’s” child. I was raised in the defiant era and  also the oldest of the millennial generation  so my playlists consist  of NWA and Britney Spears which is confusing because Nirvana and NSYNC would have never rocked the same table at the MTV music awards. I mean, we’re all in our thirties now just trying to figure out who we are as parents and bosses and entrepreneurs. We’re trying to figure out our political stance too and if it even means anything anymore? We don’t know!  We are retreating to the earth and to our roots. We’re searching through art and food and music and poetry.  In Houston we fight for each other, through the floods and fluctuation of oil prices. We live for our sports teams and our athletes. I was raised in a city that has more nationalities and cultural traditions than any other city in the country but we all unite in the Spring, in boots and cowboy hats parading around a rodeo carnival.
I guess, what I’m trying to say is how can you not be an inspired artist when the world around you is a constantly evolving work of cultural art?
I’m Kaci Okabayashi. I own Southern Envy Studios. I am a 14 year dedicated national makeup artist and internationally published photographer.  Those things mean nothing, only that I’ve been doing it long enough that someone eventually noticed.  My heart beats for the people, and for the story my children will tell their children.  I’m an entrepreneur, I enjoy helping people achieve their dreams. I’m no huge achiever but I like to see people succeed.  My career is starting to pave a future that is bright, my kids seem proud to be my kids. My husband is my absolute best friend and my absolute bestest girl is my business partner. I’m happy where my life is right now. We struggle, but that’s what makes the successes a little bit sweeter.  I blast “chopped and screwed” rap in my Lexus on my way to shoots. I’d say life is good. Im not sure if what I’m trying to achieve even exists, but I’ll know when I get there.

People talk... especially the young ones. The way I see it is, not all roads are paved with a fresh black top.  The “pot holes of life” I had a shit ton.  I was a teen parent lugging around a toddler on my hip from shoot to shoot, I did what I had to do to hustle the money I needed to, in order to keep my kid fed. I look back on my work and can see the struggle and darkness through it. Between being poor and violent young love, times we’re grotesque.
You have to be slightly narcissistic to be an artist because greatness can be an opinion. Failure can’t be any more than a milestone. You have to believe that you are the only voice that matters to continue to work through scandals and the fiery trenches of the internet.  The only struggles left to deal as a veteran artist is the young adults that come in and try to step on your head to get noticed.  You have to laugh it off, they are trying to build their narrative and somehow you’re the inspiration or the villain. It’s innocuously precious.

I specialize in interpreting artistic visions. People come to me with ideas (thank you Pinterest). I build a conceptual design and shoot it.  As a makeup artist, you have the ability to control more of the visual effect of your subject. I shoot everything.  I’m known for extremely low priced wedding photography packages. Artists hated me for it but it’s a niche...
I work with a lot of tweens and teens. I raise money to help sponsor athletic programs and mentor struggling artists.
Pride is a dangerous drug. Too much will destroy everything you’ve worked for. The opposite end of that is, putting out the vibe that killing my competition is kosher AF.  I can do anything, create anything, be anything. Perhaps that’s what I’m most proud of.  If you asked the (almost 6000) clients of mine, they’d tell you what sets me apart from other photographers is the experience. I give 100% of my soul to every client. It’s fun, it’s fast, it’s affordable and it’s quality. Plus, I’m GD hilarious. Maybe that’s just the narcissist in me.... 

I was hit by a car when I was 11 years old.  It was quite detrimental, paralyzed on the right side of my body, subdural hematoma, and severe memory loss. So, there aren’t a lot of them to choose from.

My aunt Angie use to take me to the airport, we would lay on top of the car and watch the planes come in.  I grew to be fascinated with airports. Where were people going, was it business or pleasure, were they nervous?  These were things that my 6 and 7 year old brain thought!  It eventually led to being a student pilot at 16 and an aerospace major. But that wasn’t where I landed (pun intended).  I loved the freedom of flight and that silent space between heaven and earth.  There is a prevalence of my love for the sky in my work.  I believe it stems beautifully from my childhood...

***MUA***
Morgan Horres #1096994
Ashley Kay #489228
Shay #300899
Sonia Florez # 754376

***Photographers***
Red Door #424126
Southern Apocalypse #894355
Luna Horizon # 590426

***Models***
Dani Lapree #1327585
Alexa-Justice #1260462
Stephanie #1202431
KarSin Kayne #1244765
Mandi Anderson #1059476
Brittany Walsh #1204669
Lynne Sterling #1222170
Morgan Horres #1096994
Shana Bond #1228896
Domina Shannon #344631
Phobia
Kelsey Byers # 1106968
Vevian Vega #755285
Jenna Dawn #1037944
Meg # 1022714
NenaRZ #758699
Julia Larson #793252
Stacy Noble #753664
Robin Bean #759308
Auryn #238871
Rachel Huber #1087592
Sabrina Sin #40848
Veronica Gomez #519568
Thao #143154
Megan Shutter #577569
Ashley Kay #76497
Fe-Fe # 781264
Michelle Nguyen #545729
Cara Adams #899134
Liz Ames #902860
Sydney Bosworth # 1082554
Joa Esco #888895
Jaded Pixie #493763
Beth Pellenin #237575
Southern Apocalypse #894355

***Bands***
Hillbilly Harold
Fal Skye
The Elroy's
Project Dopamine
A Rival
Empty V
Blue Collar Blues Band
BC and the Crisis
The Zero's
Bad Boyfriend
Lounge 4407
Chant
Saturday Night Palsey
80 Proof
Vertigo
ForePLay
The Reds
Glitter Rose
Rankin Twins
Mansruin
Shit City High
RC Fighter
Adrenaline
Ethan Travis
LoneStarPornStar
Run Over Twice
All Nude Breakfast
Liv IT
Tight White
Raymon V
Skid Row
Dirty Penny
Little Caesar
Trashy and the Kid
Dewar
Britney Fox
Azerals Bane
Cock Pit
Sould Bound
Glass Intrepid

***Models w/o MM***
Kelli Kimbrough
Lacey
Coree Okabayashi
Karla Pinto
Chelsea Jackson
Jamie Juice
Leslie Kay
Victoria
Jenn-E
Jaquline
Heather Smith
Julie Hale
Candice Davenport
Bethany Day
Ryan Traylor
Todd Cutri
Caleb Beckett
Nick Mock
Brandon Leary
Katy Kirkland
Mansruin
Sarah Reed
Angie Adair
Shelly Roden
Laura Clark
Megan Patton
Greg Kenny
Chelsea Stormes
Kristen Nicole
Teresa Garza
Maddison Werry
Sara Sims
Jenna
Jonny Tatts
Taylor Tackett
Trevor Hall
Micheal James
Jason Stotch
Ely Urias
***Press***
Rock the Bayou
Red Hot fashion Show
Havanna Nights
97.9 Flow Jam

***Press***
MUA for Zombie Gore Couture

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