Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Jennifer Spencer
Any photographer knows that newborn photography is a very touchy and intimate session. I am inches away from a newborn (usually only about 7 days old) when I am photographing them for about three hours. When Covid hit, I wasn’t sure if ANY family would ever hire a photographer – but especially a newborn photographer. Covid hit right after I built and opened my studio. I thought I made a huge mistake, but, luckily, no! After the initial lockdown ended, families booked me so much that I had a hard time keeping up with the amount of newborns that year. Read More>>
Cait Feltman
Since then, I’ve grown my craft and expanded into so much more. Weddings, engagements, and surprise proposals are still my core, but I’ve also had the honor of capturing countless senior portraits, families, branding sessions, newborns, and even the occasional event. Each type of shoot has its own rhythm, but the goal is always the same: to create something honest, timeless, and filled with personality. Read More>>
Fred Gomez
In the early days, I noticed a lack of modern, high-quality photo booths in Houston, so my wife and I decided to start Rumba Houston Photo Booth. Our goal was simple—deliver top-notch service with innovative equipment that makes every event unforgettable. We invested in cutting-edge LED-enclosed photo booths and personalized props to ensure a fun and engaging experience for our clients. Read More>>
Rajendra Chirumamilla
Monaesi Skincare was born out of a passion to create conceptual, inclusive, and innovative skincare solutions. We officially launched in March 2022, offering products that simplify routines while delivering exceptional results. From our Advanced Night Serum to our Multifunctional Daily Moisturizer and Acne treatment solutions, every product is designed to address multiple skin concerns simultaneously. Read More>>
Monica Wentworth
After medical school, moving from Houston to California for residency was another big leap, taking me far from home and family. During my general surgery residency, I grew significantly—both as a surgeon and as a person. General surgery exposed me to patients with serious cardiac, lung, pancreatic, and vascular conditions, many of whom faced difficult outcomes. Being so close to my patients and, at times, witnessing them pass away was incredibly hard, but it shaped my compassion and resilience in ways that are central to my practice today. Read More>>
Sanyu Ntanda
I wrote a story about a young boy in an African village who, in attempt to connect with his father, embarks on a journey that tests his courage and determination. At that time, I was incredibly creative and uninhibited. I thoroughly enjoyed the assignment and kept the finished book on my childhood bedroom bookshelf, where it sat for decades before resurfacing. Fast forward to 2024: when my parents downsized their home, my mother found the book. She brought it to a family reunion, encouraged me to publish it, and here we are. That’s the story of how I became a children’s book author. Read More>>
Ilse Hernandez
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many in creative fields, I’ve faced challenges with imposter syndrome, especially when comparing myself to others or stepping into new roles. There’s often a sense of questioning if I’m truly qualified or capable, even when I know I’ve put in the work. Pushing past those doubts has been an ongoing journey, and each project or opportunity helps me build confidence. Read More>>
Elena Karaytcheva
That and my Eastern European roots. It’s a very tough but intelligent culture and I try to hold onto it when I’m writing but as those who are familiar with my work know, I also harbor a serious sensitivity so navigating these strange and sometimes relentless waters feels like it’s become my life’s work. I have many people to thank for helping me steer the ship. English teachers. Goat farmers. Best friends. The family I babysat for. My brother. My mom. The list goes on. Where I am today is still wondering if I can pull this thing off but I’ve got a debut project under my belt so I think at this point it’s just a matter of starting on the next one. Read More>>
Diego Sanchez-Ayala
I went through a lot of ups and downs, falling outs, and personal emotions of feeling inadequate, but I believe I went through a lot to prepare me to not dwell on what may not have went my way but to choose to change how I respond to adversity. I get so much gratification seeing someone salivate over an idea that I can bring to life. I now can say my resume of work, creativity, and the relationships I’ve built over the years are a product of everything starting to come together naturally and getting to work for some of the hottest artist and upcoming entrepreneurs in and out the city. Read More>>
Lm Shafer
Balancing school and running a non-profit can be challenging. My husband and I chose for me to be unpaid while doing these two things. Our budget is slim but our hearts are full of joy because we love working with our community to meet the needs of the girls in our community. Read More>>
Alysia Maya
I officially started Mesmeri Jewelry in the summer of 2022. I had been wanting to start a brand since the age of 16 but for the longest time I wasn’t sure what kind of brand it was going to be. The only thing I knew for sure was that the brand would be centered around allowing women to feel their most divine and beautiful self. I was an independent and headstrong teenager and I so desperately wanted to create my path in this world. I wanted to make something of myself but my future seemed so unclear. I did end up going to college but dropped out in the year of 2020 since a health science degree seemed too boring and unfulfilling. Read More>>
Kayla Mcniece
Nothing fits “need” more than the sub-Saharan African country of Zambia. Zambia was a focal point of my childhood church’s healthcare mission platform. As an undergraduate student, I joined this mission — a pop-up dental/medical clinic meeting the needs of rural “bush” people. The work was hard but rewarding. I was able to stomach the blood and guts, but I could not stomach the gross inadequacy of diagnostic tools and treatment options. No chest x-ray? No blood tests? No steroids to give? No antibiotics for infections? What?! Read More>>
Allie Landis
A year later, my boyfriend, Alan, at the time (now husband) and I had to move to Texas to help my family when my father became sick. Of course this was a no-brainer, family first! But I was devastated to leave all the dogs I had grown so close with behind. When we moved to Texas, I googled ALL the dog walking companies in Austin and sent EACH ONE an email. This was pre-covid, so everyone was fully staffed and not hiring, but I threw it out there that I would love to be on their team. Let’s Walk Austin’s owner at the time, Steve, answered my email and said “I’m not hiring at the moment, but I’ll interview you for when I do hire” (now as the owner, I realize this was SO smart on Steve’s part – hiring/staffing is one of the hardest parts of running a company!) Read More>>
Cara O’neal
I’ve grown up around music my whole life. Majority of my family is very in tune with music. Half of my family can either play an instrument , sing, or both (haha), but my mom is the number one inspiration behind why I picked up a microphone. She used to perform and be apart of a band when she was younger. I think between watching her sing and all the music that was always being played in the house, car, etc. by her and my dad, while watching my favorite artist on TV, it struck something deeply in me. I was already comfortable being on stage and with song writing due to the other artistic activities and hobbies I was involved in so, once I really discovered my voice, a whole new world opened. Read More>>
Ana Maria Cattani
My wellness journey began nearly 20 years ago when I moved to the United Arab Emirates with my husband and two young kids. Adjusting to life abroad was a transformative experience, and it was during this time that I discovered yoga and meditation. These practices quickly became cornerstones of balance and resilience in my life. Inspired by the wisdom and passion of my teachers, I deepened my practice and eventually earned my Yoga Teacher Certifications (RYT-200 RCYT). Read More>>
Jonee Love
I was also featured in “top digital creators” to follow which boosted my presence even more. I now have expanded my audience to not only cooking but overall wellness as I recently lost 30 pounds and have shared this journey and inspired so many people that follow me. I have only been living in the Houston area for 2 years and look forward to getting my brand out in the open into the Houston community. Read More>>
Stephani Davis
As a mother of two, I started my journey in the beauty industry by obtaining my aesthetician licensure in 2015. Since then, I have refined my expertise in medical aesthetics, holistic wellness, and skincare. Driven by my passion for helping others feel confident and achieve their desired appearance, I pursued further studies and research to become a Master Holistic Aesthetician. My focus is on skincare treatments that highlight natural beauty through a holistic approach. Read More>>
Oak Morse
You might have mistaken me for an American audition, but my background music was the jazz instrumental of Nelly’s “Hot in Here,” from the days when bootleg CDs were popular. I was leaving an impression as I was jamming, almost floating, and rapping out my poem in front of the class. Since then, I have become obsessed with using words to impact myself and others. Like many others, I often juggled the responsibilities of a daily worker or student, sometimes both at the same time, but above all, I proudly embraced the fulfilling role of being a writer. Read More>>
Taylor Kirkland
The end of the month approaching I landed a job! 6 months into working I was able to start my personal training back up landing me with 6 clients. From there my client intake has been great pandemonium and my training sessions is oversaturated with high end clientele. Furthermore to cross network and expand my training I started a Free 6am all girls run club. Here im able to service the community by doing something that I love. Read More>>
Ro Swain
So I went out and brought a heat press, a vinyl cutter and some vinyl and gave it a shot. I was really good on the first try and I just started asking people in my family to let me make them a shirt. I fell in love with it and started learning more about placement and how to make a 1d picture look 3d, how to layer and work with glitter. Each day got better and better and now fine years later I am totally in love with my craft and how it brings endless smiles to people face when they see my work. Read More>>
