Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlye Shumaker
Hi Carlye, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
If you were to ask those that truly know me, They would tell you that I was a creative child; always drawing, dancing, and pretending. I remember when I was young, my dad would take me to the art museum with a sketch book that felt as big as I was to draw whatever inspired me. I went to the School for Creative and Performing Arts from 7th through 12th grade. I double majored in Visual Arts and Classical Ballet for a few years before I inevitably chose dance. After high school, I got accepted into college for Ballet, but decided not to pursue it further. I graduated College with a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development. What do you do with that degree? Good question, I don’t know, I was just expected to graduate and I did…barely.
Post College I worked a handful of mediocre corporate jobs until 2020. 2020, just like everyone else, changed my life. For some reason, it changed mine for the better, which feels bittersweet to say because so many people suffered through 2020 and the following years. In 2020 I got let go from my very last corporate job, I thought my life was over and I was a failure. But, I saved my unemployment money and finally looked into a career change. My search and desperate need for something different lead me to Microblading.
I immediately felt so confident in my ability to do this art form. I researched it, learned about the industry, and found a course that I could take to become certified. During the course, I was asked to work with said company ans an Microblading Artist and I accepted, but I knew that going out on my own was my end goal. In 2021 I opened Symmetry Microblading, now known as Symmetry Tattoo Co. My business has grown from there, learning everything business wise-the hard way. I still do brows, lip blushing, freckles, and saline removal, but I am most commonly known for my fine line tattoos. I pride myself on building an almost exclusively women clientele and offering them feminine, floral, dainty tattoos in a safe, private, and welcoming environment. Of course, everyone is welcome in my studio, I have just found that women are drawn to not just my tattoo style, but the whole experience I offer in general.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have found that most things that are worth having are never easy to obtain. I am the first entrepreneur in my family, everything I have learned, I learned the hard way. I had no one to really guide me, even if I wanted the guidance. I am, and always will be hard working, head strong, and determined; it’s the only way I know how to achieve the life I want for myself, for my family.
The most obvious hurdles I think would be learning the laws and regulations in the county when it comes to the board of heath and tattooing, don’t get me started on taxes, and work life balance are all struggles I think every business owner goes through when starting.
The not-so-obvious hurdles are imposter syndrome, burn out, and the dreaded social media algorithm. I’m more than a tattoo artist, I’m marketing, book keeping, receptionist, scheduler, event planner, all the things. It’s overwhelming at first; no one is good at everything, yet, here I am, pretending to be good at everything.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a cosmetics and fine line tattoo artist. I am the owner of Symmetry Tattoo Co. in Cincinnati, OH.
While I do cosmetic tattooing, I am more widely known for my fine line tattoos. I specialize in Feminine florals, earthy, delicate and ornate pieces.
I would say that I’m most proud that I have built an experience that I, myself, would want from a tattoo artist; especially if I was getting my first tattoo. Symmetry is a safe space for individuals to come and not feel intimidated. I operate out of a private studio, it’s just the client and me, we listen to music, we talk through placement; being intentional with location. If this is your first tattoo I walk you through every single thing I am doing- there are no surprises. This concept doesn’t start at your appointment though, it starts with you booking, everything is laid out so you know every detail before hand; pricing, timing, location, aftercare-everything. Permanently decorating your body is a scary concept for most people, so if I do everything I can to make sure the process is seamless as possible from start to finish.
I always get positive feedback on quick response times, ease of scheduling, reliability, communication, and the atmosphere I’ve built; and that’s not something I take lightly.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I would say a hard lesson that I had trouble grasping is that we work to live. When opening a business, it’s all consuming; hustling through the early start up is exhausting. That’s not to say it isn’t necessary- but realizing that I’ve come to a place where I can take time off, the email can wait until tomorrow, or that social media post can wait, can be a difficult change of pace, but also much deserved. What can’t wait is my marriage, my mental health and my child’s milestones, everything comes second to all of those things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.symmetrytatooco.com
- Instagram: @symmetrytattooco
