Written by | Ray Cornelius 

ARE YOU IN?

Noted celebrity photographer and creative visionary—Drexina Nelson—hosted a lavish premiere party over the weekend for her newest project, The Society Industry Book. The invitation only event took place at her new Society Studios in the West Midtown district of Atlanta.

The Society Industry Book highlights the achievements, advice, and works of more than 20 notable beauty industry influencers and trailblazers, including beauty TV personalities Gocha Hawkins and Mushiya Tshikuka along with award-winning and celebrity stylists Razor Chic and Pekela Riley.

When I talked to Drexina last September for my radio show, #UPFRONT, she was very excited about the opportunity to expose these amazing hair stylists, makeup artists and entrepreneurs to a wider audience. For her, a lot of their hard work has gone unnoticed.

“This book is my heart. I’m actually getting an opportunity to give the beauty industry a voice and that’s what I’ve been passionate about. I started off in makeup and then doing hair and I understand the African American hair stylist.  So many people are doing it so wrong now because of social media and we have to take it back and show people that you still have to work hard. You still have to push out good work and good business to be successful for the long haul.”

In addition to featuring several of Atlanta’s beauty industry leaders, the book also puts a spotlight on the businesses and service specialties of members affiliated with “The Society,” a national network of beauty industry professionals led by Drexina Nelson Productions.

Other evening highlights included the unveiling of her production company’s new talk program, titled “The Show Post.” It features five of the ATL’s rising talents who dish about the hottest topics on social media and beyond. Check them out here!

Drexina is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and has been a force in Atlanta’s beauty and photography industry for well over a decade now. She has captured images of some of entertainment’s biggest names including Gladys Knight, Kanye West, Ludacris, Idris Elba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Will Packer and Mary, Mary just to name a few. Her work has been featured in a myriad of publications including KONTROL and BLACK HAIR and on Bravo’s hugely popular “Real Housewives of Atlanta.”

Check out photos below from the evening:

Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com