Today we’d like to introduce you to Porsha “GLO” Shelton.
Porsha “GLO”, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My transition into photography had foreshadowing I didn’t recognize at the time. As a Professional Makeup Artist for 9 years, I was already blending artistry with visual storytelling. Early on in my makeup career in 2016, I purchased my first camera to build my makeup portfolio and content creation, but over time something shifted. My makeup kit restocks slowly started becoming photography gear purchases and camera upgrades. My client and makeup muse sessions turned into full productions. I still smile and giggle when I think back on it now because if you’ve ever sat in my chair, it’s like one of those “if you know, you know” things. Those are some moments and connections that I will always cherish. I have so much gratitude for the incredible women who supported this evolution.
After completing my military service in 2023, I was able to pursue makeup artistry full-time. It was something I dreamed about for years. When it finally happened, it felt surreal. My military chapter taught me discipline, resilience, and how to adapt to change and transitions. My years as a professional makeup artist taught me about risk-taking and creative vision. All of these tools collectively prepared me for this current chapter. Everything has a purpose. By mid-2024, I closed my books, stepped away to travel and learn about photography. Surprisingly, I didn’t miss makeup like I thought I would. That signified to me that God was leading me somewhere new. I fully pursued my photography path in 2025 under Visuals By GLO, and by that spring, I earned two PhotoVogue selections. It was another confirmation that I was exactly where I needed to be. My work has since been featured in art exhibitions and sold. I’m still in amazement that my work is currently hanging in art galleries and in people’s homes. This is all thanks to the amazing people who agreed to collaborate with me because they saw my vision and brought it to life. I have upcoming projects that I’m excited to share soon!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Pursuing this transition wasn’t without resistance. I didn’t make a huge announcement about leaving makeup because I was still figuring it out myself. However, I did make a short, simple post but in my heart it felt like goodbye. I was still trying to understand this shift God put within me. What surprised me was how often I was asked to still take on makeup appointments again or questions about why I couldn’t just do both. I honestly didn’t have the answers at the time. This transition also taught me something valuable: not everyone will accept your change, and that’s okay. What matters most is God’s path for me. My advice to anyone going through a transition: ask yourself what is God telling you to do? Listen to Him. Involve Him in everything. Your change isn’t meant for everyone to understand. My focus needed to be singular, capturing and showcasing the work of others through my lens. Photography also gives me the freedom to express my full creativity in ways I felt I couldn’t as a professional makeup artist. It’s allowed me to show this complete creative version of myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a photographer, I’m drawn to creative, editorial, and cinematic storytelling. My focus is capturing the beauty and identity of others, which feels like the natural evolution of my creative journey, just through a different lens. It’s still about revealing and enhancing, but now I have the privilege of doing that for the artists, creatives and individuals I photograph. What I’m most proud of is having the courage to pursue something completely new and the rewards I’ve received from my obedience. I’m grateful to those who have shared something so valuable such as their time with me because they could see the vision. Those relationships and collaborations brought those pieces to life. That collaborative spirit is what sets me apart.
What does success mean to you?
Success looks different to everyone. For me, it’s having the freedom to pursue my passion, use my platform to uplift others, and showcase their talent and identity. When I transitioned to photography, it became about building a collaborative team so that together we could bring creative concepts to life and let the collective creativity shine. I think about one of my favorite JAŸ-Z lyrics that resonates deeply with me: “Over here, we measure success by how many people successful next to you. Here, we say you broke if everybody is broke except for you.” That’s exactly it! True success isn’t solitary, it’s about lifting others as you rise. We’re not winning unless we’re winning as a team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://visualsbygl0.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualsby_glo
