Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Underwood.
Hi Samantha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was younger and in college, my partner and I both worked, but it was hard for me to make any money or land a decent job. After class, I would go home and practice my graphic skills. I designed free graphics for about 3 months until I locked down about 10 solid clients just to get my feet in the door.
I started designing flyers for the locals in Memphis for deuces nightclub. The owner (who now owns a private gym in Memphis) was my first paying client. I was designing my myspace page for fun when eventually I started designing them for friends. Shortly thereafter I met the owner of the women’s football team in Atlanta and began to do graphics for their team.
I am self-taught. I taught myself design programs, techniques, and trends. About 5 years into the design, I started a fictional book series. At one time, the books hit the top 100 in their respective category. As time went by, I blew up in the south and for the last 13-14 years Scorpiosgraphx has been the best source for small business and nightclub design.
I’ve since expanded to photography and videography.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, being a freelance graphic designer is very difficult. If you ask most people who know graphic design, they will tell you that they would never have a service. Most new graphic designers don’t stay around long or aren’t dependable.
So, at one point, I was going through a divorce and I had to limp through my business without telling what was going on. I suffered from being creative and dealing with my clients. For a year… to everyone, I was closed for business.
When Covid hit and small businesses were being created everywhere I had a new boom in business and was able to bounce back from the loss I took during my sabbatical.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am known for both my graphic design business and my “Love After…” book series. So I am both a digital artist as well as a writer. Scorpiosgraphx does everything in graphics. I specialize in flyers, but I am a jack of all trades in the design industry. As was stated previously, I am mostly known nationally in the black LGBTQ community.
My niche was the LGBTQ black community, and soon I became a national brand. I work with various PR companies who have contracted me under BET, VH1, and Zeus Network. I have worked with many of the small businesses in the Atlanta and Memphis areas, from branding to simple nightclub flyers. I have done billboards, TV commercials, and ads for some of the most recognized media outlets.
The Love After Series is my baby. I ranked a number of times on Amazon and I am very blessed to have such good reviews. I am proud of the short film I wrote. I am so proud of accomplishing so much and still consistently putting out content.
What sets me apart is my ability to work on my art in different facets. I write I create, I design, I live for digital art.
I represent a community of graphic designers and entrepreneurs, especially females. I show others that we can create our lane even on a dirt road.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Advice to beginning graphic designers and online entrepreneurs:
Do not lowball yourself. If you have great work, charge for it, customers who value your work will pay for it. As artists, our time and talent are what we are being paid for. Our worth is in how well we see our own art.
I had to learn that presentation is everything. Take your time with your graphics and practice until you feel like you can charge what you want to charge.
Stick with it, but find a niche market and run with it. Last but not least as a graphic designer, depending on how you take clients, always have a backup source of income that can support you through the dry times.
Pricing:
- $50 for flyers
- $100 logos
- $10 per model photo edit
- $75 motion flyers
- Quote for photo manipulations
Contact Info:
- Email: scorpiosgraphics@gmail.com
- Website: www.scorpiosgraphx.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/scorpiosgraphx
- Facebook: instagram.com/scorpiosgraphx
- Twitter: twitter.com/scorpiosgraphx
