Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Joy and Brandy are our very first couple spotlight for “Femme Voices”! Their couple’s page, @lovejandb, caught my eye because of how they seamlessly come together as a unit, while also representing their own branding for each of their careers. After interviewing them, I was delighted to find out that this was no different than how they function in their relationship. They are able to nurture their partnership and work on furthering their careers as they flourish in their unique identities. In our interview, Brandy and Joy share what makes their creative minds tick and how they keep the love alive in their marriage.

Read on for more of this beautiful couple!

About Brandy

Please introduce yourself. What is your name? Where are you located? What are your pronouns and how do you identify?

Hi! I’m Brandy Hall, I am located in Houston, Texas. My pronouns are she/her. I identify as a woman married to a woman.

I see from your social media that you’re a very talented photographer. Tell us a little bit about what you do and how you got started?

Six years ago, I was gifted my first camera (by my wife) for Christmas. I had been mentioning that I was interested in photography but never really pursued. Joy pushed me to actually take it seriously, starting off with small shoots in our apartment courtyard. It didn’t take long for photography to go from a hobby to my passion!

Is photography your main profession or is it a side-hustle? If the latter is true, how do you balance the two?

Photography is my side hustle. By day I am a SAAS Support Engineer. Because my work is mainly internet/machine based, I am able to work from home, allowing me to multi-task with my day job duties while shooting, editing, and operating LetBShootYou.

What is your go-to method of self-care?

I love face/hair care. I do a ritual called, “self-care Sunday”, which includes a face mask and deep conditioning my hair while enjoying a glass of champagne lol.

Do you have any upcoming projects or goals? How can we see your work/contact you?

Yes! In March I will be launching my women’s history month campaign (honoring influential African-American women from past to present). My main goal currently is growing my photography business by showcasing beautiful images of my people.  

You can see my work/contact me on my Instagram, @letbshootyou or my website letbshootyou.com.

About Joy

Please introduce yourself. What is your name? Where are you located? What are your pronouns and how do you identify?

My name is J. Joy Cohen. I am a NY native, currently residing in Houston, TX. My pronouns are she/her and I identify as a woman happily married to a woman . Direct labels have never really been my thing lol.

I see from your beautiful Instagram and website that you’re a brand manager and self-described “serial networker”. Tell us a little bit about what you do and how you got started. 

I truly enjoy streamlining and organizing creatives’ lifestyles. I believe that networking and communication are the basis for successful businesses and personal relationships. I would see sooo many talented peers lose opportunities or not get the most from situations through lack of timely and purposeful communication. I wanted to bridge the gap between the artist and their audience through personal engagement and meaningful partnerships. I started off as a freelance image consultant of sorts, helping IG personalities and stylists cultivate their images and crafts into a brand they could monetize.

Is brand consulting your main profession or is it a side-hustle? If the latter is true, how do you balance the two?

It was my side hustle and passion that has become a full-time endeavor since B and I relocated to Houston from DC. My full-time job was in the medical field as a student coordinator and informational specialist. I truly believe my previous professional and creative work has exposed me to individuals of various backgrounds, ethnicities and corporate and financial rankings, nurturing my people skills and cultivating my ability to work under pressure.

The Glam Femme values the multi-faceted nature of women and femmes of color. In what ways would you consider yourself multidimensional, if at all? 

I would consider myself multidimensional in a few ways lol. For starters, fashion and branding go hand-in-hand for me and my freelance styling has also been a fun and lucrative outlet. As a plus-size woman, I am also very passionate about the image and style of my fellow plus girls because I have struggled personally with weight and body imaging. I am an avid thrifter and love dressing up and doing photo shoots of my own to showcase affordable plus-size style. Low key, I gifted B a camera to be my personal photographer lol. OK and lastly, my role as “house-wife” is taken very seriously. I am a true self-proclaimed, 50’s domestic housewife. Cooking and hosting friends and family in our home is my favorite pastime.

What is your go-to method of self-care?

I like to do things that help me relax and unwind. Cooking or taking a bath, while listening to music with a glass of champagne sounds pretty perfect.

Do you have any upcoming projects or goals? How can we see your work/contact you?

Currently, my goals are to showcase my work and endeavors more while continuing to build the Handkrfted brand. You can find my work and contact me through my website and IG page, Handkrfted.com and @handkrfted.

About J & B, the Couple

Your page, @lovejandb, says that you are both “Howard made,” is this where the two of you met? How did you meet?

Yes, we met at the end of our freshman year. Joy came to visit her friend (who lived next door) but she’d just left to get McDonald’s.  We had seen each other in passing but never really had a conversation before. She asked if she could sit in my room until she returned. We’ve been together ever since. That night we talked for 8 plus hours and I think we both knew we found our person.

You’ve been together since 2008 and married in 2014. If you don’t mind, describe the proposal and your favorite thing about married life.

Funny story, we never got engaged! Very early into our relationship, we both knew we’d always be together. Yeah, it just felt like the natural progression of things for both of us, we came home one day and said let’s do it. We couldn’t necessarily afford the wedding or engagement we wanted but making that commitment was more important to us than anything.

We got hitched during Homecoming weekend, a true testament to our personalities and lifestyle lol. I’d say the best part about married life is our friendship and partnership. Meeting at 19 has allowed us to grow, evolve and learn ourselves and each other on so many different levels. We LOVE spending time with each other and the fact that our work has coincided is just an added bonus.

People naturally evolve and change throughout their adult lives. What is it like to do that with a partner? How does it affect the relationship and what things do you do to stay on the same page with each other?

It’s amazing and sometimes challenging to watch your partner transform before you. We met very young (19) so thank God we have evolved into the women we are today. Being equally yoked has been the biggest blessing. We share the same core values and constantly challenge each other to grow and be the best possible versions of ourselves. We pray and meditate together and keep open communication at the forefront of our marriage.

How do you create harmony between your careers and your marriage and make sure that you maintain your individuality and nurture your professional goals?

Our careers often times intersect! There have been so many times that clients have booked us separately and had no idea we were married. Respect and staying in one’s lane are the most important things. I whole-heartedly trust Joy’s direction and vision, as she does mine. We are complete opposites in every way and that provides a perfect balance.

B and I believe if we aren’t our best individual selves, our relationship will suffer, so being aware and in tune with each other’s needs is super important. The goals we have for our future and family are the same, so we never lose sight of that.

What advice would you give other married couples, especially other same-sex couples of color?

Lead with love and don’t put unrealistic exceptions on other people’s views of you. Don’t let your family’s “hang-ups” interfere with your relationship. Respect your relationship the way you’d want others to respect it. Coming out wasn’t easy for either of us but we stayed committed to each other, remained consistent in our love, and patient with those around us.

Some of J & B’s Collaborative Work