Today we’d like to introduce you to LaNita LaDais.
Hi LaNita, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
People always ask me how I got into production, but the truth is…I didn’t start behind the camera.
I started in front of it.
As a teenager, I was a model, and don’t get me wrong—the glamour was exciting. I loved getting dressed up, being on set, traveling, and seeing the finished product. But I quickly learned that while the glamour was beautiful, it came with a price…one I simply wasn’t willing to pay.
So I walked away.
Ironically, stepping away from modeling wasn’t me leaving the industry.
It was me finding where I truly belonged.
Even while I was in front of the camera, I found myself paying more attention to everything happening behind it. I was watching the makeup artist transform a face, the wardrobe stylist pull together a look, the photographer chase the perfect shot, the producer keep the entire production moving, and the creative team somehow take an idea and turn it into something people would remember.
That’s when I realized my passion wasn’t being the subject of the story—it was helping tell it.
After college, I went to cosmetology school and became a professional makeup artist. By then, I was already studying Mass Communications and Fashion Merchandising and had begun building my career creatively. Makeup simply became one of the first mediums that confirmed what God had been showing me all along—that my purpose was transformation.
For me, it was never about lipstick or lashes.
It was about confidence.
It was about helping someone see themselves differently.
Watching someone look in the mirror and stand a little taller because they finally saw what I saw in them reminded me that transformation is so much deeper than appearance.
Little did I know, God was preparing me for something much bigger.
One opportunity led to another, and before I knew it, I was producing television, managing productions, assistant directing, styling talent, creative directing, planning events, building brands, and collaborating with incredible organizations like NPR, PBS, BET, FOX, ESPN, HBO, and The Kennedy Center.
Looking back, I realize those weren’t separate careers.
They were different expressions of the same purpose.
People have spent years trying to figure out which box to put me in.
The truth is, I was never meant to fit inside one.
Creativity has never shown up in just one form for me, and I stopped apologizing for that a long time ago.
That’s exactly why I built Only 1 Image the way I did.
It isn’t just a production company.
It isn’t just a beauty brand.
It isn’t just executive consulting.
It isn’t just event planning.
It’s the home for every gift God entrusted me with.
People still ask me,
“So…what exactly do you do?”
My answer?
I transform things.
Sometimes it’s a person.
Sometimes it’s a brand.
Sometimes it’s a production.
Sometimes it’s an event.
The medium changes.
The mission never does.
Helping people, brands, businesses, and ideas become everything they were created to be.
I’ve learned that purpose doesn’t always look linear.
Sometimes God gives you one gift that opens the door to discover another. And before you know it, you realize He wasn’t preparing you for one career—He was preparing you for your purpose.
Along the way, life humbled me more than once.
I’ve experienced seasons where everything looked successful on the outside while I was quietly rebuilding behind the scenes. Seasons that stretched my faith, challenged my resilience, and forced me to trust God’s plan even when I couldn’t see it.
Looking back now, I wouldn’t trade any of it.
Every setback taught me something.
Every disappointment redirected me.
Every closed door made room for the right one.
Everything I create is rooted in one belief:
There Can Only Be One.
People often think those words are about competition.
They’re not.
To me, they’re about authenticity.
There will always be someone with more followers, more money, more experience, or a bigger platform.
But there will never be another person with your exact story.
Your perspective.
Your gifts.
Your purpose.
Your voice.
That’s your greatest advantage.
I didn’t build my career trying to become someone else.
I built it by becoming more of who God created me to be—even when that didn’t fit neatly into someone else’s expectations.
I didn’t build Only 1 Image because I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do.
I built it because I finally understood who I was.
I’ve never wanted to fit into one industry.
I’ve always wanted to make an impact.
Today, whether I’m producing television, directing creative campaigns, building brands, planning unforgettable events, consulting with executives, or helping someone rediscover their confidence through beauty, my mission has never changed.
To create transformation.
To tell meaningful stories.
To create moments people never forget.
And to remind every person I have the privilege of working with that they were never created to blend in.
Because there can only be one me.
There can only be one you.
And I believe that’s exactly how God intended it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—and honestly, I wouldn’t want people to believe it was.
One of my earliest challenges came when I was modeling. I realized very quickly that while the industry could be glamorous, it also came with a price—one I simply wasn’t willing to pay. There were also people around me whose intentions weren’t rooted in my best interests. Walking away from something I had worked hard for wasn’t easy, but it taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my career: success isn’t worth sacrificing your peace, your integrity, or who you are.
Life brought a different set of challenges after that.
I became a mother at 21, and while my daughter has always been one of my greatest blessings, I was also navigating an abusive relationship. Becoming a young mother while trying to build a career forced me to grow up quickly. There were days I questioned myself, days I was afraid, and days when simply putting one foot in front of the other felt like an accomplishment. But even in those moments, I never lost sight of the life I wanted to create for my daughter and for myself.
Like so many entrepreneurs, I’ve experienced financial setbacks. Building a business isn’t always glamorous, and social media has a way of making everyone else’s journey look effortless. Mine wasn’t. There were seasons of rebuilding, uncertainty, disappointment, and having to trust God when I couldn’t see how everything would come together. Those seasons taught me resilience, resourcefulness, humility, and perseverance in ways success never could.
More recently, I was diagnosed with ADHD and depression. While receiving those diagnoses was emotional, they also brought clarity. So many things I had struggled with throughout my life finally made sense. Instead of seeing those diagnoses as limitations, I chose to see them as answers. They gave me the understanding—and the grace—to stop fighting against myself and start working with the way God uniquely created me.
Those experiences reminded me of something I think we all need to hear: strong people struggle too.
I’ve cried.
I’ve questioned myself.
I’ve had to start over more than once.
I’ve fallen.
Every challenge I’ve faced has strengthened my faith, sharpened my vision, and reminded me that purpose isn’t built in comfort—it’s built in perseverance.
Today, when people see my work, they see the finished product.
What they don’t always see are the sacrifices, the healing, the sleepless nights, the lessons, the resilience, and the countless times I had to make the decision to keep going anyway.
And maybe that’s the greatest lesson my journey has taught me.
It’s not about how horrible the fall is.
It’s about how fabulously you get up.
It’s about how unapologetically you rise.
Every time I’ve gotten back up, I’ve come back wiser, stronger, more grounded in my faith, and even more certain of who God created me to be.
If sharing my story reminds just one person that they are not alone—that they can survive hard seasons, rebuild after setbacks, and still create a beautiful life—then every obstacle I’ve overcome has served a greater purpose.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Only 1 Image is a full-service creative agency built on the belief that every person, brand, and business deserves to be represented with intention, authenticity, and excellence.
People often ask me, “So…what exactly do you do?”
My answer is simple.
I transform things.
Sometimes it’s a person.
Sometimes it’s a brand.
Sometimes it’s a production.
Sometimes it’s an event.
The medium changes. The mission never does.
That’s exactly why I created Only 1 Image. People have spent years trying to figure out which box to put me in, but the truth is, I was never meant to fit inside one. Creativity has never shown up in just one form for me, and I stopped apologizing for that a long time ago. Instead of choosing one lane, I built a company that reflects the full scope of my experience and passion.
Today, Only 1 Image proudly offers services in:
* Production – Producing, Production Management, Assistant Directing, Creative Direction, Photography, Videography, Podcast Production, and Content Creation.
* Beauty – Professional Makeup Artistry for television, film, commercial, corporate, editorial, bridal, and special events.
* Brand Strategy & Creative Consulting – Brand Development, Content Strategy, Visual Storytelling, and Creative Direction.
* Executive O1I – Executive Assistance, Project Management, Travel Coordination, Notary Services, Research, and Administrative Support.
* Only 1 Image Events – Corporate, nonprofit, social, and wedding planning and event management.
* Only 1 Libation – Signature Cocktail Development, Beverage Consulting, and Elevated Cocktail Experiences.
Everything I create is rooted in one belief:
There Can Only Be One.
To me, that’s much more than a brand statement—it’s the foundation of everything I do. Every person, business, and brand has a unique story, and my purpose is to help bring that story to life in a way that’s authentic, strategic, and unforgettable.
Whether I’m producing a television show, building a brand, planning an event, creating a signature cocktail experience, or helping someone rediscover their confidence through beauty, my goal is always the same:
To create transformation.
To create meaningful experiences.
To create work that leaves a lasting impression.
Because at the end of the day, there can only be one you.
And that’s exactly who the world needs to see.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Authenticity.
It’s the one quality that’s guided every decision I’ve made throughout my career.
For years, people tried to convince me to choose one lane, but I was never meant to fit into one box. Instead of becoming who others expected me to be, I chose to become more of who I already was.
That’s the foundation of Only 1 Image and the belief behind “There Can Only Be One.”
To me, it isn’t about being better than anyone else. It’s about embracing the fact that there is only one you. Your story, your gifts, and your purpose are what make you unforgettable.
Pricing:
- Consultation needed to discuss pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.only1image.com
- Instagram: only1image
