Feature Friday: Rachel Davis of Raye Beauty Co.
Hello, friends!! Wow, I loved all the amazing feedback I received from my first Friday Feature post last week! If you missed it, check it out here. It’s such an honor to be able to meet and connect with so many Indianapolis wedding and event creatives, and spotlight some of them through this platform! One of the things I truly love about Indianapolis is the vibrant community in the wedding industry I’ve been able to work with and connect with. Haven’t you heard of the hashtag #communityovercompetition ? Well I really see that true in this community, and I feel so grateful that there are so many amazing folks doing the things they love, serving amazing clients, and making this Indy community more amazing.
On the blog today, I’m so honored to have Rachel Davis of Raye Beauty Co. While I haven’t had the chance to meet Rachel in person, I was able to photograph one of our mutual clients in March for an engagement session, and we started connecting a bit through Instagram. Rachel’s work is so amazing, and her bright and warm personality shines through her posts and the way she is showing up to serve her audience and clients right now. I reached out because I wanted to have someone in the makeup design field share with us about what that’s all about – especially as it pertains to weddings!
I hope you enjoy the interview!
Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you’re from, how you got into Makeup Design.
Hi friends, I’m Rachel Davis! I’m from a small town north of Indianapolis called Alexandria and I’ve lived in Indianapolis for 14 years now. I have identical twin daughters who are my little sidekicks. I’ve been working in the beauty industry for over a decade now. Before starting my own makeup business, I worked for various makeup lines at a high-end department store here in Indy. I would have brides come to my counter begging me to come and do their wedding makeup. I love creating timeless makeup looks, working with brides, and entrepreneurship. That being said, starting my own business was a no-brainer for me.
You recently rebranded. Can you share a little bit about that process and what led you to decide to rebrand?
Yes! The previous name of my business was Beauty Anywhere Makeup. I came up with that name when I was much younger and wasn’t thinking about sustainability. I felt that it never truly reflected me and I have been wanting to rebrand for years. I recently gave my brand and website a facelift to better depict my personality and reflect my clientele. Changing the name of your business can be so scary, but I’m so glad I finally took the leap. It was so freeing. My new name is Raye Beauty Co. Raye has been my nickname for as long as I can remember. I know I will love this name forever.
Do you mostly work doing wedding makeup, or do you also work events and other projects?
I primarily do wedding makeup, but I also do makeup for special events, engagement photos, styled shoots. I also offer customized makeup lessons during the week. I’m in the process of adding customized facials starting in June!
For brides who are planning, what advice would you give on how soon to reach out about bridal makeup?
Currently I’m booking out about a year in advance, sometimes longer. I think some brides put hair and makeup on the back burner, assuming they can wait about 3-6 months out to book. This is simply not the case any longer. How you look and the integrity of your makeup plays a huge role in how you feel on your wedding day. It also elevates the final product when it comes to your photography and videography. Brides are prioritizing beauty more than ever. My advice would be to reach out as soon as you secure a date.
Can you share a little bit about what the process working with you looks like for wedding makeup?
Of course! Typically brides are reaching out to me via email or we meet for coffee. We go over various topics such as products, wedding vision, timeline, their personal makeup style, etc. About 3 months out from the wedding we conduct a trial run. This is always a fun day because we get to really know each other and see their vision come to life.
I saw that you also offer lessons: tell us a little bit about what those look like.
I absolutely love lessons and so do my clients! I conduct my lessons in a few different ways– individual, group, and virtual. Most often I go to my client’s home and they show me everything they are currently using. I find out what they are loving and what they are struggling with when it comes to their makeup. We go over the application process step by step and I show them how to properly use each product. I then give them recommendations of what to toss, what to keep, and what they might want to add to their repertoire. Many women buy products aimlessly, in turn we end up wasting money on products that don’t work for our skin tone or skin type. Being able to really hone in on what works for YOU is key. It ultimately saves you so much time and money in the long run.
What inspires you and helps inform your makeup artistry – are there folks you look up to or styles you love when it comes to makeup design?
Absolutely! I have always been inspired by the French women’s approach to beauty. Chic, effortless, never overdone.
8. What is one really practical tip you can offer when it comes to bridal makeup?
Your wedding makeup should be a reflection of you. This isn’t a time to try a look that’s out of the box for you. Don’t get too caught up thinking it’s your wedding day and you need to go over the top. I can assure you that you’ll regret it. The best way to achieve the look you want is to be very verbal with your makeup artist. Let us know your personal likes/dislikes, and always be sure to pull inspiration photos from Pinterest.
What’s a good starting point that brides should expect to budget for wedding makeup?
It really depends on how many are in your bridal party. Some clients cover the makeup for all of their bridesmaids and others choose to have each member pay seperately. My trial and day- of package for the bride starts at $250.
How can those of us who are wedding photographers work really well with you if our coverage overlaps with yours on a wedding day – any tips?
This happens often! If your photographer isn’t going to be with you the entire morning, my best advice is to do mock-makeup shots. This allows the bride to be photographed with a full face of makeup. Let’s be honest, most people don’t want photos when they are completely bare-faced, so I find this works best.
Where do you work? Do you have a studio, or a home space?
I work everywhere, haha! I work from home on the behind-the-scenes aspect of my business, in the salon when I’m doing trial runs, and on-site when I’m doing weddings.
Tell me some surprising, practical, or random fact about makeup for those of us who might not know much about makeup design?
Actually my best advice when it comes to makeup would be to start with your skin. Your skin is the canvas for makeup. If you want your makeup to look great, you need to have a great foundation to start with. In my opinion, skincare is one of the most overlooked aspects of makeup.
I saw on your Instagram that you also plan luxury honeymoons and travel! Would you be able to share a little bit about that?
Yes! Travel is a huge passion of mine. I have always loved immersive travel experiences and staying at amazing hotels. I knew if I planned travel I wanted to have the absolute best partnerships and work with only the top-tier hotels and suppliers. I am affiliated with a company called Virtuoso, which is a global network that represents the world’s top luxury hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators. These connections allow me to provide my clients with perks and unparalleled travel experiences that you cannot get by booking through an online site. I primarily plan magical honeymoons and trips to beachy destinations. A travel advisor is definitely something that should not be overlooked if you want an unforgettable travel experience! (Check out Rachel’s travel website here.)
Ok, so I want to end all my interviews with these same questions!
What do you like to do in your spare time? I love cooking dinner at home. I especially love attempting to recreate dishes from cherished travel experiences and my favorite restaurants.
What’s your favorite tv show right now? I just finished Tiger King, with the rest of the world. I’m currently watching Money Heist on Netflix. Unfortunately, it’s not nearly as entertaining.
What’s something you’re really proud of? Being a mom to two amazing daughters.
Are you a night owl or an early bird? Definitely a night owl. I find I’m more creative in the evenings.
What is one big dream you have for the future? Having my own studio!
I’m so grateful to Rachel for being willing to share with us about herself and her work! Please go check out her website and give her a follow on Instagram!
As this series continues, I’ll be so excited to keep sharing from more amazing creatives from the Indianapolis and surrounding areas wedding and events industry! If you know of someone you’d love to see be interviewed, please send them my way!
Have a wonderful start to your weekend!
-Leah
