October 08, 2020
Wedding Makeup with Tara Dowburd
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Who else here is endlessly fascinated by the glamorous world of make-up artistry?!? We had the immense pleasure of chatting with Tara Dowburd, the owner and creator of the LA-based company, Make-Up Therapy. Tara's ability to transform and enhance the look of her clients puts her in the category of elite makeup artists that just have that certain extra something. In other words, you might want to get on her waitlist now! Check out our interview where we talk about how she got started, her process, and how clients and brides can utilize her service during a pandemic.
(Risa + Jess) R + J: Tell us a little about yourself, and how you got started!
(Tara) T: My love for all things beauty and fashion related started at the age of 7 years old and I always knew that I would be a part of this industry. I’m originally from the suburbs outside Philadelphia and my mom would have a Professional Make-Up Artist come to our house often, for many years, to do her make-up for galas and special events. I was smitten with the application process and the transformation, excited that my mom still looked like herself, but even more beautiful. My father also allowed me to get VOGUE magazine at the age of 7, so I could tear out sheets of my favorite looks and then create folders to organize them + day dream of the day I could wear them.
I double majored in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing from the University of Arizona, then moved to Los Angeles and worked with top Artistry brands; Bobbi Brown and Shu Uemura for over 10 1/2 years, while also doing make-up for some of the biggest names in Hollywood. I’m super passionate in helping clients look and feel their most beautiful + confident both on and off camera and have been a part of hundreds of weddings, red carpet events, photoshoots, fashion shows and milestone celebrations throughout my career. Almost 13 years ago I left working directly with the beauty brands, to create a Beauty Team of 18 Make-Up Artists and Hairstylists, and launch my own company named ‘Make-Up Therapy’.
R + J: Your service is highly sought after. Will you give our readers an explanation of your process, and what your business offers?
T: Thanks so much! There’s a quote by Maya Angelou “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well them people can’t take their eyes off of you.” I genuinely love what I do and still get butterflies of excitement before every booking, knowing that my Team and I will help our clients look and feel their very best. That is the MOST rewarding feeling and THAT is what inspires me daily. We are a word-of mouth business which is the greatest compliment ever. Our referrals come from everyone and the aesthetic we are known for is effortless chic, natural glam and everything in between. We take care of clients who need and want to look just as good in person, as they do on camera and most importantly still feel like themselves with having their make-up and hair done.
The process... When a client knows they want to book, we send them an invoice/contract listing the services they would like to book and then they sent it back to us signed, with a 50% retainer to secure their date. Sometimes we do make-up and/or hair trials for our brides and most the time we do them a few months before their wedding day. The majority of the bookings we are on, we often have never seen or met the client before. That said, my Team and I able to take care of everyone – regarding their age, skin type, ethnicity, skin tone, hair texture, etc...
R + J: You've built a super successful team of people! It's hard to replicate yourself- what is your secret for putting together a team that represents you at every level?
R + J: How early and/or often do you suggest brides meet with you?
T: Our brides live all over the world and we do weddings all over the world. We book up to 2 years in advance, however if we are available, we sometimes can even book the month before.
We often don’t meet with our brides until closer to their wedding date. We are based in Los Angeles and there are SO many magical places to get married in California, from LA, Napa, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Newport + Laguna Beach, San Diego and more. The majority of weddings, events and photoshoots we do are in California, Arizona, New York, Philadelphia and Colorado.
R + J: As you know, our company values creating both empowerment and peace of mind for our customers. We know you share those same values! Why do you think they are both so important?
T: They are both extremely significant, because if you genuinely value empowerment and peace of mind for your customers, there is a powerful trust and comfort that organically gets created, in which your customers become your clients for life and that’s how you stay in business.
R + J: What are your top five "can't live without" products?
T:
- Dior Brow Styler Pencil
- Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder
- Charlotte Tilbury Lip Color
- Beautycounter Classic Velvet Eyeshadow Palette
R + J: Obviously, large weddings are on hold for the foreseeable future. How do you suggest brides best utilize your services during this time?
R + J: Last but not least, how can our readers find you? And most importantly, what is the best way for our readers to support you and your business?
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