Conversations with Jordan Rae

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Rae.

Hi Jordan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My story is more like cosmic fate; I never planned on being a makeup artist. Honestly, my love for makeup started when I was very young, as long back as I can remember. The first time I realized that being a makeup artist could be lively was when I was 14 and started to model; I could sit all day and watch the makeup artist work their magic on the faces of the models. When I was around 18, a photographer told me that modeling is a stepping stone to better opportunities if I focus on and network. I was fortunate to have an extraordinary person in my life take a chance on me: the late Eric Stoakes. He hired me at 18 to cast and coordinate fashion shows for a local magazine called The Reader. It was at one of these fashion shows that I had my first shot at being a “makeup artist” because it just so happened the makeup artist we had booked was unable to make it, so I became the impromptu makeup artist at this show, and everything took off from there. I began building my portfolio and networking like crazy! I was so unbelievably fortunate to have the best mentors I could ever ask for! My biggest mentor then and now is Natasha Fehlhaber; I was her salon baby. Natasha hired me to run her front desk at her salon when I was 19 and gave me a space to let me practice and bring my clients for makeup. Today, we still consider ourselves the dream team, with Tasha doing the hair and I doing the makeup. I owe my biggest success as a makeup artist to myself and my desire to be more than anyone ever expected me to be. I grew up being sexually abused by my father for as long as I can remember, to the age of 14. Being from a small town, a story like that spread like wildfire when it all came out, and unfortunately, I chose a very destructive route for myself. I don’t blame other people or myself for thinking I wouldn’t make anything out of my life, but damn, it is a good inspiration for myself and others.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing is a smooth road. I will always struggle with the obsessive thoughts of thinking I need to be the best. There are days when I have said that I don’t belong in this industry because I am not where I should be compared to other makeup artists. As I get older, I realize I don’t need to be the best at everything. I know what I am good at, and I know when someone can do a better job than me in other areas; my client’s happiness is essential to me, so I am not afraid to point them in the direction of other makeup artists that I know would be the perfect match for them. I was fortunate to grow up in communities like RAW Natural Born Artist and Omaha Magazines, where the expectation and culture is to support and collaborate with other artists. No artist gets to achieve great things without being supported and supporting others in their field.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
To date, the proudest and biggest blessing in my career is working with the most amazing group of women ever. Kylie Morgan, Alexandria Higgins, and Natasha Fehlhaber: My greatest memories and biggest Steps in my career have been made because of these ladies and our dedication to one another. I wish every artist to have a group like these women to back and support them. My emotions set me apart from others in my industry; I truly care for my clients. I am known for stepping in to help at weddings in other areas after finishing doing makeup; a wedding day should be the greatest day of someone’s life, and being a part of that day is almost spiritual. I take my job as a makeup artist very seriously because I am fully present and there for my brides, no matter what.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
If you want to get anywhere with your art, you need to take risks. Most of my early career was spent doing a lot of free makeup to build my name and get my portfolio going. I still do free work today to push my name even further. I also have lived by the saying, “Fake it till you make it.” It never gets old; You’ll always have to do something for the first time to become great at it.

Pricing:

• As of right now, I charge $100 per client. This includes their choice of airbrush or traditional foundation base, the entire makeup application, their selection of false lashes, and a sample of the lipstick color I use so they can reapply throughout the rest of the day.
• My travel fees vary on location; typically, I charge $25 per hour of travel by car.
• Pricing for destination weddings varies depending on the location. I am open to traveling to and providing free makeup as long as all travel fees are paid.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jordanshely?utm_source=qr&igshid=ZDc4ODBmNjlmNQ%3D%3D
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057060836657&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Alexandria Higgins