Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Renelt.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tanya. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
From as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about makeup, hair, and fashion. When I was little, I had a hair-styling doll that I would spend hours on. As I got older, friends started asking me to do their makeup and hair for special occasions. After high school, I went to University but didn’t find my passion there. I studied abroad and spent some time traveling, which helped me to grow so much as a person.
Traveling abroad helps you learn so much about yourself. Later I enrolled in Shiatsu massage school in California. My other passion is the healing arts. I did massage and Reiki, which is a form of energy healing, for years. I loved working in the healing sector, but my love for the beauty industry never left me. After moving to Chicago, a friend who’s a hair stylist mentioned that I should train with her colleague, Rachel Reiman, who had been a freelance makeup artist in Chicago for many years.
So I ended up training with and then assisting Rachel. It was such a great way to get my start in the industry. I got thrown into the working environment right away and I learned so much. From there, I’ve slowly built my business up through freelance work.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
In many ways, I feel blessed in how I got my start. The people I started out with helped me by introducing me to photographers and recommending me for work. But I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road. I think freelancing can always be challenging. I still struggle during slow times.
I can be a shy person when in group settings, so networking events can be intimidating for me. Lately, I’ve been pushing myself out of my comfort zone to attend makeup artist meetups and to reach out to photographers. Instagram has been a great help to meet other people in the industry.
Another bump in the road for me is marketing. I wouldn’t say marketing is one of my strong points, that’s something I’m still growing in. I’ve mostly focused on my website and Instagram for marketing. It can be hard to make yourself seen.
I love freelancing because I can make my own schedule and work on my own terms. I have 3 kids, so that’s important to me. But the slow times can be nerve-wracking and stressful. It can start to affect your self-esteem. You start to wonder what you’re doing wrong. I’ve found having relationships with others in the industry can really help. You see you’re not the only one going through it.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in makeup for photography, video, editorial, commercial, and bridal. I work with headshot photographers, beauty and fashion photographers, boudoir photographers, commercial and corporate work, and weddings. I have a special love for fashion editorials. I love the creativity of getting a whole group of people together and everyone contributes a bit of themselves. The end result can be truly magical.
I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve made with colleagues and clients and the amount I’ve grown since I started. I believe success takes passion and a love for what you do. But then there’s also the technical know-how, which I’m always aiming to refine. I continue to take classes and learn from others. I think you can always learn something from everyone you encounter. I’ve found most of the people who I’ve met in this industry in Chicago are so supportive and down to earth. It’s a really great community to be a part of.
I think what sets me apart from others is my natural style. Every makeup artist has their own style. I prefer a soft, natural look. I love to get creative and do fun avant-garde looks for photo shoots, but I would say my style is more clean and natural. I like the person in my chair to still feel like themselves, just a more glamorous version of themselves.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always using my imagination. I loved making up dance routines and playing make-believe. I was obsessed with fairies and unicorns (and still kind of am). Sometimes I lived in my own little world. I’ve always had a strong connection to nature and I loved playing outside.
I grew up in South Dakota surrounded by farmland, so I didn’t get to spend much time in trees. But my parents would take us to Colorado for vacations and I was in heaven hiking through the forests, searching for fairies.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tanyareneltartistry.com
- Email: tanyarenelt@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyareneltartistry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanyareneltartistry/
Image Credit:
Patrick Simmons, Peter kulak, Megareds, Brian McConkey, Marejada Anex, Becky Brown
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