We recently connected with Taylor Robbins and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Taylor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

How I came up with my business was my support system. I was 22 when I started my business and at that time I was working as a makeup assistant to another hair and makeup artist. I was so happy that I was doing makeup and getting paid for it! I never thought I would be that far as a makeup artist at 22. How I got this makeup assisting job was my boyfriend’s step mom Lisa. My boyfriend I had at that time, his dad and step mom were both small business owners. I got really close to his step mom and she really encouraged me to make this a business for myself. She was seeing my working ethic as an assistant and she also saw my potential when I didn’t see it myself. She also had the knowledge of a business owner and all these ideas I would have never thought of! When she brought up me starting my own business I was scared and felt like I was way over my head. I was assisting for a year at this point and didn’t think I was in the position to be my own business/boss and I definitely lacked confidence. But she really guided me and reassured me that everything would be okay. I am forever grateful for her.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was always finding ways to be creative growing up. When I was going to high school I would think about what I wanted to do for my career. Professions I wanted to be were a tattoo artist, interior designer, writer, photographer, anything artistic. Doing my own makeup was also one of my interests and artistic outlets for myself but I never even once thought to put makeup artist in the category of “what I want to be when I grow up”. After graduating from high school in 2012 I went to college for non of those! I went to psychology and sociology. Because this career I chose wasn’t fulfilling me creatively I continued doing makeup as my creative outlet, but again did not consider it as a career. My boyfriend at the time was in the military and he got stationed in Washington state so after I finished my freshman year I moved to Washington. I found myself not having a job at all and not going to college. With all my free time I devoted all my time watching makeup tutorial videos on YouTube. It started when one day I searched “how to put on false lashes” When I searched this I found a YouTuber, Jaclyn Hill. She had multiple videos on makeup advice & education. I was hooked. I had a notebook and I watched her videos every day taking notes like I was in class. After a year of obsessing about makeup I looked up schools that offered makeup education and I found a school in Chicago, Illinois called Media Makeup Academy. If you asked me what really gave me the push to enroll and take this leap of faith? I was sick of not having a career, having my significant other completely provide for us and feeling like I didn’t have a purpose. I think I was also disappointed in myself that I gave up on college when I always dreamed of going to college. I wanted to actually follow through with something. I also think being 20 years old I was just so ambitious, and felt like I had nothing to lose. I look back at my 20 year old self at that time and can’t believe I did it. I don’t know if I would have the courage to do it now at 30. I’m so proud of 20 year old me for believing I could do it.
Now fast forward to 2024 I am a full time makeup artist that specializes in wedding makeup. I can do very natural to bold glam for my brides and their wedding parties!
I think what got me to this point is my genuine love for makeup and making women feel beautiful. It never gets old for me! It is like therapy. I also create relationships with my clients that are so beautiful and I stay connected with them even years later! They are the reason I am where I am today with their amazing support.
Makeup came to me at a time where I needed it the most. It brought me comfort and lit a passion in me that I was searching for when I was 20 years old and I haven’t let it go ever since.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After I graduated from Media Makeup Academy in 2014 I moved back to Washington state with my significant other and I slowly started to put myself out there as a makeup artist. I applied for a few makeup positions, made social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube) to start showing my work but I was also going through a divorce at this time. I grew up in Wisconsin my whole life so being in Washington I lived in a state where I didn’t have any family or support. Instead of really putting my all into my passion for makeup I was working 2 jobs that I could find quickly to support myself. Also being 21 years old at the time I mentally was not in it. I made the decision to move back home to Wisconsin to be around my support system. This was 2016, so for 2 years I was not doing makeup but when I got back to Wisconsin I found a part time job and it gave me the time to take care of myself and time to enjoy makeup again.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source for new clients, number 1 is my past clients! Word of mouth is huge in this industry. A bride, mother of the bride, mother of the groom or bridesmaids know a friend, friend of a friend or a relative that is getting married! And just that one time of me doing their makeup I have referrals from them and new clients always coming in. Number 2 source is Facebook. About 90% of my clients that I book have found me on Facebook. It has been a great portfolio for my work and a great way to stay connected with my clients!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://taylordawnmakeup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylordawnmakeup/profilecard/?igsh=MnJpcHpoMzdwbnRw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylordawnmakeup?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@taylordawnmakeup?si=TbtCyUo2_jbnFYPA

Image Credits

Jessie Leigh Photography
Embers Media Co
B Rotter Photography + Design
Squid Photography
Mariah Balke Photography
Courtney Breider Photography
Elite Photography by D’Ann
NewLand Weddings