Today we’d like to introduce you to Emile Freitag.
Hi Emile, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
If you had told me years ago that I’d one day own a thriving bridal beauty agency, I probably would’ve laughed. I didn’t have a clear vision for what I wanted to do with my life after high school. I didn’t grow up with a lot of structure or guidance, so I found myself bartending and serving while trying to figure out my path.
When I was 21, I met my husband, and shortly after, we found out we were expecting our son. Becoming a mom so young changed my perspective on everything. I wanted to build a career that allowed me to be creative, fulfilled, and still have flexibility for my family.
I enrolled at Regency thinking I wanted to do hair, but deep down, I always had this pull toward makeup. In high school, I was the one friends called to help with hair and makeup before dances, and I was always fascinated by people’s skin — I could probably still tell you who had what skin type back then!
Before classes even started, a friend who had just started a photography business asked if I’d come do hair and makeup for one of her shoots. I said yes — and that one opportunity completely shifted everything for me. I realized I didn’t want to spend 10 hours a day in a salon. I wanted to move around, create, connect with people, and make them feel beautiful in those special, meaningful moments.
From there, I dove in. I started researching how to break into the beauty industry and landed a position with Too Faced Cosmetics, where I worked for seven years. That experience taught me so much about artistry, communication, and confidence. Around that time, I met a photographer who I still work with to this day — we’ve collaborated for nearly a decade on senior portraits, branding sessions, and destination photo shoots
By about year five in the industry, my bridal bookings took off. It was a total snowball effect, and everything just started to align. I finally felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Fast forward to 2020 — I started tracking how many inquiries I was turning down because I was booked solid. At one point, it was nearly 30 a month. That’s when I realized it was time to grow. I had tossed around the idea of teaching, but building a team felt like the natural next step.
That’s how my bridal agency was born. Today, we’ve grown to a team of around 20 incredible artists, and we average about 150 weddings a year. It’s been such a rewarding journey — not just creating beautiful looks, but building a supportive community of artists who share the same passion for helping others feel confident, radiant, and celebrated.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Overall, I’ve been really fortunate — the journey has been fairly smooth, and I truly love what I do. But like many entrepreneurs, finding balance has definitely been one of my biggest challenges.
I pour my heart and soul into my clients and their experience, which often means long hours, early mornings, and weekends dedicated to making sure everything feels perfect for them. The flip side of that is missing out on friends’ gatherings, family milestones, and sometimes even my son’s special moments. That part is tough — there’s always a little tug on my heart when I have to choose work over personal time.
My husband has been an amazing support through it all, helping me manage the chaos and encouraging me to pursue my passion fully. It’s something I’m still learning to navigate. I’ve had to be intentional about carving out time for my family and myself whenever possible. The work is deeply fulfilling, but finding balance while giving so much of yourself is definitely the part that continues to challenge me the most.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in natural, timeless beauty that enhances rather than hides. My focus is always on helping brides feel confident, beautiful, and authentically themselves. I’ve spent years perfecting the art of creating looks that photograph beautifully while still feeling soft and effortless in person.
I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built — I pour my heart and soul into my clients, and being part of one of the most meaningful days of their lives never gets old. What sets me apart is my attention to detail and calm energy; I know how to bring a sense of peace to what can be a very high-energy morning.
At The Beauty Collective, I’ve built a team of talented, passionate artists who share that same philosophy — creating beautiful work with heart.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to work with me and my team is through The Beauty Collective, where we specialize in creating effortless, elevated beauty experiences for brides and special events. Our focus is on connection — making every client feel seen, understood, and completely at ease on one of the most meaningful days of their life.
We collaborate closely with photographers, planners, and other creatives who share our passion for timeless, modern beauty. I’ve always believed that the wedding industry thrives on community, not competition — and some of my favorite projects have come from working alongside artists who inspire me.
For those interested in joining our team or learning more about the bridal industry, I also love sharing what I’ve learned along the way. Mentorship and collaboration are at the heart of what we do.
And, of course, the simplest yet most powerful way to support us is through referrals, reviews, and kind words shared with friends and loved ones. Every bit of encouragement allows us to continue growing, creating, and doing what we love most — helping people feel their most beautiful, confident selves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebeautycollectivellc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeautycollectivellc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautycollectivellc/
