Woke Beauty collectively celebrates womanhood and inherent beauty.
the kind of beauty that exists internally.
I was once asked to quantify the impact of Woke Beauty.
Frankly, I don’t like that question.
I mean, what elements of life can truly be quantified? Who decides that? Regardless, I couldn’t leave the answer section blank. Thus, I went for feelings: seeing women come out of a photography session with tears in their eyes because they’d never felt so seen; helping a woman new to the Austin area integrate into the community with confidence; facilitating intimate conversations that compel others to tell their story and using my own to challenge societal notions.
To me, it is those acts that quantify impact and I believe they are measured by effort, sacrifice, empathy, and a deep commitment to humanity.
You may wonder what “Woke Beauty” actually means. The name was birthed over brunch with my husband and a couple of our best friends. I told them that they weren’t allowed to leave the restaurant until we landed on a name— a bit unreasonable, considering my vision of the business was but a blurry dream.
Yet I’ll never forget the ‘aha’ moment when it came to me: “…what about Woke Beauty?”
The name was perfect; it captures exactly what we do.
Woke Beauty serves to awaken the beauty within.
The beauty is already there.
I am merely a facilitator, translator, and documentarian.
I am just here to bear witness to what exists. The name is also a nod to the term “woke,” which speaks to the injustice in our society. The field of photography, on both sides of the lens, is whitewashed. Black people—women especially—have not always had the right to document.
From slavery to Jim Crow, from modern education to our criminal justice system, and with the constant commodification of our bodies, we have faced a myriad of obstacles that prevented us from expressing ourselves or being visible in front of the camera.
I encourage photographers to know the power they possess when they hold a camera. I ask fellow models and potential subjects who are brave enough to step in front of a camera not to ever allow another person’s perspective to alter their own. I was taught that “activism isn’t done in private.”
Progress is marked by our will to recognize the bias and injustice that exists—no matter how unintentional it might be. Impact holds a lot more weight than intention, always.
I am determined to advance us towards inclusivity. I recognize that being a Black woman-owned company is a significant factor in what I do. We all know the challenges that come with my demographic. Positively overcoming those challenges lies in remembering why I am here and why I do this work.
For me, passion and duty are interchangeable.
Brands I’ve Partnered With:
THE WHY BEHIND RILEY’S WORK
My mom, who—despite trauma— has thrived. And who, like many women, doesn’t know just how powerful she is. I am always telling her, “You are a real-life goddess.” I photograph her to remind her of what I see, hoping one day she’ll see it too. I thought about how I’d given her a canvas album one Christmas, filled with pictures I’d taken of her. Underneath each image, I wrote a sentiment describing her grace, her strength, her wisdom.
I remember watching her flip through the album. She had tears in her eyes and I could tell, even if just for a glimpse, that she saw it too: my perspective of her, nonjudgmental and revering.
I thought then that maybe I could do that for all women—use my camera to help them wake up to themselves. Maybe I could take photography and make it therapeutic, personal, conversational, and compassionate. I’d sit down with women, listen to their past stories and future visions, provide them with inspiration and encouragement. Whether creating content for their brands or images they could reminisce on forever, I’d lead them through the rite of passage they’d always deserved.
With that, the fog cleared. Woke Beauty was born, with my brilliant, bright, and beaming mom as its catalyst.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
At my core, I’m a storyteller, artist, explorer, and lover of many things.
I’m Riley, the face behind Woke Beauty. I’ve been a professional photographer for 10 years. In my short time here, I’ve lived in 15 cities and six countries. You and I may have already crossed paths. :)
My experiences have afforded me a unique perspective of the world, one that has enabled me to passionately appreciate and share life’s many intersections. Through it, I have learned that the best way to hold on to special, fleeting moments is to cherish them, love them, and document them.
I come from a multicultural, multiracial background that has taught me the power of adaptability and empathy. I use aspects of myself to speak to our human connections, societal positioning, and humanitarian issues. Home is a floating, abstract space of comfort that lives in the people I love. I’m really close to my family and I recognize how lucky I am to say that.
I haven’t always known what I wanted to do with my voice. I just knew I had to do something. It wasn’t until the fall of 2017, after I endured an extended episode of depression, that I realized I had an opportunity to use art for good—to facilitate human connection and ultimately just make people feel better. I am most passionate when I am telling a story that reveals integrity. I think the most important moments lie in silence and the only way to capture them is through engaging, compelling, provocative imagery. And then, once the imagery is created, there is an opportunity for words to take it further.
It is no coincidence that my work with resilient women has fostered evolution within me.
I have grown into a socially conscious storyteller who uses pixels and words to question the lenses of beauty and power. I practice self-portraiture, thoughtful photography, and in-depth storytelling to capture the world in a different light, one that elevates our collective identities.
Through my unconventional life, I’ve encountered an array of incredible people. Many of them have been resistant to appreciating their own beauty—the very beauty I see and love. In an effort to document what I see, I’ve made it my mission to capture an elusive glance, a contagious laugh, warm eyes, or wild hair with the instruments I hold dearest: pen and camera.
I am certain that it is my duty to aid others in seeing their own worth through my talents.
I realize this is a challenge; I would have it no other way.
Some things you might want to know…
Pronouns: She/Her
Current city: Austin, TX
Super power: Adaptability
Strength: Sensitivity
Weakness: Sensitivity
Love language: Words of Affirmation
Favorite natural formation: canyon
Favorite fruit: papaya
Also doesn’t have many favorites
Interests: reading, cooking, films, yoga, exploring new places, flowers, cycling through exercise routines, winning healthy debates
Marital status: happily married to Jack, my partner of 11 years
Children: dog mom to two pitbulls, George and Willow
Racial identity: Biracial, Black
Enneagram 4 wing 3
Scorpio sun, Gemini rising, Cancer moon
Some highlights from my CV
Studied Fine Art Photography at the University of Virginia
Recognized as a Chips Quinn Scholar, interned for LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph and The Tennessean
Spent 8 years in the service industry
Founded Woke Beauty in Spring 2018
Hosted workshops, panels, and community events with brands like Urban Outfitters, The Riveter, LIVELY, and Whole Foods
My self-portrait series, Manifest, was displayed at Miranda Bennett Studio for a year, awarded a prize from Elisabet Ney Museum, and featured in Tribeza" to say "Self-portrait series, Manifest, displayed at Miranda Bennett Studio for one year, awarded a prize from Elisabet Ney Museum, and featured in Tribeza
Regular contributor to Tribeza and Camille Styles
Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum
Member Ambassador with bossbabesATX (bbatx)
Board member of Fresh Chefs Society
Committee Member of Soho House Austin
