Amber Rayne, the CEO of Amber Rayne Media, has achieved creative success in fashion, filmmaking, and creative direction. While Amber’s achievements have opened doors for her to move to prime locations like Los Angeles and New York City, Rayne remains devoted to the DMV region, choosing to keep her base of operations where she grew up and developed her skills.
As a PG County native, Rayne attended both Howard and Bowie State University, where she studied Sociology and Communications. Her educational journey provided a supportive foundation for her creative endeavors, training her in disciplines to use across mediums, developing her sense of human nature, and brand marketing. Both HBCUs also provided an enriching network across the DMV, allowing her to collaborate with creatives and offering her a future clientele of lawyers, politicians, and other professionals. Outside of education, Amber held various creative positions in the region as a photographer for the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts and served as a Program Manager and Art Director for the Maryland National Capital Park. These initial experiences in Maryland and D.C., whether through education or creative jobs, instilled an innovative and entrepreneurial identity in her. This identity remains inseparable from how she decides to network and grant opportunities.
“Building a strong team here is better,” says Rayne, preferring to cement her creative advancements within her hometown. “Establishing a network within the DMV has helped me further myself, and my artwork and help build each other up in our community […] We overlook people that are on the same level as us. We can network laterally and elevate both parties.”
Rayne’s start in filmmaking began in front of the camera as she was first cast for a Wale music video. Alongside modeling, she initially dreamed of being a fashion and interior designer, wanting to express herself through visual design. These goals eventually aligned with her future work within filmmaking, implementing her detail-oriented perspective within the set designs and styling of cast members. “Everything has intersected,” she says when reflecting on her past ambitions, “I kind of started off modeling, then transitioned to wardrobe, then casting, then art direction.” These gradual accomplishments granted her the opportunity to become a producer, giving her the leadership to apply all of her talents to a single creative position.
With her eventual success as a producer, she has been involved with various freelance opportunities to produce commercials, music videos, short films, and documentaries for different film companies. Rayne ultimately created her own production company, Amber Rayne Media, specializing in photo and video creation with her team and complete creative freedom.
Vernon Davis, musician and former player for the NFL team, The Washington Commanders, recently enlisted Amber’s production company to develop the music video for his song “Bounce Like Dis” featuring Tone P. The music video, directed by Chris Farmer, embodied a celebration of Washington D.C. through choreography, set selection in the Commander’s Stadium, and Go-Go heritage through the song’s instrumental.
“I wanted a director who had experience with DMV artists. Since the song had a Go-Go beat, it was only natural that I hire somebody who understood the sound of the city,” says Rayne on choosing Farmer to direct the video. Rayne’s production company succeeded in delivering a culturally rich video to pair with Vernon’s DC anthem, garnering over 375,000 views.
Despite working with established acts and professionals, Rayne’s biggest goal for Amber Rayne Media is to provide opportunities for artists at different levels throughout various disciplines. “I want my company to provide creatives with actual jobs and gigs, paying them for their talents and skills. I want my company to allow me to travel to different places and to build and establish things elsewhere but to be able to bring back to the DMV.”
