Professional Makeup Artistry

Not that Maria needs another rave review, but she certainly deserves one! She is simply amazing! If there is one thing that you splurge on for your wedding, let it be Maria! I promise you won't regret it!The other girls have pretty much said it all, and I wholeheartedly agree with every glowing review of her. I literally would not have survived my wedding day without her. Before the ceremony even started, she sewed two of my bridesmaids into their dresses with broken zippers, and did the same with my dress 10 minutes before we had to walk into the reception! She was there for 12 hours with me, doing touch ups, changing my hair and makeup, helping set up shots for Jen Skog, fixing dresses and hair, taping me into my dress, giving me water with a straw, and so much more that probably even I don't know about, all without missing a beat. She was my fairy godmother on my wedding day, and everyone could see what a huge role she played. Without her, we would have all been lost! I love love love her!If you haven't booked her yet, HURRY!

Maria~ I got a sneak peak at some of the wedding photos Jennifer (Skog) took and also so many from our guests. You made me look so beautiful that day. I can't thank you enough. I've gotten so much feedback about the two different hairstyles. Everyone thought that was so fun and festive; from the glamour and sophistication of my up-do at the ceremony to the fun, flirty curls at the reception. It was such a great idea that you had. You made my bride's maids look so beautiful too. I haven't seen too many professional pictures of them, but the others I've seen are gorgeous. You nailed each of their styles and made them look like models. Thank you so much, Maria, for your personality, your professionalism and your tremendous talent. I am so glad you were a part of the most important day of my life. You made me look my best, and I couldn't be happier. You and Jennifer are so much fun to work with and to have you be so good at your craft is so appreciated. Have a Happy New Year!! :) ~Maria Lertora Aliventi

Yes it is all true - Run, don't walk, to book Maria!!! Maria was recommended to us by our wedding coordinator, Crystal Lequang of Amazae Special Events (http://www.amazaespecialevents.com). She is a super sweet person, and does jaw-dropping work. I used her for our engagement photo shoot, wedding trial, wedding day, and couture bridal shoot with Jennifer Skog. For the engagement shoot I had my hair curled with simple, classic, clean make-up. I have very thick Asian hair, but Maria was able to make the curls last all day. I loved the way she made me look!For the wedding trial, Maria took her time and really tried to perfect the look I wanted. She took many pictures of me after the trial for her own notes, and so that she would be even more prepared on the big day. My mom and sister went with me to the trial, and loved what she did as well and were surprised she actually took pictures of me to study for the big day! So for the actual wedding day, Maria not only replicated what was done during the trial, she improved it! I am still getting compliments on my hair. Also, this is why Maria is worth penny - she stays with you until after the ceremony!!! She was by my side until the reception - removing my veil and fixing my hair, touching me up, getting me water with a straw so I wouldn't smudge my lipstick, blotting the boys, and making sure if I ever needed anything that I got it - gum, double sided tape, food, bobby pins, etc. And if there was ever down time, like during the ceremony, she helped Crystal! And finally, I love her work so much that I booked her for a couture photo shoot that she does exclusively with photographer Jennifer Skog (http://www.jenniferskog.com/boudoir). She made me feel like a super model! I had at least three different hair styles and looks. And the pictures are absolutely breath taking! Maria is truly talented at what she does! Thank you Maria!

I was at my best. She stayed beyond her hours retouching my makeup and helping organize my massive family with the group pictures. The process of booking her was easy. The trial was so much fun. We spent 3 hours getting the makeup just right. She took notes, listened to me, and on the day of the wedding I had exactly the look we agreed on. Marie used great products and I never felt I was wearing a lot or felt my makeup got cakey (even after 8 hours!) on a warm sunny day. Any bride will be so lucky to have someone who cares so much about having them look and feel their best on their wedding day.

Maria is absolutely unbelievable. She was a dream to work with from the start. I had heard about her from my other wedding vendors and knew that she would be a gem to work with. Maria was very flexible and listened to my ideas from the very start. My mom fell in love with her work too...and you know how mothers are hard to please! The day of the wedding she showed up with her wonderful assistants and helped me and 5 bridesmaids and both moms get ready. She stayed with me well into the evening making sure that my day went smoothly. I received a great number of compliments on the hairstyle and makeup on my day. Several of my friends even asked for Maria's number because they wanted to book her for their weddings! Overall, I had a great experience with Maria. She was more than that I had expected. She helped make my day!

I love, love, love Maria Chang. Her services will make you and your bridesmaids, mom, feel gorgeous and wonderful. Maria will be prepared for anything on your wedding day and you will not have to worry about a hair being out of place for photo, the ceremony, the reception, or the after party. Maria Chang of PMA is really, really good - which means she is also kind of expensive. But if you can afford it, go with it. You will never regret it. :)

Although, I checked only the "Beauty and Health" box, I could have also checked a number of other boxes, because Maria was the most valuable person on my wedding day!!! Not only did she make me look gorgeous and flawless (at the end of the night, I didn't want to wash off my make-up!), but she helped with bustling my dress, did a little touch-up on the groom, did the fastest hair change for me, made sure I looked perfect in every shot, helped with crowd control, kept me calm throughout the day, and much much more.Our wedding day ran so smoothly and perfectly, and this would not have happened without Maria. She was on top of everything and kept me from stressing out at all. I have received many, many compliments on make-up and hair, and I have also received inquiries from guests wondering who Maria was. She was doing so much for me, people thought maybe she was one of my best friends or family!Maria also did my hair and make-up for my engagement photos and was extreeemeellyyy flexible during my 3-hour trial for the wedding. Right before the wedding date, I decided to change my hair style completely. Maria was able to accommodate, and as a result, I rocked a hairstyle I never thought I could and LOVED IT!! If you are able to even book a date with Maria, consider yourself lucky, because her jam-packed schedule speaks for itself. I would hire Maria to do my make-up every single day if I could!!!

I first had a chance to experience Maria's awesomeness when my sister was getting married in 2008. When I got engaged later that year, I knew there was no one else I wanted to hire for my wedding than Maria & her PMA team. We booked her immediately, and I knew I was in great hands for my 2009 wedding. As expected, she was phenomenal! Not only is she the top of her game with hair & make-up, but she is so much fun to work with. She also comes extra prepared with anything you might need the day-of. I kept calling her a "magician", because she would pull out all these different things from her secret kit that would save the day. Hollywood tape for my strapless dress? Maria's got it. A nail clipper for my hang nail? Maria's got it. Shoe inserts so my mom's shoes don't fall off? Maria's got it. We also greatly appreciated that her package came with touch-ups after the ceremony. Maria followed us around during our photoshoot to not only touch-up my hair/make-up (which, by the way, did not need much touching up because it was so well done!) but she also helped our photographer by fixing my train, veil, etc. during the photoshoot. She was like a rock of support during the entire time.She is a little expensive, but she is definitely worth every penny. Highly recommend Maria & her team of assistants!

Okay. If I wrote for pages I couldn't explain how amazing and absolutely vital Maria was. She went BEYOND above and beyond. Made me look so incredibly beautiful, helped keep me sane, and had just a wonderful JOY about her that I knew she was doing what she loved and that she truly was invested in how I looked (and my mom looked, and my groom looked, and that my grandfather felt okay, and that the boutineers were right)... yes, she's expensive, but SO INCREDIBLY worth it. Cut out everything else... but GET Maria if you can. You will NOT EVER regret it.

Maria and her team are fantastic. They had a calming effect on me during my wedding day. The best part is that they're with you throughout the day, freshening up your hair and makeup. PMA is very flexible - Maria and her team did the hair and make up for me, my mom, and my six bridesmaids, and whenever one of them was not completley happy with how things turned out, PMA would make it right. I don't think I've ever felt as pretty as I did on my wedding day, and PMA was a huge part of that. She knows which hair styles and makeup looks turn up best in photos. Seriously, PMA is worth every penny. By far, PMA was one my favorite vendors.

Maria was amazing and worth every penny. She made the day go by so easily. She made me look beautiful and was a great help during pictures. I am sooooo happy she was there for me on my special day.

Where to begin singing the praises of Maria Chang and her lovely ladies? PMA is such a class act that, after your first hair trial, youÂ’ll be looking for excuses to book more appointments, and will be ready to hire Maria for every important event in your life.I had been excited about Maria ever since reading the glowing reviews posted all over the internet. But I knew as soon as I met her that hiring PMA would be one of the best decisions of the wedding-planning process. Unsurprisingly, our wedding day only confirmed my initial intuition. Not only were Maria and her ladies professional, sleekly-attired, and a pleasure to work with, they were absolutely integral to ensuring the success of our pre- and post-ceremony photos. Maria was always there to make sure we looked our best!If you find yourself debating whether to hire a hair and makeup artist, deliberate no longer: trim your flower budget, the catering, or even your dress if you must, but PMA is the one vendor whose services you donÂ’t want to miss! When your wedding day has vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving you only with pictures and video, youÂ’ll be delighted to revisit those happy moments when PMA helped you and your loved ones to shine. Who can pass up the opportunity to become their best self on one of the happiest days of their life?In fact, you may find that PMA will change your personal style: thanks to the possibilities Maria has shown me, IÂ’ve never gone back. Like a beloved fairy godmother, PMA will certainly transform your wedding. But Maria may also transform your life!

Maria and her crew were truly amazing. For my day of makeup she went above and beyond. I didn't think it was possible to improve on my trial, but she truly made my vision come to a reality. I can easily say that I have never felt more beautiful in my life. Aside from Maria and her team's amazing makeup skills she is a true professional. They all had such an happy attitude making the entire day positive and entertaining. Maria stayed with my through my entire portrait session to ensure that the entire bridal party looked their best for our memories. She made sure that every hair was in place, every thread was snipped, all lips were glossed.Aside from Maria's skills and day of service, she was a true professional from the first day of contact. All emails were answered quickly. All documents and reminders were sent in a timely manor. She was a true joy to work with. I feel any bride is lucky to book her.

I know I would have regretted it if I didn't hire Maria for my wedding. She's AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! I am truly amazed with this woman. She knows what I want and what will look good on me, even before I realize it. It's unbelievable! During the trial, I showed Maria pictures from magazines that I like, but I wasn't sure if the "look" suited my features. She listened to me and suggested ideas on what she thought would look great. She was really committed to creating the perfect wedding look for me. I felt that she truly cared. Maria's suggestions turned out better than what I had in mind (or what I initially wanted). On the day of the wedding, I completely trusted Maria to do her magic and I never looked and felt my best! My family and friends were all complimenting my hair and makeup that day. I was soo happy with how they turned out, both in person and in ALL my wedding photos. Maria's extra services make her stand out even more from the rest. Here are some of the things she did for me:- stayed with me until after our post-ceremony photos for touch-ups and to make sure that my hair was not being messed up with my veils (i had two - one drop veil and one long veil at the back)- carried and took care of my super long 10ft train and my even longer veil- hairsprayed my dad's messy hair- made sure my groom is oil-free during the post-ceremony photos- taught me how to hold my bouquet while walking down the aisle - taught my parents how to lift my veil before handing me to groom- helped gather people during the formal post-ceremony pictures- assisted my photographer in getting great photos- gave medication to my maid of honor since Maria noticed that her skin is turning red with the dress beads scraping against her skin- took care of me the whole time and was there if I needed anything like water, etc.She has done so much and I can't stop raving about her. She's amazing and exceptional in what she does, yet is very down-to-earth, accomodating and a true professional. She definitely played a huge role in making my day special. I'll always be thankful. As my husband would say, "What will we do without Maria?"

I could not have been more delighted with my hair and makeup artist, Maria Chang. As soon as I hired Maria and her company, Professional Makeup Artistry (PMA), for my wedding, I knew I would be in good hands...and I was. Maria is definitely so much more than a phenomenal hair & makeup artist, her additional PMA services set her miles apart from everyone else. This is a ridiculously long review, but I almost can’t express enough how helpful and wonderful she was to me...and I was not the only one who noticed.My bridesmaids were asking me where I found her. My dad mentioned she was "well worth it" - he simply said that he could just tell that she really cared. My mom already loved her at our first meeting at my trial. She not only loved her own hair & makeup on my wedding day, but was very relieved that Maria was the one to help me in my dress, because she knew Maria would get it right. Mostly, my mom was just appreciative of how well Maria and her assistant, Tanya, took care of me. Finally, my husband went from not understanding the cost of hair & makeup at all pre-wedding, to saying post-wedding, how great Maria was and what a great deal she was!Maria really makes you look and feel as beautiful as you can be on your wedding day. Our day started at 9am (earlier for her, since she came from Oakley), and she was with me all through the photo session, through the ceremony, until right before the cocktail hour at 6pm. Among the many things she did for me that day, she touched me up constantly, she carried my train everywhere, she made sure I stayed hydrated, she showed me how to hold my bouquet in pictures, she taught my dad how to lift my veil, and she put blister medication on my feet (if that’s not dedication – I don’t know what is!). I loved her whole team – they were just fun to have around, which made things more relaxed for me. Maria brought the lovely Sue with her to do hair & makeup too, due to the number of my ladies getting services done. Tanya, her tiny assistant, was so helpful as well - I could not believe such a small women could carry such a huge backpack with her everywhere! My husband said that backpack was like magic, it seemed to hold anything we could possible need. Finally, not only did Maria deliver her services with perfection, she was one of the most professional wedding vendors I worked with pre-wedding. She returned phone calls/emails promptly, her contract was solid, she confirmed when she received payment, and she told me exactly what she needed me to do to get ready for the trial and the wedding. She did all this with a sweet demeanor and a smile. To me, this is what a true professional is.I can honestly say Maria was my absolute favorite wedding vendor. I miss her already!

When my daughter, Helena, told me she wanted to employ the services of one who could not only do her hair for her special day, but also her makeup, my initial reaction was, yes--I understand the hair, but no, I think the makeup is really excessive. Fortunately, her will prevailed.My daughter never looked so beautiful. I was stunned when I saw her walking toward her groom, Andy. I had left Helena to Maria for all the preparations that morning, so I really didn't know what to expect. What I saw was a young woman whose natural beauty was enhanced--not artificially, but subtly. Her hair was softly curled and flowing, with part of it swept up; Helena looked somehow regal yet radiantly accessible, like a girl yet like a woman. I started smiling and just couldn't stop--this gorgeous creature was my daughter! Maria had used her makeup artistry most expertly to highlight two of Helena 's best features, her fair skin and her large blue eyes.Maria, however, did much more. She was quite simply a part of the wedding party with her quiet charm. She saw even the smallest of details. For example, during the photograph sessions, she darted in and straightened my pendant, which has a habit of sitting sideways. She unobtrusively assisted Helena with her train, her veil, her flowers--and she even dabbed her eyes for her when Helena had no hands to spare.Maria, furthermore, behaves like one who really LOVES what she does. Throughout the day, I felt that we were the only people on her mind. She was quietly professional yet personable, helpful yet not intrusive. This on top of absolutely amazing work.Moms, if you are debating on whether you should pay the money for Maria's expertise, I tell you with great conviction that you will come away feeling as I did--it was worth every penny and then some. I am looking at a photo of my daughter as I write this. Yes, it was worth it. Cut back on the flowers, select more modest food offerings, but get this young woman to do your daughter's hair and makeup. Every time you look at the wedding photos, you will be grateful.Ines Eishen, a Texas mom

Going with PMA for my bridal hair and makeup was honestly one the best decisions I made for the wedding. I cannot express enough how incredibly awesome Maria and her staff are.First of all, Maria is an incredibly talented hair and makeup artist. Maria herself is Latina (despite her Chinese last name), but she does Asian makeup incredibly well. She listened to all my concerns and ideas and came up with a look that I loved and was truly me. I didn't want to look overdone but wanted a look that was dressed up enough to show up in pictures, and she accomplished just that. The day of the wedding, I felt like I really looked like myself, but perhaps a version of me from 1920's Shanghai :) Maria and Sue did a fabulous job with my bridesmaids' hair as well, capturing exactly the look that I wanted that went incredibly well with their dresses.But Maria goes way above and beyond this. Most makeup artists would leave right after getting all the girls ready. But Maria and her wonderful assistant Tanya stayed with us until after the ceremony. She touched up my makeup all throughout our pre-wedding pictures, touched me up after the ceremony, helped me change my hair piece for the reception. Not only that, but she helped my bridesmaid with their dresses, provided double sided tape to make the dresses secure, helped one of my bridesmaids cover up her tatoos, pinned the boutonnieres onto the guys' suits, applied lipstick on the girls (even though I didn't pay for makeup for the girls). She made sure that we stuck to the timeline and got us to the church in time. And this is all part of her service.As far as price goes, PMA is definitely on the upper end of the range. But honestly, PMA is worth every penny.

Professional Makeup Artistry ended up being one of our favorite vendors. From the trial session to pre wedding to the big day, Maria and her team was there for me every step of the way. Professional Makeup Artistry is by far well worth every penny. Maria helped keep me cool, calm and collected. Trust me for those who think your bridesmaids will have everything covered, not so, and I had 8 of them. I could have easily gone into bridezilla mode that day but Maria allowed me to enjoy my special day as she took care of all unexpected mishaps. Maria went above and beyond my expectations. In fact, I felt like she was a part of the family before the night was over. Maria is very unobtrusive, genuine and will make you feel like the most beautiful bride ever! She was the only vendor my guest raved about because she was on top of every single detail from a single hair on my lips, to a touch of wine spilt on dress, to helping in the rest room. Because of Maria, I absolutely love my wedding pictures(so does everyone else).....they are priceless! The day I picked up the proofs from the photographer, I sat in my car, laughed and cried. My husband raves about Maria even now 6 months later! I could really go on and on about Professional Makeup Artistry and can't wait for the opportunity to use them again.

Maria is absolutely wonderful. She was with me every step of the way and made feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. I will always be indebted to Maria for her outstanding work and for her just being there for me on my special day.She is truly worth every penny.

Maria is absolutely amazing, as a person and a professional. She did such a wonderful job on my hair and make up people still talk about it today. I would reccommend her over and over. Her team did a great job as well on my wedding party, everyone was beautiful thanks to them!