Professional Makeup Artistry

Wow, I don't even know where to start. Maria Chang is the absolute best, best, best -- I would recommend her services to anyone, not just a bride. But, brides, she is the secret weapon on your wedding day! To start at the beginning, you'll have a trial session with Maria where you will discuss your vision for your look on your wedding day. I didn't know how to describe what I wanted to look like, but after chatting for about 5 to 10 minutes Maria helped me figure out what I wanted but couldn't put into words. And the best part of all of this, she is so incredibly nice. Maria has a very calm nature and she just immediately puts you at ease. So, the trial session is so much fun and I left so excited about my hair and makeup. For those of you who are really into makeup, she only uses really high quality products: Creme de la Mer, Bobbi Brown, and the like. And, oh, the eyelashes, serious swoon. I wish I could have them every day of my life!And then, the wedding day. Maria and her team arrived right on schedule and proceeded to make my bridesmaids, my mom, and my grandmother look and feel their prettiest for the wedding. We had so much fun that morning and it was so relaxing to be together and just sit around and chat and have fun with each other and Maria. The people she works with are just as professional and lovely and friendly as she is so the whole process is very comfortable. But then Maria is also there to help out with things like strapless bras that need extra tape (for a few of my bridesmaids) and to touch up your hair and makeup before AND after you walk down the aisle. And she was there for the post-ceremony photos putting lip gloss on me, giving me water to drink, and wrangling the crazy groomsmen. She went above and beyond her duties on my wedding day. Every time we went to go snap photos she was there with a smile on her face ready to help out in any way she could. At the end of the night I stood in the bathroom forever trying to avoid washing my face because I didn't want to wash all of the beautiful makeup off. It was just as pretty at the very end of the night as it was when she put it on (and I'd been through sweat, tears, hot sun, and cold wind at that point). The day after the wedding my matron of honor commented that Maria "is worth her weight in gold." My grandmother even told me that she didn't wash around her eyes for two days after the wedding because she wanted her eyes to stay made up. I would hire Maria Chang again in a heartbeat!

Maria is AMAZING!!! I never wear makeup so finding the best makeup artist was extremely difficult for me. I had trial sessions with three other makeup artists and was either disappointed or just thought they were ok. A friend recommended Maria Chang but warned me about the hefty price tag. But because I wanted to look and feel amazing on my wedding day, I went for it and booked the renowned Maria Chang. When the trial session came, I was completely blown away! Maria uses a professional camera to take pictures of you so you are able to view your makeup in photos. I was so impressed I booked her to do my hair and makeup for my engagement photos. Oh and for all you ladies who have big frizzy hair….Maria works wonders. She managed to control my hair to last the entire 5 hour engagement session…and it was sprinkling for the last hour. On the wedding day, she was not only fantastic with hair and makeup but also a life-saver. The morning of my wedding day I found a pimple, right in the middle of my forehead (can you believe it?!!!). She covered it up with makeup and adjusted my hair so it wouldn’t be noticeable. My husband was hugged by our photographer and his boutonniere broke off. Maria took one of the flowers from my bouquet and made a new one, right then and there. I stained my wedding dress with something yellow (right in the middle and front of the dress) and she very quickly removed it. My sister’s fake lashes were falling off (btw: she did not have her makeup done by Maria) and Maria fixed it. One of the buttons from the groomsman’s jacket fell off and Maria was there to fix it. The night before the wedding day, I wanted to sew on a blue “M” (the initial of my husband’s last name) on the under skirt of my wedding dress. I mentioned to Maria that I didn’t get a chance to do this and her assistant very quickly sewed one on. I had my first look with my future hubby, I was balling so hard she basically had to redo my makeup. Maria stays to retouch your makeup for 8hours…a must for the criers out there. So…ladies, if you are looking for just any old person to do your makeup and hair, I think there are plenty out there to choose from. If you want a professional, prompt, TOP-NOTCH makeup artist who is EXCEPTIONAL at hair and makeup and EXTRAORDINARY in solving the unforeseen hiccups that all weddings may encounter…then book Maria now! Plus…I did the math, the price for Maria’s services is only a little more than others out there when you factor cost of hair, makeup up and the 8 hours or retouch services. Finally, Maria has a great personality who genuinely cares to make you look gorgeous and feel incredible on your wedding day.

Maria is beyond just a make up artist. She goes above and beyond and actually stays with you for most of the day. She is there to lend a hand to the photographer, she is there to do touchups, she is there to give you words of encouragement, she is simply amazing. She carries an arsenal of emergency supplies and is there to fix last minute stains, tears, rips, anything! As a makeup artist, she is beyond phenomenal. She can take her time and use the fake lash strips, but instead, she takes her time to put on individual lashes so her brides look more natural. She also airbrushes the makeup on so it lasts and looks natural and not caked on. She really knows her craft and does it exceptionally well. A bride who has Maria will feel incredibly lucky to have her there.

I cannot say enough great things about Maria and her staff. She is absolutely wonderful to work with; she and her staff made me and my family look absolutely perfect on my wedding day. Having her there the whole day made such a difference! I didn't have to worry a second about my appearance because Maria was right there for touch ups and kind words of encouragement. If she is available the day you are getting married, please don't even think twice about booking her. It will be one of the best decisions you will make for that day!!

PMA is freaking amazing!!! If you are a bride in the Bay area and beyond run not walk to booking Maria of PMA!! She and her team are absolutely awesome! Where do I begin?.. First, when I had my trial with Maria she was prompt and dedicated. She was welcoming and just a charming personality. After the trial she studied my pictures and made adjustments where she felt it was needed.On the wedding day, Maria and her team got there on time. I was actually at brunch with my Husband (LOL first time I called him my HUSBAND) and they started working on the Bridesmaids. By the time I got there things were in full swing and popping!!! When it was my turn to get it the chair I was so relaxed because I was sitting there talking with Maria and having a great time. She was mazing with my hair and makeup! And oh very patient when I get phone calls. She worked seamlessly with the videographer and photographer to make sure they had the best shot. She was like my Aunt making sure everything was perfect for me on my special day. After my hair and makeup was done (which was on time and on schedule), she was there to fix up the girls and cue the video and photographers on when shoots with will be at its best. She followed me to make sure that my hair and make up was perfect. She made sure the girls were looking their best and helped my groom out. My mother and mother in law loves her and her team. She carries around this gear with any and everything to help should something go wrong! What an amazing woman!Maria stayed well over the time she should have been there and I am forever grateful to her for making me look beautiful on the most special day of my life. I have gained a friend forever in Maria and for that I am ecstatic!Thank you thank you thank you!!

Maria Chang, the master behind PMA, made my wedding day AMAZING! She has been recommended to me by many of my friends and I could see her consistent and exceptional work in all of their weddings. So, I had no doubt in my mind that I HAD TO book her. That was among the first things I did when I started planning my wedding!! And as luck would have it, she was free on my wedding day!I was super looking forward to the trial to see Maria work her magic on me (since I'm only average-looking at best). Maria had already sent me clear guidelines ahead of time so that I can be prepared for the trial session. When I got to her studio, she took the time to chat with me and get to know my preference and comfortable level regarding the degree of makeup that would go on my face. I showed her pictures of the hairstyles I like, and she gave me great feedback and suggestions. Then, she started her work on me. She was very patient and took her time to perfect my makeup and hair. I could not believe my eyes when I next looked in the mirror. I simply looked ENHANCED (and pretty!), which was exactly what I wanted!On my wedding day, Maria arrived early in the morning. I looked even better than at the trial session when she was done! I especially liked how she put all the fresh red roses into my hair for the morning's events. At the wedding, everyone complimented on how good I looked too!! I was like floating on a cloud the entire day.Maria had a calming effect on me. She knows what to do and she is definitely very professional. And I know that, so I trust her very much. I was glad to have her around throughout that hectic day, up until the wedding reception. She made sure that I was looking the best I could for our photographer and she even helped out my bridesmaids. If it weren't for her, my wedding gown's bustle will not have been done.Maria absolutely exceeded my expectations, and was one of the best thing that happened on my wedding day!! I am already recommending her to ALL of my friends for their weddings or any other events they may need professional makeup and hair. Her prices are not cheap, but the service is worth every single penny!

I loved working with Maria Chang of Professional Makeup Artistry! She is a true artiste and also very approachable. I originally knew her work through my wedding designer and was so happy to learn she was available for our wedding date. She was one of the wedding vendors that I was 100% certain that I wanted to work with for my wedding day and she still totally exceeded my expectations. She is also a self-proclaimed perfectionist. She even takes photos of the trial so she can study them to see where she would to improve so your perfect for your wedding day.. I was so thrilled with how my makeup trial turned out during my trial that I knew I was in good hands with Maria. It's not just her amazing talent that makes her so great but her personality as well. She goes above and beyond for her brides and was a godsend for our wedding.. I had hired other makeup artist/hair designer for my bridesmaids and flower girls but they were running behind schedule so she stepped in and also did their hair as well. My mother, who has not changed her hairstyle in nearly two decades, also loved the look Maria helped create for her. Lastly, after our photoshoot, we realized one of my small hairpieces fell off. Maria and her assistant thoroughly searched the property for it and found it! Although, PMA may be slightly higher than other makeup artists, my husband and I believe hiring PMA was one of the best investments we made for our wedding. We have no regrets at all and was excited to work with her again for our day after shoot. I think Maria and her team was definitely one of the reasons why I think our wedding day ran so smoothly. Although, make sure you contact PMA early, she books up very quickly!

Maria was my favorite vendor to work with. I felt absolutely beautiful on my wedding day. She's a little pricey but definitely worth the money. My makeup looked very natural and photographed very well.

Booking PMA for my wedding was one of the best decisions we made! We had a destination wedding in Maui, HI, so it was tough to decide on which vendors to use. I really wanted Maria to do my hair and makeup because I had a few friends who used PMA for their weddings and had nothing but great things to say about Maria and her team. But, I was trying to stay within my budget and knew that having PMA at my wedding would mean additional costs for travel accommodations. After some serious thinking, I decided to go with PMA and my gut told me it was the right decision! I booked PMA 17 months before my wedding and they were the first vendor I committed to, even before my venue and my photographer! Throughout the pre-wedding months, Maria was very professional, sending me invoices on a timely basis and also information on my hair/makeup trial. I had my trial with Maria in August and it was such a fun experience. She spent 3 full hours with me. During the trial, she talked me through ideas for hair and makeup and created a gorgeous look for my wedding day. My maid of honor accompanied me to the trial and she was amazed at what Maria did. We left feeling so excited about the wedding and even more about getting beautified by Maria and her team! Fast-forward to September, the wedding day comes. Maria and her assistant Sue showed up promptly at 6:30am. She even called ahead of time asking if I needed any coffee (so sweet). Maria and Sue were serious business. They knew exactly what to do and where to set up and went through the day's timeline with us. The getting ready session was so relaxing and fun. Maria had her iPhone music going and we laughed and joked the whole time. But most importantly, the results were unbelievable. Maria and Sue did makeup/hair for me, my 2 maid of honor/bridesmaid, and my 2 moms. Everyone was beyond happy with their looks and loved Maria's positive attitude and friendliness. Sue even did my little flower girl's hair, giving her these adorable ringlets. Throughout the wedding day, Maria was on top of everything. She assisted my photographer, set up the room for the tea ceremony, helped me into my different outfits, touched me up to make sure I looked perfect, blotted my hubby's face, pinned the boutonnieres on our dads' suits...the list goes on and on! When I changed into my reception dress, I realized I had forgotten my strapless bra and Maria saved the day. She decided to take the bra pads from my wedding gown and sew them to my reception dress. All that in under 15 minutes. What does this woman not know how to do?? She stayed with us throughout the reception and even had some fun with us on the dance floor :)Sorry for the long review but bottom line is, Maria and Sue were awesome. They went above and beyond what makeup artists normally do and ensured everything was perfect. They made my wedding day perfect and I will forever be grateful that Maria was a part of my wedding. Thank you Maria and PMA!!!

Maria Chang is AMAZING!!!!!!!! I Love love love her!!!! She was wonderful from the moment we booked her. During my trial, she took the time to understand my style and work with me to create an amazing look for my wedding. She is amazingly talented, and can can make you look stunning without making you look like you're wearing tons of make-up. She is also super sweet and understanding and will make sure you are 150% satisfied with your wedding look. On the day of the wedding, Maria was like my own mini personal assistant, going beyond just hair and make-up duties, and helping me with anything and everything I could possibly need. There aren't enough words to express how amazing Maria Chang is, and you will absolutely not regret booking her!!!!

Maria Chang is Superwoman. She is AMAZING. 5 stars don't do her justice.

First of all, she is a wonderful person. She's witty, sassy, kind, smart, focused, and just a joy to be around. Secondly, she is one talented beautician. She did my bridal makeup and hair, as well as hair for all my bridesmaids. Everything turned out gorgeous, and I was able to take away some tips on how to do my own everyday makeup.

Maria was at my wedding from the very early morning, to after the grand entrance at the evening reception. Not only did she work her beauty magic, she also cleaned an oil stain out of my MIL's dress, sewed up my mama's broken shoe strap, showed my bridesmaids how to walk, hold their bouquets, and cry discretely. And, of course, all the usual makeup and hair touch-up throughout the day.

Basically, she's the Chuck Norris of weddings. Highly recommended.

Beautiful and kind, Maria, or "Saint Maria" as I like to call her, is as professional and talented as they come. I've never had a good experience having my make-up professionally done but Maria made me look and feel pretty without making me look overdone. I can't say enough about her willingness to help out when needed or her amazing ability to take away the worry about how I looked on my big day.

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 is truly a talented artist! I heard about her through previous clients and our photographer Jen Skog! If you didn't know, Maria & Jen are the "Dynamic Duo!" Their Couture sessions are AMAZING! Any bride who works with them is very fortunate, as I was on my wedding day!

I didn't have my trial with Maria until a week before the wedding but there was not one ounce of panic in me. I knew Maria would create a look that best suited me. When I met her, she asked me questions about my skin, makeup, wedding colors, and requested to see pictures of my wedding dress. I didn't have any inspirational pictures for hair so I told her I wanted to wear my hair down. I was hesitant in hearing her response but she told me she was going to suggest that anyways, whew! Maria's trials last for 3 hours, she will invest however much time to "perfect" your wedding look! That is what you want in your vendor! She has a "mini" photo studio where she takes pictures of your hair & makeup. After my trial was done, I looked in the mirror and never felt so beautiful. When my parents saw me, they said I looked radiant but still myself. That was very important to me and it was because of Maria!

A few days later, Maria e-mailed me trial pictures and evaluated my best angles and made suggestions. She also sent them to Jen. How awesome is that?!?! Here is the link to my trial!
http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/meesh-makeup-hair-trial-with-maria-chang

On my wedding day, Maria was more than my makeup/hair stylist, she was my "right hand" person. Her assistance services go above and beyond what you expect. She assisted not only myself, but my bridesmaids as well. She even had an assistant with her too. From corseting my dress, to fixing my hair during photos, Maria was there every step of the way. The working relationship that she has with our photographer Jen was so much fun to witness. I found myself at ease and laughing the whole day! Maria even helped out with Family pictures and told them to "drop" their purse! She continued to touch up my hair and makeup throughout the day and even stayed till 9:00PM helping Jen!

I can't thank Maria enough! I don't think I was stressed or worried about anything b/c working with Maria, it's like hanging out with one of your girlfriends! I look forward to working with her and Jen for our Day After Couture session!

This is an investment you want to make, trust me!

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 Chang is a fairy godmother!

Nevermind the 5 stars, I give her 100! All of her rave reviews are true and so much more! Maria is experienced in makeup, hair, fashion styling and weddings. She knows exactly what goes on at weddings and what needs to be done. Trust her experience!

I absolutely love Maria's makeup style. Skin looks so fresh and glowing, and she will do makeup appropriate for the time of day and setting. I became so inspired by her and learned a lot about makeup and hair. Now I'm interested in becoming an apprentice makeup artist myself.

My hair is the most stubborn ever, pin straight and won't hold a curl to save my life. She made it curl and it stayed! I learned some tricks that I now apply and now I can finally curl my hair using the right tools!

You won't be sitting there with a half done job with promises that it will be better the day of the wedding. Maria does it right the first time! She dedicates herself to being the best, and you'll get the best results!

At the end of the trial session in her studio, she does a photoshoot with you. All the lighting is natural daylight, and photos untouched by Photoshop. She sent me the photos that night and even blogged about them!

The day of the wedding, Maria was so valuable. She and her assistant Sue were right on time! The getting ready part of the wedding is my favorite part of every wedding because of the anticipation and they made it so much more enjoyable. They worked on 2 mothers, 4 bridesmaids and me and they kept us on time.

Maria stays with the bride all day to do touchups, and it's completely worth it to hire someone who provides this service. Not only does she do touchups, but she will assist you and your photographer and videographer. She can help you pose in a more flattering position, hold the reflector for the photographer or just hold props!
Though she is there for the bride, she's glad to help a bridesmaid with her hair.

Because she is so experienced in weddings, she is aware of etiquette and what needs to be done. She stayed at the end of the aisle, just before I made my entrance and was there to stop late guests from rushing to empty seats while I was walking down. Yes, people actually tried to do this! But she was so tactful, I didn't find out until way later when she told me.

Maria also knows how to bustle your gown, so if your assigned bustler goes MIA, Maria is there to help!

Before the photo shoot, I asked in a panic if the mothers had their corsages. Maria let me know that she had pinned them on them. She is ON it! She doesn't forget a thing!

She also carries a backpack full of essentials the bride may need, such as a snack, a straw for drinking water (so you don't mess up your lip color.) My MOH was very impressed by this!

I hired her again for my Trash the Dress session. She amped up my wedding day look into something more dramatic. It was my favorite look! I hadn't thought to ask her what products she used. But I tried to recreate it several times.

I paid more for on-location services for the TTD shoot and it was worthy every penny! The wind at Ocean Beach was particularly crazy. She pinned my hair so my fascinators wouldn't blow away, carried and helped me change my shoes, changed my makeup look and helped me with less glamourous tasks like blowing my nose! I don't know what we would have done without her! And Maria is super sweet and thoughtful. After the freezing TTD session at Ocean Beach, she went to Starbucks and bought me something warm to drink and a muffin.

Because she is so popular, her rates may increase. Book her early! She once had a time restriction of when you could book, but I don't think that's the case anymore.

You also have to admire that she created this business. Inspiring for any woman who wants to go into business for herself.

And no, you can't keep Maria all to yourself, she has a family to get back to.

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.

Booking Maria for my wedding was the best decision I have ever made! She is AMAZING! During the wedding planning, I was dreading about finding the right hair and makeup artist. When it comes to having my makeup done, I usually end up being dissapointed - mainly because I find it difficult to get my big brown Asian eyes done right without looking like a raccoon. I figured if I'm going to pay someone to do my wedding makeup and hair, they better do it right! I didn't want to look at my wedding pictures 25 years later and say "Ugh, what was I thinking?"

I found some reputable artists (some only did makeup, some only hair) and contacted them. Some were not available for my date and some never responded back. I was able to get a hold of a very popular hair & makeup artist but her unprofessionalism & excessive travel fee of $350 from the South Bay to Pleasanton was ridiculous.

I found Maria on Project Wedding & several publications. I heard nothing but praise for her professionalism, quality of work (particularly on Asian makeup), & how she stays with the bride for hours after getting made to make sure that her day goes by smoothly. Even if her rate seems pricey, it's actually a bargain compared to the other artists I contacted, plus she stays with you for a couple hours to help out. With my chaotic life and family, I knew I had to have her. Apparently her policy was that she only books 6 months prior to your wedding. Since I was 8 months shy away, I had to wait 2 more months till I could try to book her (It wasn't even guaranteed that I would even get her since she's in high demand and only does 3-4 weekend weddings a month).

When my 6th month mark came, I immediately contacted Maria. I repeatedly sent emails, called and left messages. My persistence paid off and I was able to book her. It felt so good, I felt like I just landed a new job. Maria was nothing but professional in her emails. It seemed like she was well experienced and knew what she was doing. When it came time to meeting her for my trial, she really impressed me with her knowledge of the industry. She even asked me questions that I thought was awkward at first but turned out were really important elements for her to prep for the day. Maria is a perfectionist and understood the importance of day down to the littlelist details. I knew then that I was really in good hands and that all the reviews about her in project wedding were true. I really liked the fact that after the trial she took a bunch of photos of me from different angles so that both of us would have an idea on the day's look. The trial took about 4 hours which gave us a chance to really get to know each other.

On my wedding day, I expected Maria to be alone since she only had to work on me. When she arrived, I was surprised to see her bring two additional assistants with her. I was impressed on how prepped she was. She had a bunch of gear with her from a ginormic trunk case and director style chair. I was like, "Wow, all that to get me made up?" From there, I totally felt like a celebrity. As I was getting my hair and makeup done, one of her assistants voluntarily helped get my nails done (at no additional charge) since I didn't have the time to get them done. I didn't expect the additional service at all. As for my hair and makeup, I was very happy and satisfied. I have never felt so beautiful in my entire life. I loved how she was able to keep the look classic, elegant, & natural looking.

Maria was all I expected and more! Totally worth the investment. At first my parents and bridesmaids couldn't see why would I spend $$$ for a hair and makeup artist. On the day of the wedding, Maria impressed them all! She went above and beyond. Besides getting me made up, she stuck around for hours and basically became our assistant. She bustled my dress, tied and secured my corset, and helped some of the bridesmaids out with their makeup. She also helped some of the ladies tie sashes as they weren't sure how to do it. In addition, she kept making sure that I was well hydrated prior to the ceremony. She'd basically bring me water with straws so that I wouldn't mess up my makeup. She also came to the rescue when one of the long ties from the inside of my dress had accidentally fallen in the toilet. Maria had scissors on hand to cut that thing off from my dress. Minutes prior to the ceremony, one of my hyper flower girls had knocked off one of the altar arrangements causing it to shatter into pieces across the aisle. Maria and the florist quickly took care of clearing it out and helped put the arrangement back together in a backup vase (I had no idea this happened until days after the wedding). When it came to pre-and after ceremony pics, Maria followed me around and constantly touched up on my hair and makeup up and assisted the photographer by doing crowd control and acting as the translator for the Spanish speaking guests. She did so much for us and made the day go by smoothly. I highly recommend her! You will not be disappointed!

Maria, Maria, Maria....
I don't even know where to begin. If you can afford her, then hire her. It will be the best wedding related decision you ever made!
Maria made me more beautiful on my wedding day than I have ever been before in my life. When I look at photos, I just can't believe that anyone could make me look like that!
Maria not only works magic on the physical aspect of her brides, but she also helps with the emotional. I was so nervous on my big day, but she was just such a pleasure to be around. She has a very calming effect on everyone, and is also extremely funny!
Maria arrived at my cottage at noon, and spent the rest of the day with me. She touched me up during photos, forced me to drink water (with a straw!), assisted my photographer and so much more. Maria even fixed one of the groomsmen's jackets! She carries around this magic bag full of everything that one may need if something goes wrong; sewing kit, stain remover, safety pins... even an EpiPen!
Maria was also great before the actual day. I had an amazing trial at her house, where three hours just flew by because she was so much fun... She is also extremely prompt about answering emails/ questions.
My only regret is that I can't have Maria do my makeup/ hair for every event that I go to!

Professional Makeup Artistry Categories: makeup + hairOakley, CA925-308-4916 08/13/2008I cannot say enough good things about Maria Chang and her assistant Tonya (sp?). They provided me with five-star service on my wedding day!I had had 2 trials with Maria, and at the last minute decided to change my hairstyle again from my last trial. The third time was the charm, and I absolutely loved my hair! My makeup was beautiful. I felt beautiful and confident, which I think is the first step to having a beautiful and perfect wedding – the bride has to feel that way first. And Maria helped me feel that way. My Mom, who had originally told me she thought I was spending too much on my hair and makeup, and didn’t understand what Maria would be doing with me all day, later said she thought Maria was well worth the money, alleviated a lot of stress for me and for her, and that she was really glad I had hired her. She said she was "pleasantly surprised" by how helpful Maria and Tonya were and now couldn't imagine my day without them!Maria was a lifesaver and I looked to her for everything in regards to my dress, jewelry, shoes, hair, etc. Maria and Tonya helped me transport my dress to the venue, helped me in to my dress, adjusted bridesmaids and mother’s dresses, and even tried to steam my dress for me. Maria and Tonya stayed after their contracted time to help me through my cocktail hour photo shoot and I was so grateful. Again I cannot say enough good things about them and will recommend them to everyone! Grade: A++!

I cannot say enough good things about Maria Chang and her assistant Tonya (sp?). They provided me with five-star service on my wedding day!

I had had 2 trials with Maria, and at the last minute decided to change my hairstyle again from my last trial. The third time was the charm, and I absolutely loved my hair! My makeup was beautiful. I felt beautiful and confident, which I think is the first step to having a beautiful and perfect wedding – the bride has to feel that way first. And Maria helped me feel that way.

My Mom, who had originally told me she thought I was spending too much on my hair and makeup, and didn’t understand what Maria would be doing with me all day, later said she thought Maria was well worth the money, alleviated a lot of stress for me and for her, and that she was really glad I had hired her. She said she was "pleasantly surprised" by how helpful Maria and Tonya were and now couldn't imagine my day without them!

Maria was a lifesaver and I looked to her for everything in regards to my dress, jewelry, shoes, hair, etc. Maria and Tonya helped me transport my dress to the venue, helped me in to my dress, adjusted bridesmaids and mother’s dresses, and even tried to steam my dress for me. Maria and Tonya stayed after their contracted time to help me through my cocktail hour photo shoot and I was so grateful. Again I cannot say enough good things about them and will recommend them to everyone! Grade: A++!

If I could give her 10 stars I would! I could probably go on and on about how awesome Maria Chang is, but instead I'll give more specific reasons why Maria Chang is so worth every penny!

- My girls were indecisive over whether they wanted to have their hair and/or make-up done with Maria or not. When we finally decided to have all the girls' hair done by Maria, it was only a week or two before the wedding. She didn't have to try to accommodate my girls, but she was able to get two of her other colleagues to come do my girls' hair.
- During my hair and make-up trial, she gave me tips on how to improve my hair for the wedding. She also had many different hair accessories, which helped me decide what I wanted to put in my hair the day of.
When my MOHs didn't know how they wanted to tie their sashes, Maria showed them different ways to tie it, and then she tied both of their sashes for them
- She did my hair and make-up in the morning for my tea ceremony, came with me to my tea ceremonies (at two different houses), came back to the hotel to fix my hair and make-up for my bridal gown, came along for our pre-ceremony photo shoot, stayed with me in my bridal suite when all my girls had to line-up for the procession, stayed during the church ceremony, touched me up for the post-ceremony pictures, and then finally touched me up again for the cocktail hour. SHE'S AMAZING!
- She made me and my girls feel and LOOK breathtaking!
- She felt like a DOC that was assigned to only me. She gave me water to drink, she bustled my dress, she fixed my veil. She really catered to my every need, to make sure that I was taken care of on my big day.

All my girls were so amazed by Maria's work and how devoted she was to making it the best day of my life, that they all want to hire her for their weddings! I loved Maria! She was definitely money well spent.

When my daughter told me she had booked someone to do her hair and makeup for her wedding, I honestly thought she was going over the top. BUT I WAS WRONG. Maria was absolutely, totally, completely fantastic. I have never seen my daughter look so beautiful--and it was not a "made up" look; it was lovely, natural, and stunning. But Maria is so much more--she was everywhere, seamlessly helping with all the matters the other reviewers have written about. For example, for one of the photos, the pendant I was wearing was crooked. She quietly and quickly straightened out, the kind of detail that I was too distracted to notice, but is so welcome. I, who never wear makeup, now wish I had had Maria make me up! Another thing that was great about her was that she worked with the photographer as if they were a team, not people who had never met each other. She was worth every penny!! This was money very well spent.

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.

Long review ahead!

Maria Chang, the genius behind Professional Makeup Artistry (PMA), is nothing short of unbelievable. She is so skilled at accomplishing stunning bridal transformations that she could easily have her own reality TV show, and this is exactly how you'll feel if you book PMA--it is an experience like no other! If you have any room to splurge on your wedding day--and frankly, even if you don't--I can't recommend Maria's work highly enough. Maria's skill will make all the difference in the world, particularly as you reminisce over your wedding pictures for years to come.

Why professional hair and makeup?

First, I would like to say a few words about my decision to choose Professional Makeup Artistry. I was referred to PMA by our extremely talented videographer, Alexa Lee, who knows Maria personally and has nothing but the highest of praise for her. Although we have a bunch of "extras" planned for the wedding (letterpress, specialty lighting, etc.), it had never occurred to me to hire a makeup artist: I've been styling myself for as long as I can remember, and it seemed like an unnecessary expense.

But then I got to thinking. First, Maria's expertise is doubly valuable, because she does both hair and makeup beautifully: from down-dos to complicated up-dos, she specializes in classic bridal styles that look timeless on camera but can be very difficult to achieve on one's own. As long as I was planning to get my hair done, I reasoned, why not makeup, too?

It is worth reiterating here that PMA's styles are specifically bridal. Maria achieves a level of sophistication that is perfect for creating a special wedding-day allure. For example, you would never mistake one of her beautiful bridal creations for a prom hairstyle, which can often be the case with other, less gifted stylists.

Second, Maria does hair and makeup for the camera, and her experience far predates her entry into the bridal industry. I started to consider how much we had invested in photography and videography, and realized that--no matter how well I could do my own makeup--it only made sense to hire somebody trained in doing hair and makeup for the camera, and who was also skilled, at the same time, in making the bride look beautiful in person.

After all, at no other time of my life will I be so heavily photographed. And I quickly came to see, as I tracked down reviews online, that hiring PMA means leaving nothing to chance: on the wedding day, Maria devotes herself tirelessly to the bride and bridal party, helping to make sure that all of the photos turn out fabulously. In addition to her flawless portfolio, what better endorsement could there be? I was sold!

Why PMA in particular?

Although my wedding is still a few months away, I recently visited Maria for my trial consultation. Maria lives in a beautiful home where the stunning and immaculate furnishings clearly reflect her bridal aesthetic: everything is very elegant, opulent in an understated way, and thoroughly pleasing to the senses.

Visiting Maria is like heading off to a luxury resort, combined with an afternoon of pampering at the spa. Although my appointment was scheduled for 10-1, a somewhat awkward time slot, I was by no means expecting the delicacies that awaited me. Yet Maria had prepared an array of goodies, from finger sandwiches and cheese and crackers to a delicious pot of jasmine tea. Set against the backdrop of her light and airy studio and its hip soundtrack, I had so much fun I could have stayed all afternoon!

As if this weren't soothing enough, Maria herself exudes confidence in her work and an extremely personal, friendly reassurance. Aside from one horrible "Glamour Shots" experience when I was much younger, I've never had my hair and makeup professionally done, and I was a bit apprehensive about trusting something so personal to someone I had only just met. But as soon as Maria introduced herself, I felt at ease--I knew I would be in good hands with PMA!

The appointment began with a brief consultation. I showed Maria all of the key details of my wedding, from the venue to the flowers, and we spent some time talking about hair and makeup styles and how they would work with my dress. One of Maria's strengths is that she tells it like it is: I had originally wanted a darker smoky eye, but she insisted that the look I desired was really too harsh for a wedding, but that she would be happy to work with softer, more bridal tones instead. Not being the expert, this was exactly what I needed to hear. The great thing about PMA is that Maria stands by her work and reputation: she will only do what's best for *you,* even when you're not entirely sure what's best for yourself.

After the consultation, Maria rolled my hair in preparation for the up-do and then began with my makeup. As she switched from one to the other, she was always careful to check up on me: Did I need more tea? Would I like something to eat? Was it too cold in the studio? She was truly the perfect hostess and conversation partner--I hardly noticed the time slipping by, and it was 2 o'clock--an hour past the scheduled time slot--before I knew it. But Maria was happy to take as much time as we needed to achieve the final look. I never felt rushed, and even though Maria does bridal hair and makeup all the time, I could tell that she was enjoying herself, too.

When my makeup was finished, Maria moved on to the up-do we had discussed, and--once everything was pinned perfectly in place--she took dozens of pictures from all different angles. This is an invaluable part of the PMA experience: it provides the first glimpse of how you'll really look both on your wedding day and in the pictures that will live on forever, as it documents the look from every vantage point. This is perfect for tweaking the design here and there, imagining how you'll appear to your guests as you walk down the aisle, and even seeing all of the possible angles that the photographer and videographer might capture. By that very evening I was able to print out the files Maria had emailed me, much to the delight of my family--and of my fiancé, who couldn't be more pleased with Maria's work!

This is Maria Chang's genius: I can easily and with admiration say that Maria, with her keen eye and impeccable expertise, helped me to look like my best possible self. Importantly, I was still recognizable, but she had worked her magic to enhance my best features, and to create a more formal version of myself in a palette and style that were still thoroughly natural. I was so pleased that I was sure to inquire about the eyeshadow colors Maria used, as well as the brand of false lashes--I look forward to recreating her amazing artistry (as best I can, at least!) on my own. Indeed, I would absolutely use PMA for other occasions in the future, and will recommend Maria to all of my family and friends.

My parents and sisters (aka bridesmaids) were so delighted when they saw the results that their fears about hiring a stylist melted away instantly: my parents had been convinced that it was an unnecessary investment, while my sisters--accustomed to doing their own hair and makeup--seemed certain that they would be more than happy on their own. Not so anymore: My parents are thrilled with the results (my Mom is even considering getting her own hair and makeup done!), and my sisters can't wait to see their transformations this June.

Final words

Given the expense of weddings nowadays, I can easily understand why some brides might be reluctant to hire additional professionals, especially when their services may seem unnecessary at first. However, investing in hair and makeup design will enhance every other aspect of your wedding, from your own self-confidence as you walk down the aisle and your groom's awed reaction to your wedding-day look, to the video and photographs you will have for years to come--the only long-term reminders of your exciting day. It is not an understatement to say that Maria's classic sense of style will help to ensure that your pictures look fresh and sophisticated for generations.

I would also like to stress that Maria's services come at a bargain. I have been engaged since February 2007, and at no other point in the planning process have I felt so at ease. Of course, after an excellent hair and makeup trial, I have been able to rest complete confidence in Maria. But the beauty of PMA is that Maria and her assistant(s) stay throughout the photo sessions in order to touch up hair and makeup and to lend a hand, all while helping to make sure that your day runs as smoothly as possible. Maria, in addition to having a classic sense of style and an eye for beauty, is also extremely organized and reliable--nothing will go wrong on her watch! Having PMA on scene will be well worth the peace of mind.

I can't wait to update this review after our wedding--I am definitely looking forward to working with Maria again, and can easily see why so many people refer to her as their favorite vendor. She is friendly and personable, amazingly skilled, and a complete miracle worker! Hiring PMA may very well be one of the best wedding decisions you make.

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, you’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 don’t want to miss! When your wedding day has vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving you only with pictures and video, you’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, I’ve never gone back. Like a beloved fairy godmother, PMA will certainly transform your wedding. But Maria may also transform your life!

I could not say enough good things about Maria. She is absolutely so talented and will make you feel like a princess on your wedding day. I loved the hair and makeup that she did and received sooo many compliments on them. She stayed beyond the time allotted to make sure my hair and makeup were touched up after I changed into my Vietnamese dress. Also, my heels were killing me after the ceremony so I decided to change to flats. Well, my dress was not hemmed to flats and of course, Maria stepped right in and pinned my dress up so that I would not be tripping over it the whole night. I consider any bride lucky to have Maria to do their makeup/hair on their wedding day. Thank you Maria for making my wedding day absolutely stress free. She is worth every penny!

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.

Maria is so skilled! amazing!I love my make up and hair on my wedding. We hired her for the entire day! worth every penny! Change 3 different hair styles, and 3 different for the makeup!

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 was awesome. I loved the way my makeup and hair turned out. I have oily skin so she used airbrush makeup on me. My makeup lasted all night. She also worked on my bridesmaids and the mothers and they all looked fabulous. She’s very punctual, showed up exactly at 7:45am, as promised. She finished our hair and makeup with time to spare. As others have mentioned, she does go above and beyond to help with wedding. She was there to help me get dressed, showed me how to sit in my poufy dress, handed me water, assisted the photographer during pictures session, just anything I needed that day. She stayed and gave me touch ups all the day until the reception started. I can’t say enough good things about her.

If you are looking for an incredibly kind person who is super talented with hair and makeup and also happens to be the perfect wedding coordinator, you must work with Maria Chang of Professional Makeup Artistry. Long review ahead, but I really want to describe all the fantastic services PMA provides for their clients.

I originally booked with PMA because I wanted to have hair and makeup done on location at my mom's house the morning of the wedding to cut down on the potential stress of getting ready at different locations for hair and for makeup (two moms, three bridesmaids, and me). I read a bit about the "personal assistant" services PMA also offers, and everyone who has worked with PMA had only glowing things to say. I am no exception!

My sister (and matron-of-honor) and I met Maria a couple months before my October 2007 wedding at my hair and makeup trial. Maria was very responsive to the pictures I brought and the descriptions of what I wanted for my hair and makeup. She also studied the picture of my wedding dress and worked to bring the whole look together in a stunning way (if I do say so myself ;) Just kidding! I felt so beautiful on my trial day and even more beautiful on my wedding day, and it is seriously all because of Maria and PMA). We actually went over the alloted trial time because we were chatting and joking around and generally just having a great time. I was really struck by how kind and friendly Maria is, in addition to being very talented with makeup and hair. I normally never wear makeup, and she made me look fabulous without being overdone in person and in pictures. Working with her felt like working with a great friend who just happens to know how to make you look better than you ever thought you could!

Speaking of pictures, Maria emailed me my trial photos promptly after the trial, and mentioned that she had looked at the photos and noticed that one side of my hair was more stubborn to curl (I have very straight hair that usually never holds curls). On the wedding day, she took care to apply diffuse heat to the hot rollers before arranging my hair, and it lasted all day!

My husband and I had planned out our wedding day as well as we could have hoped for, and provided all of our vendors with itineraries, but it was Maria who made the day go so smoothly and made it so much fun. Although our contract had only mentioned one assistant, Maria brought two with her on the wedding day! And although the assistants left at the pre-determined time, Maria stayed with me far beyond the time we'd agreed upon in the contract. She worked with our photographer to arrange us in photos and blotted my sweaty face when the sun beat down a little too hard. Maria provided my husband and me with bottled water and a straw so we could stay hydrated, and she traveled with an emergency backpack that had everything from scissors to snacks in case we got hungry. Maria also was so thoughtful and left my husband and me to spend a little time together in between our wedding and tea ceremonies.

My and my husband's families could not believe how incredible Maria was. With any potential snafus, she was there to make it work. She reinforced a flower I had put in my hair with extra ribbon so the bobby pins wouldn't ruin the stem and cause the flower to droop. She pinned on our parents' corsages and boutonnieres perfectly. When my parents were ready to escort me down the aisle, she showed us the proper and graceful way to walk down the aisle together so I could hold my bouquet and pick up my dress when we came to some stairs.

It's been almost a month since we got married, and my sisters, mom, husband, and I still reminisce about how amazing Maria is. Even during the wedding day itself, during stolen moments with either my husband or my family, all we could keep saying was, "Thank goodness for Maria!" or "Can you believe how awesome Maria is?" It was so fun to share our day with Maria, and she really made it special. She is an amazing person, and she is so very talented. Her dedication, effort, and kindness are truly priceless, and made booking with PMA worth every penny. :)

Everyone who has booked Maria Chang for their wedding rave about her. I am no exception, however I thought I would give specific examples of the things she and her assistant did for me at my wedding to tell you all why she lives up and surpasses her reputation on being fabulous and amazing.

Her hair and makeup is exceptional but here are the other things she did for me.

1. She’s organized, on time, has her crew ready to go.
2. The makeup and hair she does is amazing, in particular, she has some sort of “magic” touch that keeps my lipstick on all night.
3. She showed me the proper way to dab my tears to not affect my makeup and also gave me advice to think of Janet Reno in a bikini to keep from crying. :)
4. She touched up my makeup for the photos my photographer shot
5. She assisted my photographer is lining up people for formal photos
6. After the Korean ceremony I was sweating from the layers of clothing I had to wear. She fanned my back and took my nasty sweaty bra from me to put aside! If that’s not dedication and help, I don’t know what is.
7. She pinned all the boutonnieres on all the groomsmen and the corsages on the moms, and re-tied all the sashes for the bridesmaids that came undone when I tied them.
8. Her assistant was no exception, she had a whole tool belt armed with anything I would possibly need, bobby pins, safety pins, scissors, tissue, etc.
9. They both were very detailed. Just to give an example, my flower girl had a dress with a layer of tulle on the outside of the skirt with a satin ribbon that was along the hem. I did notice several months ago that the tulle hung down past the satin ribbon but didn’t do anything about it. Maria and her assistant actually noticed this little detail and trimmed the tulle evenly so it wouldn’t stick out past the satin ribbon.


I had a day of coordinator but she was busy running around setting things up so it was great to have Maria by my side the entire time leading up to the wedding to help with any little details or hiccups. It was absolutely invaluable service. There are so many little stresses and things to worry about on your wedding day, and with Maria by my side I felt perfectly fine. She make sure I looked good for all the photo shots with my photographer as well.

PMA is worth every cent you pay and more. My mom was so happy I booked her and was grateful for her help and her assistants help as am I. It’s the best decision I made as far as booking my vendors!!!

By far, this was my absolute life safer of a vendor. Yes, Maria does awesome hair and makeup, but she's also extremely punctual, organized, and her hours of assistance throughout my wedding day were priceless. Yes, she's expensive, worth every penny, 100%! Even my mom commented on how great her and her assistant were the day of the wedding. Even the little things, like having bottled water and a straw so I don't mess up my lipstick if I was thirty before my wedding, she had ready. She helped pin the boutonnieres on all the groomsmen and made sure to touch up my makeup and hair throughout the evening. She's a perfectionist. She even told us how to hold our flowers walking down the aisle and that if I was going to cry, how to pat my eyes to not mess up my makeup and tips to keep me from crying which worked. :)She called my photographer ahead of time when we were leaving the hotel so that she would be expecting us at the venue site. Maria is amazing and I love her, my best friend who was in my wedding party was so impressed she booked her as well for her wedding this year!

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!

Maria Chang is the greatest!! I have never felt so beautiful in my life!! I love this woman and her team!! She and her assistant (Camille that day) were great. All the girls had beautiful and unique looks! I felt beautiful that day! She stayed with me until the very end even though everything started late and she was late in going home ! One funny moment was after the ceremony I was telling DH to hold my dress (after 10 minutes because I had totally forgotten!!) and Maria is in the back of me telling me she had been holding it the whole time!! She was great and so friendly. The girls and I had a blast getting ready with them. She gets 5 stars to infinity! I miss working with her already!!!

NO JOKE, Maria and her team is absolutely the best investment a bride should treat herself to on her wedding day. She's so seasoned and has been doing weddings for so long that she knows the drill. She and her team arrived an hour ahead of schedule (in case of traffic) - I was actually finished with makeup and hair early. She uses top quality makeup products, not to mention the air brush factor!!! The trial session is great. She works with you to get your hair and makeup to your satisfaction and then makes any adjustments on the day depending on how the trial photos turn out.

Fast forward to the day of the wedding. Her team makes wedding prep truly stress free. She constantly reminded me "relax my forehead", hold my bouquet a certain way, position my gown to be the most flattering, wiped the sweat off my fiance's brow, carried a water bottle to ensure that I would NOT get parched after constantly smiling for photos.

During the cocktail hour, Maria retouched my hair and makeup, not to mention secured the bustle so that my guests and mom could enjoy cocktail hour. She truly makes every bride feel that she is beautiful and is the best self-esteem booster. Maria was the first vendor I booked, not to mention well in advance and I would highly highly highly recommend any bride looking for the best makeup artist to book Maria and her team.

Maria Chang is not only an incredible hair and makeup artist, but honestly, she is a bride's best friend. I have no idea what I would have done with Maria and her team on the day of. They arrived early, got all the girls' hair and makeup done on time (me, 3 bridesmaids, and my mom)....Maria was there when the girls couldn't figure out how to tie the sashes on their dresses. Maria was there when no one knew how to pin the corsage on my mom's dress. Maria was there to clean the mysterious stain on my then-fiance's tux. Maria was there to sew the button back onto my fiance's tux when it came off. She and her team were there to remind me to drink some water, to help me in and out of the bathroom (not an easy task in a wedding gown with a layer of crinoline), to ensure I get a bite to eat..... Maria and her team are total professionals, super nice and helpful, and definitely my favorite vendor! Well worth the money!

Looking back, hiring Professional Makeup Artistry for my wedding was the single best choice my husband and I made when planning our wedding! Maria is consummately professional and puts you at ease. I can't speak enough of her skills as an artist and stylist...she's simply magical. But in addition, she really helped coordinate the wedding day and helped everything run very smoothly. It helped us keep everything relaxed and we were really able to enjoy our special day. I would recommend Professional Makeup Artistry to every new bride!

I've had the privilege to work with Maria Chang for my engagement, wedding, and maternity photos. Maria is the only one I trust to take care of my hair and makeup because she knows how to bring out the natural beauty in me. She uses the best products, she has tons of experience and she's super detailed. She made me feel and look my best for each photo session we did together. As long as Maria is still in the beauty business she will always be a part of my life. Wedding:Every bride should have PMA because it will make your wedding day unforgettable! With Maria's magic touch of hair/makeup to personal assistance she makes your wedding day less stressful and more enjoyable!!!Engagement:I wanted to remember my engagement pictures looking so in love with my fiance (husband now) and of course looking my best! The camera will capture everything and Maria made me look flawless that my photographer keep complimenting her work during the whole photo session.Maternity:I was so excited to work with Maria again, especially for my maternity photos. She made me feel and look like a radiant mommy to be!

Maria and her crew are incredible. They stay with you until after the ceremony to touch you up and help with photos. Maria has an assistant who does everything! They helped steam my dress, taped me to my dress so I wouldn't fall out and took care of my 4 Bridesmaids, mom and 3 Jr. Bridesmaid without a hitch. They were so much fun to have around and made getting readly stress free. Maria is worth every penny you pay.

Maria Chang completely exceeded my expectations from the first day that I met her at my hair and makeup trial! Not only is she extremely talented and professional, but she is also very friendly and easy to work with. I loved the look that she created for me, and the pictures that she provides are very helpful. On my wedding day, she blended in as one of the girls with the rest of my wedding party and we all just a great time! She provided me with exactly what I wanted and also impressed me with her ability and willingness to help with other things that came up that day (fixing a groomsman's pants, cleaning a stain off my dress, etc.). Maria was amazing and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone; you have experience her for yourself, and I guarantee that you won't be sorry!

Marie was so invaluable during my wedding. Not only did she make me look beautiful but she helped so much with my pictures and making sure 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.

I recently had a couture boudoir session with Maria Chang from PMA and Jennifer Skog Photography. If you are thinking about it...DO IT. It was an absolutely incredible experience and well worth it.

They both made me feel so comfortable and we had a GREAT time. They were amazing to work with and are so talented. Jennifer has a sexy eye that really captured me, while bringing in her talent to capture angles, lighting, and design. Maria was so good at making each type of outfit fit with the appropriate hair and make-up. We did it all, sexy, pinup, water, bedroom, sophisticated...and much more. It felt great to live up this glam sexy view through boudoir. I love the photos so much and can't wait to show my husband.

Ladies please stop looking Maria Chang is all you need in your makeup person! She has a great personality, and does exceptionally beautiful work!What's best is she keeps in touch with you after the wedding and you have a great friend for life!!!

This would be my fav part, gettting ready for the wedding.. It was easy to get an appointment a month earlier and they are great, truly professionals to do my hair and make up !

Maria is AMAZING. I can't say enough wonderful things about her. She is so incredibly talented and she knows how to make you feel gorgeous on your wedding day. She doesn't just do your makeup but she helps you with getting ready and so much more. You will not be disappointed with Maria.

Maria is a fabulous artist, amazing with both hair & makeup, plus the consummate professional, making every effort to make her brides feel comfortable and very attentive to their needs. I love it when I have the chance to work with her, because I completely trust her work!

The one and ONLY make up artist to talk to, if you are lucky enough to have Maria and her team available for your wedding HIRE HER!

Gorgeous, Stunning, utterly breaktaking makeup creations!! Maria is a master at her craft!

With the incredible quality of her work, her high level of professionalism, plus her friendly personality, it's really no surprise that Maria is one of the top makeup artists in the Bay Area. We highly recommend Maria Chang!

Maria ranks among the best stylist I've ever worked with. Her ease, professionalism, and caring translates to very happy clients!

As a photographer, I work with new makeup artists every weekend. But none compare to Maria. So when my wife and I got married in Mexico, Maria was the makeup artist we knew we wanted and needed. And when I got stung by a wasp on my face right before the wedding, Maria made it look like it never happened. She was an angel for us. Maria not only handles the makeup flawlessly, she also makes sure everything runs perfectly. She's the Superwoman of Weddings, and is the absolute best makeup artist we have ever worked with.

Maria is a true professional. Her sense of styling is always beautiful and complements each client. Her services are tailored to each client and is a great addition to any wedding.

I had the pleasure of working with Maria on a photo shoot! Her work is amazing! And she is super nice. It's so important to feel beautiful on your wedding day. Maria is an artist that you can trust to make that happen!

Maria is one of the few true professionals i have worked with. Always very well dressed and very attentive to her clients. I have seen her transform faces with her talent while still making them look natural. If she is available book her now since she is the best!

We absolutely LOVE working with PMA. They are well worth every penny for any type of services. Day of wedding, Maria will treat you like a princess all day long.

Maria is a hair and makeup artist who sets the bar high. I truly love her talent, warmth and professionalism. I am proud to have her in this industry as a peer and collaborator. She has been an inspiration of blending business savvy with great artistic talent, and on top of it she is a lot of fun. I would and do recommend her often. She is wonderful!

Maria is the consummate professional and to put it simply, works magic with her brushes! She has an uncanny knack for pulling out each bride's individuality and beauty. Her care and concern for her clients is a true rarity in the industry and she brings a refreshing new take on beauty and personal service for your special day. Having used her personally, I can recommend her without hesitation to any lucky bride out there!

Maria will not only make you look fabulous on your wedding, she is an absolutely fabulous person herself! It is always an honor to shoot photos of brides who have hired Maria!

I had the opportunity to work with Professional Makeup Artistry at a community outreach project. Maria's expert hand at makeup was phenomenal for the resulting photographs taken of women who were at a safe house. Together we donated our services to help out women in need. The fact alone that Maria was willing to give her time, expertise and skill for a worthy cause showed me the joy she has for her craft!AGB

Maria, the founder of PMA, and her team are just fantastic!! As a photographer who has the pleasure to photograph Weddings, it is important to me that my Brides have peace of mind and are relaxed when it comes to the details that surround their day of. If they look and feel beautiful, it shows in their images. Maria, with her years of experience, provides this service to the fullest degree to her clients. From Pre-Day discussions, to decide on the look and style of your day, to an onsite day-of service, her work is just flawless and consistent. Her modern techniques always hold a timeless beauty, which in turn always makes my Brides look fresh, updated and breathtaking. I just can't recommend her enough!!

When you walk down that aisle, what will people look at first? Your gown? Your shoes? Your veil or bouquet? No, my dear, it's your eyes and face.If you want to look your best, trust Maria of Professional Makeup Artistry to accentuate your best features and give you a confidence unlike any you're experienced before! When you bring Maria along on your wedding day, you're not only getting a image specialist, you're getting a personal assistant for the day! That's how important you are to her. Inquire now! Available dates are at a premium!

It is always a pleasure to work with Professional Makeup Artistry. The brides look so beautiful they glow all day long!

PMA is amazing!I had the pleasure of working with her and her team recently and WOW!!!she took care of the bride from start to finish, by styling and designing her breathtaking look to maintaining it through out the day! she anticipated and took care of her every need! I highly recommend her to every one!

Maria is AMAZING! She is one of my top hair and makeup artists that I refer to my wedding clientele. I love how sweet her personality is, but how professional and on top of things she is. Maria provides all of her clients with a timeline for the morning's hair and makeup schedule, and provides personal assistant services to the Bride all morning helping her not only get her hair and makeup done, but also helps her travel to the wedding location, get dressed, put on her veil and shoes, touch her up during pre-ceremony photos, touch her up before she goes down the aisle, and touche her up during post ceremony photos. She even carries straws with her in case the Bride wants to drink something and not mess up her lipstick! I LOVE her attention to detail!