I really liked to know lots of details when I was planning my wedding and choosing vendors so I had to write a long, thorough review (sorry!). Joanna did the makeup for me (the bride), my 4 bridesmaids and the 2 moms for my wedding on 9/12/15, and she was great! I started researching hair and makeup artists in the beginning of my wedding planning process because I know how picky I can be when it comes to that stuff and I wanted to make sure I found someone who I knew would make us all look beautiful on the big day. I think I looked at every makeup artist's portfolio in the Chicagoland area and Joanna was my first choice. She was very responsive throughout the whole process, always responding to my emails within a few hours and answering all my questions (which was SO refreshing!). As it got closer to the wedding date, we scheduled a trial where Joanna came out to my house to practice some looks. I had pinned some pictures of makeup looks I liked but I really had no idea what I wanted, I just knew that I wanted a natural, fresh-faced look, not cakey or overdone, and I definitely wanted to still look like myself - just a better version! At the trial, Joanna was very willing to work with me (and all my indecisive-ness) and we tried several different looks, and took lots of pictures in different lighting so I could keep them and decide what I liked best. I liked that she used high quality products, from reputable makeup brands/companies, which reconfirmed her experience and professionalism. I had a bridal shower that afternoon so I wore my favorite look to the shower to get my family's opinion too. They all loved it but I was still a little unsure - something wasn't quite right. So, I ended up emailing Joanna the next day telling her some things I wanted to change (my eyes were too dark), and sent her some more pictures. I didn't schedule a retrial because I really didn't want to spend the extra money, so I was a little nervous how it would turn out on the wedding day but I knew Joanna was awesome so I had total faith that we would get it right. My (now) husband and I decided to do a 'first look' and wedding party pictures before our ceremony (which started at 4pm) so the girls had to start getting their makeup done around 8am. Joanna arrived early to get everything set up. She was just as nice and cheery (even that early) as she had been in her emails and at the trial. She was really friendly and made everyone feel very comfortable when telling her what they wanted. She listened to all the girls' ideas about how they wanted their makeup and did an awesome job on every single one of them! Joanna uses airbrush foundation, which I was a little worried about being cakey, but it wasn't at all! Everyone's faces looked flawless and glowing and perfect! Joanna listened to my concerns about the trail and looked at the pictures I sent her and did my wedding day makeup perfectly, on the first try! It was different from anything we tried at the trial but she really nailed it and I felt gorgeous! We coordinated with our hair stylist and the girls just switched on and off having their makeup and hair done and we finished right on time for us to start getting dressed before pictures. I can't wait until I have another event to attend where I can make an excuse to have my makeup done again. Joanna was a little bit pricier than some of the other artists I looked at but was worth every penny! I will recommend Joanna to anyone and everyone looking for a makeup artist. Joanna- thank you for being awesome and helping make my day so special! read more

From my first email with Joanna I knew I made the right choice in hiring her to do my make up on my wedding day. She is unbelievably kind, patient, and easy going. She's extremely timely in her email responses and reliable, which you need with your wedding vendors! She helped me with tips for skin prep leading up to the wedding in person during trials, then went above and beyond emailing me a summary of those tips with links. She's so knowledgeable about all things skin prep. She'll give you honest feedback on anything you ask her advice about. She's just incredible. I had her do my make up for my engagement photos, wedding trial, rehearsal dinner, and wedding day. Each time I saw her you could tell she listened to what I previously said and her attention to detail is impeccable. I was indecisive about what I wanted for my make up and she helped me figure it out being patient and kind the entire time. She followed up after each appointment to check how the make up lasted and for feedback. I've never loved how my make up looked when I have had it done professionally before, but I truly have never loved my make up more than when Joanna did it. I am thinking of any excuse to have her do my make up again. The make up she did for me on my wedding day was honestly absolutely perfect. It's exactly what I wanted but better. She also gave a make up kit for touch ups and runs your MOH through what's included in it so you don't have to worry at all. But I didn't even need touch ups because it was so perfect. Not only is she incredibly detail oriented in her communication, skin prep tips, and make up, but she's the kind of person you want to have around on your wedding day. Her easy going, go with the flow, and fun personality make the day much more relaxing and enjoyable. Everyone who got their make up done looked amazing and had nothing but good things to say about Joanna. I truly cannot recommend her enough and absolutely loved my experience working with Joanna. read more

I had the pleasure of hiring Joanna as my wedding makeup artist, and she exceeded all expectations. Her remarkable talent for enhancing everyone's natural beauty left us feeling absolutely stunning throughout the entire day. She exudes professionalism and ensures that every detail is taken care of, creating an enjoyable and stress-free experience. Joanna patiently took the time to discuss our desired looks and provided valuable suggestions based on our features, ensuring that we felt comfortable and confident with the final result. What sets Joanna apart is her exceptional skill in enhancing our natural features without overpowering them. She possesses an incredible eye for detail, leaving us with a flawless and radiant glow. Not only is Joanna a gifted makeup artist, but she also has a wonderful personality that made the experience all the more enjoyable. Joanna's positive energy and professionalism were contagious, adding to the excitement and joy of our special day. I wholeheartedly recommend Joanna as a wedding makeup artist. Her exceptional talent, professionalism, and ability to create personalized looks tailored to individual preferences are truly unmatched. She has an innate ability to enhance natural beauty, leaving her clients feeling confident, beautiful, and ready to walk down the aisle. If you're looking for a makeup artist who will exceed your expectations and make your wedding day even more memorable, look no further than Joanna. Thank you, Joanna, for making my wedding day extraordinary. I am forever grateful for your incredible work! read more

Joanna was simply a pleasure to have as makeup artist for our wedding day. She perfectly captured the simple elegance I was looking for - and took the plunge with me to do a pop of color on the lip which worked out beautifully! Going into the wedding prep, I didn't have the time to do a trial-run but after seeing her photos and talking with her, I knew I wouldn't need one. It was very clear I could trust she'd do a great job, and she certainly did! What I most enjoyed about Joanna was her incredible energy leading up to and on the wedding day. She's thoughtful, kind and patient - all of which made the whole process of getting ready, while you're a bundle of nerves, much easier and a lot of more fun! We had some last minute changes/craziness in our day-of schedule, and she was accommodating and understanding, which is exactly what you need on that day. Finally, she's highly professional, responsive and organized. When planning a wedding, you get flustered so easily, and having someone who will manage their own work for you is invaluable. For example, she gently laid out all of the things she would need to know for the day (parking, how to get into the house where I was getting ready, schedule/timing, etc). It may sound silly but having that little bit of help was awesome when juggling so many things at one time. I cannot recommend her highly enough and am happy to be a reference via email or phone. Please just ask her! read more

Joanna is absolutely amazing! She did a phenomenal job on my make up for my wedding. I contacted her about two months before the wedding looking for a make up artist for me and some of my wedding party. She was very professional and promptly sent me the information I requested. I booked her for a bridal make up trial the day of my bachelorette party and then for myself and wedding party for the day of the wedding. I did research and she was the most impressive. She can make you look natural, sexy, and/ or glamourous. She is very reasonably priced for brides. Eyelashes and air brushing is included in the pricing. She asked me relevant questions and shared her Pinterest account with me ahead of time for ideas. She arrived early for the trial with an impressive collection of make up and brushes. She captured the look I was envisioning for the wedding, which was more natural. She then put on a little extra eye make up for the bachelorette party. She came to my hotel suite to do make up for me and the attendees the day of the wedding. She coordinated with the hair stylist in advance to come up with a schedule and they ensured we ran on time. She was very professional and personal. She's very warm. Everyone enjoyed getting to know her. She provided me a touch up kit to use throughout the day. My make up looked great and photographed very well. I highly recommend Joanna! read more

There are not enough words to describe how wonderful Joanna is! From the very beginning of the wedding planning process, she was super responsive, kind, helpful, and easy to talk to. As an out of town bride, I had little availability to come in for a makeup trial, but she was so flexible and accommodating with scheduling - I so appreciated this! Prior to the wedding and the makeup trial, she also did my makeup for our engagement photos and I knew immediately I couldn't have made a better choice. Joanna is an incredibly talented makeup artist - she really makes an effort to get to know you as a person, your makeup preferences, and the style of your wedding, and then uses her expertise to create a look that truly makes you feel like your best self! I was actually really nervous about my wedding makeup because my skin is so unpredictable when it comes to breakouts/redness, but Joanna helped me feel more confident than ever on my wedding day. We (including my mom, MIL, sisters, and bridesmaids) all LOVED our makeup, and also loved that it literally lasted all night long. Between her amazing work and her calming, fun, and positive energy, she will make you look and feel your absolute best! I've already recommended her to three newly engaged friends and will continue to recommend her without hesitation :) She is truly the best of the best! read more

Joanna gives the gift of confidence and calmness to any bride on her wedding day. My photographer Ashley Biess of Artistrie Co. recommended Joanna and I am so thrilled she did (FYI Ashley and Joanna are a great duo and work amazingly together). We had a great trial appointment where she played great music while we tried a few different looks until we got my makeup and hair just right (she primarily does make up but was willing to do my hair and I loved the simple romantic curls she accomplished) I booked her to do my mom's makeup and my hair and makeup. Before she arrived that day we touched base via email that week and I loved that her emails were so clear and she stated exactly what she needed to make the day go smoothly so I could copy and paste instructions to the Public hotel and not worry about missing anything (ex: high boy chairs, mirrors) On the day she went with the flow and was so much fun to talk with. When my groom saw me on the day his first words were "You look stunning! The perfect bride!" Mission Accomplished Joanna. After seeing the photos I absolutely agreed. I felt like I recognized myself which was important but also looked like the romantic slightly dramatic bride I envisioned I wanted to be on my day. From the bottom of my heart thank you, Joanna! Now brides- book her ASAP! read more

I love Joanna. Can I say that about someone I've hung out with a total of...twice? Honestly, I'm sure anyone who has met her feels the same. I'll get to her work in a second, but I think it's important to note how kind and enjoyable she is to be around. Ok, the makeup. Joanna's work made such a profound impact on my day. Think about it. Months and months of planning, so much decision making, all of the anxiety leading up to the big today...but, will you feel confident and beautiful in your own skin? Joanna gifted me that feeling in such a huge way. From meeting her at the trial to the big day itself, Joanna was very in tune with the look I was going for. She made suggestions where I didn't have preferences and otherwise helped me achieve my exact vision. I think what I was most impressed with was her preparation on my wedding day. When I sat down in her chair, she had my trial photos and notes pulled up on her phone. I went from nervous to immediately at ease. She made me feel like my day was just as important to her as it was to me- and that was remarkable. When I look back at the photos from my wedding, I don't see great contouring or amazing lashes (although both were ON POINT!)...I see myself radiant, confident, and carefree...and that's because of Joanna's artistry, skill, and preparation. read more

Wow, where to start... Joanna was referred to me by my photographer who had nothing but good things to say about her. After our first phone call, I truly trusted Joanna with my wedding day look and vision - she was the best combination of personable and professional, and I just knew I would be in good hands. From there, she helped me source my hairstylist - she even went above and beyond to do outreach on her own and check on avails (!!) From start to finish, she was incredibly organized and responsive, which was KEY to making sure the wedding weekend ran smoothly (especially with 10 bridesmaids and 2 moms). Even when unforeseen circumstances pushed our wedding day timeline back, Joanna stayed calm, cool, and collected under pressure - which helped me more than I can put into words! On top of all this, she is incredibly kind AND talented! She did my makeup for my engagement pictures, rehearsal dinner, and wedding day - and I've never felt more beautiful. Even my now-husband made a point to say he liked my makeup, and he's a "no makeup" kind of guy. Joanna just has a special way of making you look like the absolute best version of yourself and what more could you ask for on your wedding day! If you're still looking for a makeup artist, look no further because Joanna is the best of the best! read more

Joanna did my makeup for my bridal party and me back in September. Let me just say she is so talented, kind, and made all of us feel so beautiful that day. She literally brought me to tears when she handed me the mirror to show me the final look. I have never felt more beautiful and I have her to thank!! I highly recommend booking her early for engagement photos (if you plan on doing those) so you can feel comfortable with her style, work flow, and process! She comes directly to you and it was so easy! I don't usually wear a ton of makeup, but I was so impressed with her that I made sure to book her for my wedding the next day! I was in love! For the bridal makeup trial I was having a hard time deciding what look I was trying to go for. She was SO sweet, went above and beyond, and didn't stop working with me until I left feeling 100% comfortable with the look. It is clear that all she wants is for her brides to feel beautiful, comfortable, and stress free on their wedding day - and that is exactly how I felt. I also must mention that it was so refreshing because Joanna is so knowledgeable about skin care and truly loves the products she uses. You must follow her on instagram! She is a natural beauty--beautiful inside and out! Thank you Joanna, you're the best! read more

I could rave about Joanna for days! She's timely, professional & wonderful at taking feedback. What more could you want in a makeup artist? I had 3 or 4 makeup artists that were referred to me by friends, but were unresponsive when I reached out so I guess you could say it was fate how we met. I was headed into a hair trial and saw Joanna doing makeup for another bride that looked fabulous and I quickly went over to get her card in desperation. We hit it off from the beginning. Joanna is one of those bright lights in the world. I emailed her and got an instantaneous response and booked my trial. After my trial, we talked about a few things we were going to tweak on the day of the wedding and it could not have been more PERFECT. I don't wear much makeup on a daily basis so my husband was worried about me looking like a clown the day of the wedding. Joanna took every bit of feedback and turned it into perfection. I woke up the morning of my wedding with huge bags under my eyes and blemishes that hadn't been there the day before, but you would have never known it. She made me feel like the most beautiful bride, naturally. That moment of desperation landed me with one of the best in the business and I couldn't be happier! read more

Joanna B Artistry did the hair and make-up for my engagement photos. She was so nice and listened to all of my concerns and was able to make me feel so beautiful, but in a way that I still looked like myself. After working with Joanna for the engagement photos, I needed her to do my make-up for the wedding! We had a trial run before the wedding where we tested a few different looks and picked the best parts from each. The day of the trial run the power went out at my house just as Joanna pulled into the driveway. This meant she couldn't use her airbrush, but that didn't even matter. Joanna was super flexible and understanding. She was able to do the trial run without it and when the power went back on we finished with the airbrush and everything worked out perfectly. On the day of the wedding Joanna was amazing and I was so happy with how everything turned out. She did my make up and the make up for my bridesmaids and mom. We all felt glamorous and beautiful, but at the same time felt like ourselves. I told Joanna I wanted to feel like an enhanced version of myself on my wedding day and that is exactly what Joanna did for me! Joanna is the best make-up artist around and I highly recommend her! read more

I hope this review will do our experience with Joanna justice - there are truly not enough good words to describe her and her business!! Joanna is the MOST TALENTED makeup artist - she did my makeup four times throughout my wedding events and every time she had the best recommendations with totally separate looks! My entire wedding party was blown away by her expertise - she has an incredible ability to give anyone an elevated glam look, but also still looking uniquely you!!! She is also the kindest, most warm person - you just want to be her friend the minute you meet her! Joanna came highly recommended to me by a friend in the wedding industry, and it's no surprise she's so loved in the Chicago wedding world. She is truly the best in the business. She is so attentive to every detail, need, concern, etc. From our very first conversation to sitting in her chair on my wedding day, she put me at ease - so calming and fun to be around. Also for any MOBs or MOGs - my mom sings Joanna's praises daily! She would hire her for her makeup every day in a heart beat. Her talent is just INSANE!!! You will feel so special working with Joanna!! read more

I could gush about Joanna all day! I decided I wanted to contract a Chicago makeup artist and hair stylist for my Wisconsin wedding this past July. After seeing her great reviews, I started following her on Instagram. Not only could I see reassuring pictures of her past clients, but I felt like I got to know her before we even met. In person, she is just as sweet, funny, and talented. Not to mention a true beauty! Seeing how well she did her own makeup was comforting to me. When I had my trial, I learned that one of Joanna's best qualities (other than being an absolute whiz with a set of makeup brushes) is that she really listens and is intent on making sure the client feels happy, confident, and beautiful - no matter if your vision is different than her own. If I made a suggestion about wanting to adjust my look slightly, she never became defensive or dismissive. She has no ego, and I found this so important for helping me feel like I could speak my mind without offending her. She was the loveliest addition to our wedding day and I'm so grateful to have stumbled upon her. read more

I am so thankful that I found Joanna! I searched for a long time for a makeup artist that would listen, customize my look, and truly make me feel like myself by enhancing my natural features on my wedding day, vs. the cookie-cutter look I see on a lot of people. Not only was this important to me personally, but I knew it would be important to my Mom and Bridesmaids. Joanna OVER-delivered! Not only is she incredibly talented, professional, detailed, and thorough, but she is sweet, a great listener, and so patient. We even did a 1:1 consultation in between the trial and Big Day because I realized there are so many bridal events and I hadn't touched my makeup much over the last year, so she walked me through some tips and tricks and sent a shopping list of fresh products to replenish my makeup inventory. Finally, the icing on the cake was how beautiful she made my Mom feel and look. My Mom never wears makeup, so seeing her all done-up was so special. I would recommend Joanna in a heartbeat to anyone - and if you are considering her, I would say book FAST before you miss out! read more

I absolutely loved Joanna! She does beautiful make up and is an absolute sweetheart. We first did my bridal trial a few months before and we discussed how I wanted to look and the potential options including eyelashes. She also did the eye liner differently so I can see the difference between them. The day of she brought her own chair which was great as I didn't have a high enough place for us to sit short of sitting on a desk. She did make up for some of my bridesmaids and I loved how each person looked different but not only different but the make up matched their faces and personalities. She also fixed one bridesmaid's eyes as I think they squinted and had a smudge. The pricing is for bridesmaids is more than I've paid as bridesmaids but it's probably in line with Chicago pricing (I don't live in Chicago regularly) and she is way worth the price. I though the price for me was just what I expected. I felt so pretty with her make up on! She even gave me a little bag with touch up items. Seriously, with her personality and talent, you can't go wrong with Joanna. read more

Where do I begin?! After seeing a handful of peers tag @joannabartistry on IG and loving her work, I knew I wanted to use Joanna when it was my turn to get married. Fast forward a few years later, Joanna was one of the very first vendors I contacted after getting engaged. She was so professional, genuine, helpful and so sweet to talk with. I hired her the very next day for our upcoming Dec '21 wedding. On trial day, Joanna was super detailed and worked very closely with me to create the perfect look. Her attention to detail was impeccable! She recreated the exact look a few months later on our wedding day. My make up lasted all night after many long hours, many tears and hours on the dance floor! Not only was I obsessed with my look - my mom, my MIL and 7 bridesmaids were extremely happy and felt/looked beautiful! I've never been apart of a wedding party where EVERYONE was thrilled w/ their make up :) Thank you Joanna for being the absolute BEST and making so many of us feel so beautiful. I can't wait to work w/ you again soon!! XOXO (Kayli) read more

Joanna did a fabulous job at my bridal makeup trial. I am an out of town bride so I had to book her for the big day before I had the chance to actually meet her in person. I chose Jo because she was very flexible and able to come to our hotel for the trial, and mostly because it was also very important to me that I was able to know who I was getting, instead of working with an agency who would be sending a freelancer who's name or work I couldn't see before I booked. Jo lived up to the reviews - the makeup was fabulous, the perfect mix of natural and glam, and we had a fun time putting the look together. She asked a lot of great questions before the trial and answered my many questions about airbrushing - which ended up feeling super lightweight and lasted all night! She was very collaborative yet knowledgeable and friendly - just the kind of person you want around you on your wedding day! If you're interested in working with her, leave plenty of time in advance to book her, she fills up fast! Well worth the investment!! read more

I could not have made a better choice for wedding makeup than choosing Joanna! She is very professional and warm hearted, and was just a sweet person to have join my bridesmaids and I while getting ready. She is extremely talented and made each of my bridesmaids and mom look stunning! We were all glowing and gushing over each other's makeup throughout the day! During the trial, I told Joanna I wanted smokey eyes on the bolder side with a light lip. She did exactly what I asked for and I loved it at the trial! Then... I completely changed my vision and decided I wanted a pinker lip and light blush eyeshadow instead with bold lashes, and Joanna did exactly that for my wedding day and I couldn't have been happier with the result! She was so flexible and has the talent to create just any look! The airbrush makeup lasted all day - through heat, crying, etc! I would definitely recommend Joanna to work with you to create the perfect look that is uniquely you for your wedding day! read more