Working with Valerie Hammer for my branding photoshoot was one of the best decisions I've made all year. I hired her to do my makeup and hair before my session with Ginny Filer Photography, and she completely exceeded my expectations. Valerie didn't just make me look beautiful -- she made me feel beautiful. She brought out my eyes, made my lips pop, and styled my hair in a way that honestly made me feel like a Hollywood star. But what I loved even more was her energy. She kept the vibe fun, uplifting, and confidence-building the entire time. By the time I walked into my shoot, I wasn't just ready... I was excited. I felt grounded, powerful, and fully in my skin. One thing that makes Valerie truly special is that she teaches while she works. I learned so much about what actually flatters my features -- like how purples make my green eyes stand out (yes, I bought a purple palette immediately!). She doesn't gatekeep; she genuinely wants every woman to know how to show up as her best self. I've already decided to hire Valerie again in the new year for a more in-depth makeup lesson so she can help me elevate my stage and speaking presence as my brand continues to grow. She's not just a makeup artist... she's a partner in confidence. I'm deeply grateful I found her through Ginny Filer Photography, and I can't recommend her enough. Valerie is the kind of woman who makes you feel beautiful at any age and any stage. She embodies women supporting women -- the kind of person you instantly feel connected to. Honestly, she feels like the best girlfriend you wish you had... and maybe she will be. - Holly Wiggins Founder, Holly Wiggins Media Ladies Level Up * FedBrain.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollywiggins IG: @hollyrnay FB: https://www.facebook.com/HollyRWiggins * Behind the scenes reel: https://tinyurl.com/MakeupBrandShoot * Blog About Shoot: https://ginnyfilerphotography.com/branding-blog/2025/11/10/leveling-up-with-holly-a-strategic-soulful-brand-session read more

Valerie Hammer Makeup Artist - Makeup Artists Near Me

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I had the pleasure of having Valerie do my makeup prior to a photoshoot yesterday, and could not be happier with the results! Val was easy to talk to, asked questions about my regular makeup routine, listened to my preferences, and the results were incredible! She enhanced my features which translated beautifully in the photos. Most importantly, I still looked like me - just a prettier and more polished version! The process was also great. Val really put me at ease and made the experience fun. I'll certainly return to Val for any future needs and will highly recommend her to friends. read more

I had an amazing session with Val! I went to her studio in advance of a headshot photo shoot and I am so glad I did. Val made my makeup flawless. My eyes popped, my complexion was smooth, and the lip color she picked was perfection. The best part though was Val herself. She is warm, kind, and fun to engage with. I would highly recommend her services to anyone in need of a Makeup Artist. 10/10. read more

Jumped on the opportunity to do a private makeup lesson with Valerie Hammer Makeup Artistry and I had the best experience. Val is talented, knowledgeable, and a lot of fun. She answered all my questions. Questions that just couldn't be answered by watching videos or looking them up online. She didn't just tell me what to do she showed me and allowed me try each step myself. I walked out of the experience with so much confidence around what to buy, how to apply, and most importantly how I looked. I've already gotten so many complements. I couldn't be happier I decided to treat myself to something like this. read more

Valerie Hammer Makeup Artist - Evening drama in purple & mauve. - Makeup Artists Near Me

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I did not end up booking her for makeup services due to her availability not aligning with the day/time I needed, but she was very, very quick to respond to my inquiry and subsequent messages, which I appreciated! Her website is also well laid out with lots of information - the pre-booking transparency was fabulous. read more

I've worked with Valerie for two services, a dramatic look for a performance, and a makeup lesson. She is outstanding! Her artistry, her clear instruction and her warm, fun personality make for a really fun experience. Her studio is perfect and she plays great music. She was also incredibly flexible with me as I had to reschedule our lesson several times due to winter illnesses. I can't recommend her highly enough! read more

Valerie Hammer Makeup Artist - Makeup lesson - Makeup Artists Near Me

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I did a one-on-one session with Val, and she was incredible and patient! I learned so much, especially things that are unique for my age and skin. I was also looking for someone who understood Asian features. Not only that, but Val also had wonderful product recommendations and follow up afterwards with an email labeling all the different brushes!!! Highly recommend Val! read more

My choice to get a make up lesson with Valerie was the first step in feeling more like myself after having two children. I'm going to try not to make this review read like a therapy session, because she's not a therapist, but BOY HOWDY this was exactly what I needed. Valerie has an extraordinary skill that you don't often find in make-up artists. She is able to pluck out from your interactions not just how you do your make-up, but who you are and what version of yourself you wish to portray to the world. You're going to walk out of make-up lessons feeling like yourself, not Valerie's version of you. She's kind and generous, never critical of what make-up habits you have (whether it's "I don't know what I'm doing so I just cake myself in concealer out of insecurity" or "I really don't know what I'm doing so I have all of this very old make-up from 2008 and I don't know what to do with it"). I walked out of our lesson liking the skin I'm in. I felt confident in 3-4 new steps to improve my two-minute make-up routine and I knew I could come back to her for specific advice in the future. She made me approach my face completely differently - I didn't even realize I was still doing make-up like I had the same acne I did 25 years ago. I've received compliment after compliment - not just on my make-up, but my general confidence in myself after feeling like I could make up my face without just trying to cover it up. read more

I have had an amazing experience with a makeup professional and I feel the need to share. Valerie Hammer is a makeup artist who I hired to do my makeup for my 40th birthday in July. At my event, people commented all night about how great my makeup looked. It was a dance party - I was SWEATING and I still looked great at midnight. She also does private 1:1 makeup lessons for individuals like myself who are stuck in a rut. I've been wearing the same makeup since middle school () and not only did I want to freshen up my style but I wanted to come into my 40s looking soft yet enhanced. I had my lesson this morning and it was wonderful. She taught me a workday look and a date night look. I can't wait to get the new products she recommend from Sephora and showcase my new skills! Please consider her if you need a refresh, a tune up, a confidence boost or makeup for an event! Thank you Val! read more

Valerie has been my make-up artist for over 5 years. She did my make-up for the first at my brother's wedding. She managed to make all of us girls there feel beautiful. She was kind, funny, easy going and she listened to what we wanted. After my first experience with her I became a returning customer. She has done my make-up for a family photo shoot and an anniversary night out and more. Recently she even did a wonderful job doing my daughters make-up for homecoming. I love how she made my daughter feel so beautiful but my daughter still looked her age. I highly recommend Val and her services. Every time she blows me away. I joke that I'm going to hire her on full time when I win the lottery . read more

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I love Valerie! She is super talented, experienced, and really knows how to make you look and feel your best! I used her for two different make up and hair sessions for my professional shoots which went amazing all thanks to her skills! She's also really down to earth and nice to talk to which makes for a fun experience. read more

I waited until well after my wedding to post this, because I am concerned Val is vindictive. If you don't mind working with an unprofessional, disorganized, and rude MUA, Val's your girl. I have no idea whether she was just having a bad day or year, but she was overwhelmingly snarky and rude from the beginning and I only wish I had seen the red flags. I ignored my instincts and reserved her even though she didn't have a lot of reviews and didn't seem to get a lot of traffic compared to other high volume MUAs. - No formal arrangement. She is very commitment-phobic. When I followed up by email to confirm details about wedding makeup, she repeatedly noted early that she did not like having a "formal relationship" with clients and if that didn't work for me then I should find another. Based on my experience, this is because she likes being flexible - meaning, she can flake or bail at any time, and doesn't want to be held responsible. - Unresponsive. She doesn't respond to emails in a timely manner (days...), and doesn't give you any other form of contact info. - Snarky: In my first email asking about her experience working with diverse brides, she made passive aggressive comments about being Asian herself. Okay, I don't know you, your last name is "Hammer," and it's a fair question when I don't live in the DMV area and don't know MUAs. Many artists are fantastic but have not worked a lot with diverse brides. I didn't spend hours in your IG searching for personal photos of you before emailing you and others. - Scheduling is difficult: After *she* flaked on my trial, when I was attempting to reschedule, she said that certain days weren't good for her in case they were a "bad day" for her emotionally (the days after the last election). This is after it was clear that I had flown into DC specifically for wedding appointments, and only had a few days in town. Look, the last election was stressful for all, but most of us are still expected to work and carry on like responsible adults. - Flaky: She completely "forgot" about my trial. I was planning a wedding long distance and mentioned this to her in emails. I came to DC to finalize planning and to knock out appointments. She never showed up to my trial even though I emailed her days in advance. Other than email, I had no other contact info. When I got in touch through social media, she then tried to schedule it a week later, and I had to remind her I was only in town for a few days, to which she made a huffy remark about having to move things around. I'm sorry, did your flaking on me inconvenience you? I had to drive TWO hours to come back to her during a week where I already had no availability. She was then visibly angry when I asked if she would provide a slight discount for the 2 hours I had to travel to come back to her house (which is fair bc she charges $45 to travel 6 miles for weddings (15 min drive) and she was the one who had bailed on me). I had NEVER asked for a discount before , nor would I have asked moving forward. - Mean girl attitude: She never asked me what I wanted and has one go-to look for weddings. I don't wear make up, and I've never had bridal make up done so I had questions about lashes, lip color, and the fact that my foundation seemed too dark and didn't match my neck. She became visibly annoyed and commented about how she has experience and implied that I had no idea what I was talking about. You're right-- I don't-- so I have questions that are not a criticism of you but bc I want to learn. If a bride wants something you wouldn't personally like, it's not your place to be rude. Despite this, I followed up with a friendly email and confirmed some feedback we had discussed- foundation being a touch lighter (my skin is oily), I liked the second lip color etc. I got a snarky response saying it wasn't going to work out and: "While I'm glad that you received the validation and confirmation from your friends regarding the lashes, (which I had already explained during your trial run appointment,) I have a few concerns. I have to be honest, I'm not sure that I'm confident that I will be able to fully deliver your look to the very specific requirements that it seems you might require." The email then comments about how the trial took 2 hours, which is puzzling . A client's responsibility is to show up on time, communicate preferences, and pay you. I'm not sure why you would insinuate or blame a client for the length of a trial, esp as I was not asked to give feedback during it. She then spent the next few days posting unwarranted, passive aggressive, mean girl posts on IG directed at me. Keep in mind, I never responded to the email or said anything rude. I ran these by my planner and other vendors for a gut check, and they were appalled by her lack of professionalism. Go elsewhere for your makeup needs. Save yourself from being bullied by someone unprofessional. read more

I'm late posting this review as Valerie did makeup for myself, my mom, mother-in-law, maid of honor and bridesmaid 7 years ago, but we STILL talk about what an amazing job she did. From the trial to the wedding day, she was very sweet, professional, and just instinctively knew what makeup styles we were going for. I honestly have never felt more beautiful! I've followed Valerie's work over the years and like many other brides, I highly recommend her for your wedding or any other special occasion. read more

Valerie Hammer Makeup Artist - Makeup Artists Near Me

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Valerie was absolutely amazing to work with. Valerie first did my makeup for my engagement shoot in April of 2019. Her home studio was so comfortable and she really listened to what I wanted and made me feel absolutely comfortable. It was the first time in my life I actually like myself with a filled in brow! The make up turned out perfectly for the photos. After the engagement photos, I knew Valerie would be perfect for my wedding make up. I made sure to book her well in advanced so someone else did not hire her the same day. She quickly answered any emails I had and was able to give me advice on the final look based on some photos I sent her. She also was helpful in recommending a second MUA, since my bridal party and family was a lot. She made sure to recommend artists similar to her style so that we could keep things consistent. I really appreciated her doing this and not taking any offense to the fact that we didn't want to start our make up at the crack of dawn! On our wedding day on 12/14/19, Valerie was organized, ready to go, and made everyone feel so comfortable. She really knows how to handle people of different skin tones, types, and styles which I really appreciated because I wanted my bridal party and family to have the freedom of their own make up looks that they desired. Most importantly, Valerie did a flawless job on my make up. The colors were perfect for my look and she really went above and beyond to make sure I was happy. I could not have asked for anything better. Her attention to detail and natural make up looks made me feel like myself, but not overly done. It is comforting to know the artist you hire not only knows how to use make up, but that she knows what is best for the camera, different lights, and the theme. I would absolutely recommend Valerie for any bride or person looking for a talented make up artist! read more

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I'm turning 65 this year and treated myself to a lesson with Val to update my makeup routine. Best birthday gift ever! Val shared advice on skin care, selecting the right makeup products and shades, and techniques for applying products. Val is a knowledgeable artist and a great communicator with a warm and encouraging approach. The best thing about working with Val is that I've been able to use what I learned to do my own makeup and am really happy with the result. read more

I worked with Valerie for our headshot photoshoot and it was a wonderful experience! My makeup looked flawless, but exactly as natural and understated as I requested for the shoot. My colleague requested a more dramatic look and Valerie did a phenomenal job with that as well. In addition to clearly being talented, Valerie was also pleasant to chat with and get to know during the session! read more

Valerie is amazing! I booked her for a bridal trial and wedding day makeup. She did the makeup for four others in the wedding party too. Everyone was so impressed with her! She was on time, delightful, and professional. She had a dedicated brush/applier set for each person (sanitary and organized). She listened to what we each wanted and even took time to explain how to keep the look fresh and take off the lashes at the end of the night. Everyone looked like themselves, but GLAM. I was astonished by how many compliments I got on my makeup. All the credit goes to Val. Consider yourself extremely lucky if you get to book her for your event or wedding. read more

Valerie Hammer Makeup Artist - Makeup Artists Near Me

I had a 1-on-1 lesson with Val in the spring and had an amazing time! She spent over two hours with me and it was like hanging out with a fun friend (who happens to be a professional makeup artist!). I came away with an updated makeup routine that incorporated some of my current products and new ones that Val had experience with. She provided a list with links to the products she recommended of both upscale and drugstore brands (with absolutely no pressure to buy!) which I ended up purchasing. It's been about 3.5 months and I am so happy with all the products and still using the routine she taught me! Highly recommend Val! She gave me a practical and easy way to do a beautiful, natural looking makeup routine with options for bringing up or turning down the glam. She is professional and down-to-earth. Truly a special experience that was worth every penny! read more

Valerie did the makeup for myself as well as my bridal party and MOG/MOB. She was so professional and made all the ladies look beautiful. I also liked the fact she was very COVID safe and made sure to put in enough time in between girls to clean and sanitize. She made me feel so beautiful on my wedding day!! Thank you Val!! read more

Valerie is an AMAZING makeup artist. I received her information as a referral from a friend who contracted with Val for her wedding a few years back and her recommendation did not disappoint. Val is not only an awesome person, she is very knowledgable in the makeup techniques that she applies and also listens to feedback if you want to make certain tweaks after your initial trial. My makeup vendor was extremely important to me and Valerie knocked it out of the park - I was so happy with how she made me look and feel on my wedding day! read more

My experience with Valerie was so lovely! I used her for my wedding. From my makeup trial, to my wedding day, she was patient, informative, and understanding. And most importantly, she made me, my friends, and my mom look absolutely beautiful! She was skilled and talented, and able to adjust to adhere to all of our needs and concerns. I did multiple makeup trials for my wedding, and Valerie was definitely the best! I would definitely recommend her! read more

Val was the very first person I booked after I got engaged! I just had to have her. She previously provided make-up for my friend's wedding/bridal party I was in, and it was love at first sight! I couldn't have been happier with the results, both times, and I know everyone else was equally satisfied. She has a wonderful eye for color, uses top-notch bands, respectfully listens to your requests, and moves throughout the "getting-ready" period of the day with a calm, collected stress-free attitude. I would highly recommend her - she's worth every penny. We all looked gorgeous! Thanks Val! read more

Valerie Hammer Makeup Artist - The bride and her gals! Katie and Tim's wedding, 5/4/2018 - Makeup Artists Near Me

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Valerie did an amazing, amazing job for me and my small wedding party in October. We are all so different but she was able to make us all look amazing and feeling so pretty! Would love to come up with a reason to have her do my make up again! She did me, my mom, my MOH, my mother in law and step daughter. I would use her again without hesitation! read more

Valerie Hammer Makeup Artist - Makeup Artists Near Me

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Valerie did my makeup for a family photo shoot and did an amazing job. In addition to just being incredibly talented, she listened to my preference to not feel too "made up" since I don't wear a lot normally, and the makeup looked very natural in the photos. She also did my hair (a simple updo) and it was probably the best my hair has ever looked! She was super fun and easy to chat with, which is a huge plus for introverts like me sitting in a chair for over an hour. :) Highly recommend and hope to have a lesson with her in the near future! read more

Val did my wedding day makeup, along with my 4 bridesmaids, mother, & mother-in-law. I booked her because one of my bridesmaids had been in another wedding where Val was the MUA and said it was her favorite makeup look she'd ever had. I am SO glad I booked her for my wedding- I can't say enough positive things about Val! She also did my makeup for my engagement photos (trial run), and it was flawless, so I knew I was in good hands for my wedding day. I would highly recommend doing a trial, especially if you're someone like me who isn't a makeup pro and is not always entirely sure what I want when it comes to a makeup look. My favorite thing about Val is that she really listens to each individual's preferences before creating their look. One of my bridesmaids never wears makeup, except for the occasional mascara. Val took that information and gave her a stunning but natural look. My other bridesmaid wanted full glam smoky eye, and Val executed it perfectly. For people (like me) who have almost no idea what they want, she is intuitive about creating a look that is so perfect. Everyone in my bridal party, including the moms, looked like the very best version of themselves on our special day! Aside from her professionalism and talent, she is a wonderful & sweet person. She is so easy to talk to; both times she did my makeup, it felt like I was chatting with someone I had known for years! She instantly knows how to make you feel comfortable & at ease. Bottom line: BOOK HER!! read more

Valarie is amazing. I took make up lessons with her. She listen, understand, and works with you. She provided excellent product recommendations that were unique to me. I highly her highly! read more

Valerie is exceptional and SO talented! She's done my hair and makeup several times now and I've loved the results everytime. She really listens to you about the look you want and turns it into a reality. And not only does she make me look gorgeous every time I go to her, but her hair and makeup lasts for a long time! She's also super nice and an overall great person. I highly recommend Valerie!! read more

I chose Valerie Hammer because she had a great portfolio and she was Asian (I'm Chinese). I wanted someone familiar with working with Asian features. She was affordable, punctual, and professional. Despite me and my sister crying several times during the wedding, both our makeup stayed on very well and did not budge. This was even after sweating in the August heat. In fact, my makeup stayed on until the next night. When we got our photos back I was pleasantly surprised that I liked how I looked in at least 90% of the photos, thanks to Valerie's make up. I would highly recommend! read more

Valerie was amazing!!! Accommodating, kind, awesome, and a PROFESSIONAL. She made myself (bride) and my girls look and feel gorgeous. I would recommend her to anyone (already have). After tons of research on a wedding make-up artist she by far came out on top. Again......HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

I had Valerie do my bridal makeup as well as several of my bridesmaids, and she was AMAZING. She made me look better than I envisioned and could not have been happier. I'm really picky about makeup, and I'm telling you, she nailed it. She has an incredible selection of types/ shades of makeup, super reasonable pricing, and offers airbrush makeup (which lasted ALL DAY!). Hire her! read more

Val did my engagement session and my wedding in August and both times I was blown away by her work. She has a wonderful ability to understand your personal style while making you look absolutely flawless! She doesn't miss any detail either, on my wedding day before running out the door she made sure (if i wanted it and I did!) that she added just a hint of shimmer to my decolletage. I loved it! Her bubbly personality will make you feel relaxed and she is always professional and flexible. You just cannot go wrong with Valerie! Thanks for everything Val! read more

Val was so great to work with! I absolutely loved the make up she did for me at my best friend's wedding last weekend! I've gotten my make up done a couple times, and this was my favorite look! Thank you so much Val! I can't wait to work with you again! read more

Valerie is STELLAR. I looked her for my wedding day. Whatever look you want for your special day/occasion (e.g., natural or a little more glam), she'll talk it through with you and make sure you feel comfortable. She's also super knowledgeable, so don't be afraid to ask questions or ask for recommendations. She's flexible, amicable, funny, and an exceptionally talented professional. read more

I used Val for my wedding and she was nothing short of amazing! I actually had to have 2 make-up trials because I changed my mind over how I wanted to look on my wedding day and Val worked me into her very busy schedule to make sure I was happy with how I looked. My mom, mother-in-law, and all of my bridesmaids used her as well and everyone was THRILLED with how they looked! Val is absolutely wonderful and I would definitely recommend her to everyone, particularly brides looking for someone to do their wedding make-up! read more

Valerie did my wedding makeup, and I absolutely loved working with her. She did an amazing job, and my makeup was one of the elements I was most pleased with in the entire process. I was so over the top in love with my look that day, thanks to Val. I wanted a more dramatic look and had a lot of fun working on it with her. She also did makeup for all of my bridesmaids and every one looked stunning. I can not recommend her highly enough! read more

Val was a wonderfully calming presence to have on my big day. I am so thankful she was available to do my make-up for my wedding. She did a stunning job on all of my girls and myself! I definitely highly recommend her to anyone else getting married in the DC/MD/VA area. She did a great job highlighting everyone's features without any of my ladies being overdone. Thank you so much for sharing your talent and making me feel so beautiful Val! read more

Valerie is amazing! I wish she could do my makeup everyday. My day of wedding makeup was unreal and I felt like a million bucks, all while still looking like me. She nailed it! She is hands down one of the most talented artists I have ever worked with. In addition she is just the nicest person to be around! All of my bridesmaids, the moms and I loved her and agreed that she made the day of just perfect. She made the entire process of hiring a makeup artist easy, seamless and most important stress free! She was super responsive and was always accommodating to my ever changing schedule. She also used GREAT products that made your skill feel amazing!! I cannot recommend her enough for whatever your occasion might be! Thank you Valerie! Hope to get to work with you again!! read more

Val is AM-AZ-ING!!! I was a bridesmaid for my friend's wedding and she did my makeup. I can't tell you how many compliments I got all night. She knows what looks good and I felt comfortable just letting her do what she felt would look best on me. Looking back at the pictures, all the bridesmaids looked stunning and its mainly because of her. All the bridesmaids loved her so much, we decided to have her over for a little makeup tutorial. It was such a blast! She was so professional. Prior to the class, she emailed us with a list of suggested makeup supplies. The class was approximately 3 hours. During the class, Val showed us in detail how to accomplish a daytime and evening look from start to finish. We covered so many things like how to apply foundation, do your brows, and even how to contour and apply a highlighter. We were all at different levels in terms of our makeup experience but she was patient and answered every single question we had. During the session, she made sure to walk around and help each girl. Val even individualized the lesson to our unique features. I am Asian so I often have a hard time figuring out how to make my eye makeup look good. She showed us some really awesome and useful tips. The first day I tried my new new makeup tips, I got so many compliments from friends and co-workers. Even after the class, she has made herself available to follow-up questions. Val just makes sure the whole experience from beginning to end is awesome. All I can say is I highly recommend her to anyone that needs their makeup done or just wants to learn a few things. Best money I ever spent and totally worth it! read more

Valerie was amazing for my NYE wedding! She had to get through 13 girls within a limited amount of time and everyone was glamours and flawless. She is a an artist and really creates the look that you're going for. Lashes & airbrush are a must! read more

Valerie is the most talented makeup artist. She was fun and sweet. She worked quickly and it looked great all night. But best of all, the waiter couldn't believe that I was the mother of the bride! read more