About this vendor
Umoja Studio's mission is to provide professional quality makeup, skincare and photography services to ALL people of ALL backgrounds. We especially invite individuals belonging to BIPOC/Queer/Disabled communites to inquire.
Team Umoja was created out of the idea to combine the creativity and talents of a collective of artists who have all held different positions of creative & skilled crew. Hiring us means you are gaining access to: Makeup Artists, Estheticians Photographers, Videographers, and Creative Direction. YES. ALL of this is just ONE team! Look at me, already saving you time and freeing you up to get back to the fun parts of the planning process!
Why you should consider us:
Our team of professional artists have over 25 years of wedding & major event experience. The 'shortest' termed professional has been in the industry for 10 years. Individually we've worked with celebrity clientele, created dynamic photo shoots for major media brands, and have captured major events nationally. All of our artists are published & understand the ins & outs of their respective skill. Effective December 21st 2020, Umoja Studio LLC is now included on the coveted list of "The Knot Best Of Weddings 2021.'
Details
Beauty
- Beauty Group Bookings
- Hair Stylists
- Hair Trials Available
- Makeup
- Eyelash Extensions
- Makeup Artists
Business Attributes
- Black-owned Business
- LGBTQ+-owned Business
- Woman-owned Business
Awards and Affiliations
2-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2022.2021.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.018 reviews
I have admired CeeJaye's work for some time now, so when I was able to book her for my event in April, I was beyond excited. She showed up, early for our appointment and was profes...
sional through and through. She did the makeup for all of us, was patient and listened to our ideas and helped us find what worked for us and brought out our beauty effortlessly. She was kind, funny and answered all the questions I had about skin type and makeup (I'm in the dark about all of this stuff). I look forward to using her again and again and I've already recommended her to others.
As a mother of the bride you don’t expect to be treated like a Queen on your daughter’s day, so I was pleasantly surprised that the staff at UMOJA made me feel wonderful!
I was ca...
tered to, completely and the follow up was non stop , I truly loved the experience and would recommend UMOJA wholeheartedly.
We hired CJ when we saw the amazing work she does on Instagram. It was amazing to hire her and get my fiancees color match extremely perfectly. Every interaction with her was seaml...
ess and it felt like we had known her for years. Extremely comfortable and extremely flawless. CJ takes care of you like your her family and it absolute shows. We literally will be recommending her to everyone we know because everyone should have an amazing experience like we did.
I have followed CJ on IG for 6 years now. I finally got the opportunity to work with her for my engagement and I can’t believe the compliments I got on my makeup and makeup. Not on...
ly that but CJ flew from IL to TX for the weekend to do my makeup and was extremely professional and punctual. CJ got my exact shade and made me look so incredibly beautiful. I can’t wait to hire her again for my wedding and get hair and makeup done for me and my girls. I’ve never felt so comfortable and taken care of from a MUA like this before. :)
Words can not even begin to describe how happy I am with how everything came together and the hard work of the team Ceejaye put together. We came in with a unique request and the U...
moja team showed up with talent and care in spades. For context I'm non-binary, majority of the wedding party is LGBTQIA+ in one way or another and the amount of respect everyone was shown and fun everyone had getting ready and how happy everyone was with their service, makes my heart filled with so much love for these professionals. Of a wedding party of 16 we had barbering, masc/femme make up looks and hair styling all within a 5 hour window. True props goes to every single person on their team and a special thank you to the barbering specialist for getting our guys cleaned up I have never seen my now spouse look so dapper. So a big thank you again from these newly weds to the Umoja team.
Working with Ceejaye at Umoja Studio was such a joy. She has such a range in her artistry, and really listened to what I wanted and made it a reality. I’ve never felt as pretty as ...
I did on my wedding day. Beyond that, she was a pleasure to spend time with and was really communicative while she was working, which made the whole experience so comfortable.
I can’t recommend Umoja highly enough!
Excellent work! Professional and was able to roll well with last-minute changes. Everyone looked and felt beautiful!!!
Umoja Studios is a truly lovely company to work with. Ceejaye was so kind and professional. She was punctual and she executed my desired look without a problem. She was conversatio...
nal and a pleasure to be around. We had many good laughs. And she does AMAZING makeup. By the end of my appointment I felt like a princess. She was also just a really cool human being. Would definitely recommend!
To the entire Umoja Team, I thank you for making my wedding day whole. I appreciate the professionalism and your attention to detail. This is a team that communicates well with one...
another and listens to each other. I saw the respect you all have for each other’s talents; I was proud that I hired you all and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
My family and I entrusted our faces to the talented MUA’s (@facesbydeee and @ceo.ceej) and they executed every look. I didn’t want to wash it off at the end of the night, that says a lot.
The highlight of the evening was the elegant wedding arch that held our sign, “The Thomases”. I was proud to stand under that sign, to embrace my wife’s family name gave me the strength I needed on that day.
My venue was breathtaking!! Thank you @paintandpapers for assisting my mother-in law. I didn’t know what I wanted nor did I have a vision. You used what was provided and made that venue into something I didn’t know I needed.
@morgandurrah, I cannot wait to see the love and laughs you captured with my family and friends. I can tell you take your career/passion seriously by the way you slay with the camera so effortlessly.
Hiring a black-owned company was what I set out to do, and I did it! We are it! You cannot go wrong with black-owned.
Well first and foremost Ceeyjaye was a pleasure to work with, and came highly recommended. She was hired to do my makeup on my wedding day and I couldn't have felt more beautiful....
I received so many compliments on my beat. I dont usually wear a ton of makeup so she very accommodating in giving me a natural look. And I'll be the first to admit that my skin is very difficult to work with. But, my dry and oily skin was well protected and taken care of. No breakouts or skin irritation. She was very punctual and even arrived a few minutes earlier for my appointment (she travels!) which helped me keep my day on track. I can't wait to use her skills again.
I mean what can I really say but, wow!! Ceejaye and her assistant Diandra worked there magic on my bridal party faces and mine. Me and my girls are not ones too really wear makeup ...
often. We all also have sensitive skin with issues like acne and dryness. All the products that we’re put on us we’re great. No one broke out or was itchy from an skin reaction. My makeup was more dramatic being the bride and I usually don’t like color but, Ceejaye has made me a believer. My girls faces were more toned down but, still beautiful. We were a bit late getting started but, they were both on time. Please do not hesitate to book Umoja Studio for all your beauty needs. You will be amazed just like I am.
I seriously don't know where to start, to say that I was blown away would be an uderstatement. I felt and looked stunning thanks to Courtney and her team! Her talent speaks for it...
self, however what will always stick out to me was her care and compassion for me, my family and friends and my wedding day as a whole. Like any wedding things did not go 100% as planned, I still smile today at the fact that I did not have to worry about my makeup at all. The team was prompt (and our day started super early) professional and an absolute delight on my special day. Many have talent, but what set Courtney apart for me was so much more than her talent, she genuinely from her heart wants every bride to have the perfect day!
CeeJay is a consummate professional. She travelled to NY to provide services for a friends 30th birthday. Not only was the makeup lovely and breathable, she mastered these wonky e...
yebrows of mine.
She not only did the birthday girls makeup but assisted with her dress and shoes as well! To say that she pulled us together is an UNDERSTATEMENT!
Consider her for a day of style maven...you will not be disappointed!
I got married in 2016 & Ceejaye was a Godsend! She traveled to NYC, arrived early & gave me the exact look I was going for & more! I was a nervous wreck & emotions were running hig...
h. She got my face together, curled & styled my hair, styled my daughter’s hair for me & then made everyone leave so I could have a few moments to regroup when I started to become emotional. She then helped me get dressed & applied my headpiece. Mind you, she was only supposed to do my makeup! She truly saved the day & was so professional & sweet! She truly is worth more than she charges!
Ceejaye did my makeup when I was a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding. I’d never had a MUA before and was excited to be done up like the ladies who went before me. Let me tell you sh...
e DELIVERED. I have blonde hair with fair skin and she nailed it 100%. Color match was perfect, the look was dramatic but natural at the same time, lashes on point, eyebrows, lips, everything, perfect. Her products and application felt light on my face and I was comfortable wearing it all night and even the next day. I have never felt so beautiful and confident as I did then. I was truly pampered that day. Ceejaye has not just perfected her craft, but she is professional, methodic, relatable, and SO fun to spend time and share stories with. She had like 10 of us to do that day and got us all in and out of the chair quickly without making us feel rushed. All while pregnant with twins!!! This woman is worth MUCH more than she charges! I can’t wait to see her again!
She is one of the most amazing makeup artists I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She has done my makeup 2 times already and each time she has traveled to the city I am i...
n with no problem. She was even willing to hop on a plane to Florida last minute because I couldn’t find a local artist I liked but we wound up changing the photo shoot. I have already booked her for my wedding, which isn’t until 2022, but I knew from the minute I got engaged I wasn’t going with anyone else but her. She will be doing my facial the night before and I may have her do the bridesmaids as well. She is professional, has great customer service and makes the atmosphere fun and relaxing. She also listens to the look you are going for and will go above and beyond to achieve without caking on makeup. She knows her stuff and you can see it in her work. If you want someone that is going to make sure you look on point from skincare to makeup, this is the place for you to go.
Ceejaye was beyond amazing. Her professionalism was amazing. Her attention to detail was great. I looked and felt elegant. She was able to keep me calm and relaxed the entire tim...
e. I would giggly highly recommend Ceejaye for all makeup services.
Ceejaye was punctual, professional and did me and my 8 bridesmaids, my mom and step mom’s make up while pregnant with twins and we looked amazing! There was no rushing and she got ...
us all done with time to spare before the ceremony. Book her!
Contact
4221 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL | Illinois
Umoja Studio