Where Brands Become The Destination

CREATIVE DIRECTION, BRAND STRATEGY, STORYTELLING + CONTENT

for founders building brands people want to step into.

NEW AGE PR + MARKETING.

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  • “Creative, talented, professional, and kind. Valerie brings inspired visions to life through creative direction, styling, storytelling, and production. She expands on her clients’ ideas and transforms them into something tangible, thoughtful, and elevated. Valerie approaches every project with care, making her clients feel heard, supported, and confident throughout the creative process.”

    — Katelyn, Founder of Annie Rose

  • "She has a way of bringing people together that feels effortless. Everything she creates is rooted in kindness, community, and a genuine desire to make fashion more sustainable. What I appreciate most is that she's both incredibly creative and incredibly organized—a combination that's hard to find. She communicates clearly, follows through on every detail, and somehow makes everyone involved feel welcome and valued. Valerie has built something really special with Locals Closet, and it's been such a pleasure to be a small part of it. I can't wait for the next one."

    -Brooke Savona, Founder of Flora Vintage

  • “Valerie has an incredible eye for detail and a unique ability to bring ideas to life. She understands the bigger picture while also managing all the little pieces that make a brand feel cohesive.”

    — Mary Coldsnow, Founder of Coldsnow Collection

  • “Valerie brings a rare combination of creativity, strategy, and execution. She doesn't just have ideas—she knows how to turn them into action.”

    — Steven Alvarez, Founder of Draft Studios

White staircase with a small door at the top in a minimalist, whitewashed building.

Four Step Framework

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Four Step Framework -

Bring Your Vision to Life. I consider myself a Visionary. Because I am a highly visual person, sometimes words don’t come to me as easy as if someone shows me a world. That’s why I love working with brands, from facilitation of experiences, consultation when I can see their business online or IRL and content creation aka weekend-long production photoshoots to launch an e-commerce brand with lifestyle photography (so fun).

Every brand has a story waiting to be uncovered. My process begins with a conversation, then moves through understanding the person behind the business, and finally into strategy, storytelling, and creative direction, bringing that vision fully into your highest alignment.

Ways to Work Together

  • We'll hop on a call, no pitch, no pressure, just a real conversation about where you are and what you're building. I want to understand your world before I ever tell you what I think you need.

    Book Your Call

  • Content with a point of view.

    You bring the brand, the product, the place or the idea. I’ll help you turn it into imagery that feels like you.

    Creative direction, photography, styling and content planning for founders, local businesses and independent brands who want more than a pile of pretty photos.

    Packages starting at $300

    EXPLORE CONTENT SHOOTS →

  • This one's for you, not just your business. We'll sit down together and uncover the story you're actually here to tell, the one that makes people stop and pay attention. You'll walk away with clarity and a mood board that starts to give it shape.

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  • I'll go through everything, your site, your socials, your presence, and tell you exactly what's working and what's quietly holding you back. I won't touch a thing. I'll just hand you the roadmap.

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  • Bring your vision to life. Full creative direction, start to finish.

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Learn More About Offerings

MAKING VISIONS A REALITY

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MAKING VISIONS A REALITY -

WE MAKE YOUR VISION A REALITY

My role is to step into your world, understand what you are building, and see the bigger picture.

Together, we uncover what makes your brand unique and create the strategy, story, and creative direction needed to bring it forward.

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“Making Things Happen”

“Valerie doesn’t hesitate to brainstorm and explore channels with like minded entrepreneurs to support our small brands and maximize our loud voices.

She has created a community of women (as far as I know) who make things happen.”

— Sasha Iglehart, Founder of A Shirt Story
Testimonials

WHO I WORK WITH

Examples of women founders who I have collaborated with, with shared beliefs..

Woman with long dark curly hair wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, a brown fur coat, and lace pants, standing in a bedroom near a closet with clothing, beside a floor lamp, a small stool with books, and a colorful rug.

THE DESIGNERS

Jewelry designers, makers, and creators who pour their story into what they create. Aubrey Founder and Designer of Golden Bones

Artistsans and Makers
A young woman crouching with her dog in a studio with a plain white background, green curtains, and some furniture, wearing striped pants, a white t-shirt, and polka dot sneakers.

THE FOUNDERS

Women building meaningful businesses who are ready for their brand to reflect their vision. Paizley Laura, founder of Peach Honey, for imperfects

CEO, Business Owner
A woman with curly dark hair, wearing a black top and jeans, sitting on a bed in a room with green walls, holding a magazine and smiling. There is a coffee cup and a pack of cigarettes on the bedside table, and a black and white photo of a riverside scene on the wall.

THE HOSPITALITY CREATORS

Airbnb, Hotels

Boutique stays, retreats, and experiences that need their atmosphere and story brought to life.

A woman sitting in a swing chair on a porch, smiling at the camera, holding the swing's top and side frame. She has long blonde hair, is wearing a dark button-up shirt and white striped pants. 
Facilitators, Healers

THE WELLNESS VISIONARIES

Founders creating thoughtful offerings rooted in connection, transformation, and purpose.

About Valerie

I’m Valerie Jana,

a Creative Director, strategist, storyteller and founder of Locals World and Locals Closet. I’m drawn to local businesses, independent brands, women founders and people creating something with heart. My work is rooted in finding the story behind a business and helping bring it to life through creative direction, brand strategy, content and a more human approach to PR & marketing. Pisces Sun, Leo Rising, Cancer Moon, Manifesting Generator, empath since 1996. I’m inspired by visionaries like Hilma af Klint, curious by nature, and always collecting stories, places, people and ideas. Ultimately, I’m here to help good people find their voice, build businesses with heart, and create things that make us feel a little more connected.

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a tan fedora hat, a black satin camisole with lace trim, and distressed denim shorts, sitting in a room with white walls, wooden floors, and a colorful framed artwork behind her. There are some objects in the foreground, including a silver desk fan and a magazine.
READ MY STORY →

Visionary. Creative Director. Strategist. Facilitator. Storyteller. PR & Marketing Maven. Founder. Model. Stylist.

Founder of Locals World + Locals Closet. Helping female-owned and local businesses find their voice, tell their story and become the destination.

A little more connection. A little more heart.