Should y'all tip the makeup creative person?

Subsequently a headshot shoot, when the makeup artist is just out of earshot, we've frequently had clients frantically whisper to usa, "psst!  Exercise I tip the makeup creative person?!"  Whether or non to tip your makeup artist is a complicated question.  And it should outset with what kind of makeup artist yous're dealing with.

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Wedding makeup artists:  Yes

If any makeup artist is tipped, it's most usually the wedding ceremony makeup creative person.  Some estimates are that almost 80-ninety% of wedding vendors in general (including makeup artists and hair stylists) expect a tip.  This is because a wedding ceremony is a luxury event, and all the vendors involved are supplying a customized, luxury service.  For a wedding ceremony, a makeup creative person usually travels to your location, provides a consultation and communicates back and forth on ideas for the look y'all'd like before the result, and even purchases supplies and makeup specifically for your application.

Counter makeup artists:  NO

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Don't freak out if you lot just realized you've never tipped the makeup artist at Sephora or Nordstrom for the time they spent teaching you how to contour.  Information technology's generally considered not necessary to tip a counter makeup artist, and some stores even prohibit it.  These makeup artists are actually salespeople with makeup skills and sometimes grooming, only their end goal at the counter is to sell you lot a product. Never go to a makeup counter for a makeup application for a photo shoot.  These makeup artists are unlikely to have the skill or inclination to apply custom makeup for your needs, and the products are non likely to be peculiarly fabricated for photography.  And again, their main objective is to test products on your face up in society to sell them to yous, which is neat for when y'all're sampling products y'all'd similar to buy for yourself.  But don't think you're cheating the organisation by having a salesperson at a makeup counter do your makeup for complimentary for your photoshoot.  Every fourth dimension someone has come to our studio after doing this, they ever stop up unhappy with their look.  We've had to first stocking makeup removing cloths in the studio so clients tin remove their counter-applied makeup before their session.

Makeup artists for headshots/portraiture/commercial shoots:  Maybe

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If tipping a wedding ceremony makeup creative person was a reasonably solid "yes," and tipping a counter makeup artist was a pretty solid "no," then tipping a makeup artist for your headshot or portrait session is a definite "maybe."  For pilus salons, a dominion of thumb some people subscribe to is that you tip the stylists who work for the salon, but non the salon owner.  Some people extend this idea to makeup artists: tip the makeup artists who are booked through a salon or agency because they exercise non proceed the whole fee, simply exercise non tip freelance artists because they keep all of their fee.  But this isn't a reliable measure out since freelance artists are self-employed small business owners who accept expenses an employee would non, such as insurance, marketing costs, travel costs, licensing, and materials.  Some makeup artists tin can spend anywhere from $five,000 to $20,000 a year on the makeup and brushes in their kit and the sterile dispensable items they go through.  Since there is no industry standard "yes" or "no" for tipping with these kinds of makeup artists, then both freelance and agency artists normally take their fee structured in a way that they're non relying on a tip to complete their fee, and so a tip isn't necessary.  But some people are more than comfortable tipping anyone in the beauty/service manufacture, and if yous're one of these people, then feel free to tip your makeup artist.  They won't plow it downwards and they'll definitely be appreciative of information technology, while not expecting information technology.  A good dominion of pollex on tipping makeup artists in this category is: "never expected, ever appreciated."

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If you don't want to tip your makeup artist at a headshot session, here are some kind things you tin can do for them that they would definitely appreciate even more than a tip:

  • Come ready for them. Follow their instructions to prepare for your session, which usually involves coming with a make clean, makeup-costless face.
  • Communicate with them. Be honest nearly what you lot want and don't desire earlier they start the application, then trust them while they apply makeup, and then give them honest feedback after then they tin make changes before you go far forepart of the camera.  If you're happy with the makeup, speak up and tell them you like it.  If you lot're unhappy with it, speak up likewise, so they have a gamble to adjust what they did to your liking.
  • Don't hold a mirror to watch what they practise. Again, you must trust them to listen during the consultation and apply their skills to use makeup, without babysitting what they're doing.  A mirror in your hand also gets in their way and slows downwardly the process.  If you have whatever questions, feel complimentary to ask, and the makeup artist volition reply.
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  • Give them a positive review. If the makeup creative person has a listing on Google, Yelp, or Facebook, requite them a positive review, or offer to write a testimonial for their website.  Follow them on Instagram if they have an business relationship.  More follows on social media means good marketing for them.
  • Refer the makeup creative person to your friends and colleagues, so they can continue their awesome work.

If you're gear up to book a headshot session in our Chicago studio with a makeup artist, exercise that here!