Tipping etiquette: should you tip the makeup artist?
In the US, tipping etiquette is a heavily debated subject. Whether you’re going out to eat, having cocktails, picking up dry cleaning, the question is how much to tip. Another time you’re faced with the prospect of tipping is when you hire a makeup artist. We can’t count how many times we’ve been finishing up a photo session and the client whispers in our ear:
“Psst! Do I tip the makeup artist?!”
They’re whispering so the makeup artist doesn’t hear them, and we get it. This is confusing and embarrassing! If you find yourself in this position, don’t worry! We’ve got your back.
To determine whether or not to tip the makeup artist, it all depends on what type you’re working with. There are three main types of makeup artists:
Wedding makeup artists
Counter makeup artists
Photo shoot makeup artists
There’s a different tipping etiquette for each of these categories. Let’s talk about it.
Do I tip the wedding makeup artist?
Answer: YES
If you’re tipping a makeup artist, it’s likely for a wedding. Weddings are technically luxury events, and they’re providing a customized and luxury service to fit that, and it’s customary to tip a lot of the service-based vendors at a wedding.
Not only are you getting your makeup done, you’re likely getting lash extensions, and they are using high end products to make you feel like you’re walking the red carpet. The artist is also traveling to your location, provides a prior consultation, and communicates with you often leading up to the event. They may even have to purchase specific supplies just for you.
With that being said, we took to the internet to find out just how much a good tip for a wedding makeup artist is. The general consensus is that you should be tipping 15-20% of the amount you paid for the services.
Do I tip makeup counter artists?
Answer: NO
If you’re sitting there freaking out because you didn’t give the makeup artist at Sephora who taught you how to contour a tip, don’t. As tipping culture continues to branch out into different industries, it’s still not necessary to tip this type of makeup artist.
Want to know why? It’s because this type of makeup artist is technically a salesperson. Think about it. You came in looking for a way to make your eyebrows look better, and they fixed them with a product being sold in the store. You bought it, didn’t you? The sales tactic worked!
The main objective for a counter makeup artist is to test the product on you so you’ll buy it, they are NOT a makeup artist getting you ready for a photo shoot and we don’t recommend going to one of these artists before your photo shoot. They may not have the skills, products, or inclination to get you photo ready. Not to mention they are not on the set to see what kind of lighting you’re working with..
So, if you think you have found a loophole for getting a free makeover from a counter makeup artist whom you don’t even have to tip, you haven’t. They will, however, help you find the perfect foundation to match your skin tone.
Anothering thing we should mention here is that anytime we’ve had a client come in with makeup that was done by a counter makeup artist, they end up very unhappy with their photos. In fact, we’ve had to start stocking up on makeup removing cloths so they can remove that counter makeup before their session.
Do I tip the makeup artist for my headshots?
Answer: MAYBE
Here’s where we enter the makeup artist gray area. We say maybe because it really, truly depends! Let’s look at an example.
If you get your hair done at a salon, the standard rule of thumb is that you tip the stylists who work for the salon, but not the owner. This is because the owner takes part of the cost of the service, so the tip is making up for that. This rule can also be applied to makeup artists. Tip those who work for a salon owner, but not the ones who are freelance because there’s no salon taking a cut of their earnings. In theory this makes sense, but it’s also a tipping gray area.
This example is also not cut and dry. Freelance artists are self-employed small business owners who also have expenses that an employee of a salon doesn’t such as:
Insurance
Travel cost
Marketing cost
Licensing
Materials
These things add up! Some makeup artists spend anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 a year in expenses. Typically, their fee structure should be designed to not rely on a tip since there is no yes or no answer to this question.
If you want to tip, no one is going to say no to some extra cash! The phrase “never expected, always appreciated” totally applies here!
What if I don’t want to tip?
If you don’t want to tip your makeup artist at a headshot session, here are some kind things you 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 clean, makeup-free face.
Communicate with them. Be honest about what you want and don’t want before they start the application, then trust them while they apply makeup, then give them honest feedback afterward so they can make changes before you get in front of the camera. If you’re happy with the makeup, speak up and tell them you like it. If you’re unhappy with it, speak up as well, so they have a chance to adjust what they did to your liking.
Don’t hold a mirror to watch what they do. Again, you must trust them to listen during the consultation and use their skills to apply makeup, without babysitting what they’re doing. A mirror in your hand also gets in their way and slows down the process. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and the makeup artist will answer.
Give them a positive review. If the makeup artist has a listing on Google, Yelp, or Facebook, give them a positive review, or offer to write a testimonial for their website. Follow them on Instagram if they have an account. More follows on social media means good marketing for them.
Refer the makeup artist to your friends and colleagues, so they can continue their awesome work.
If you’re ready to book a headshot session in our Chicago studio with a makeup artist, do that here!
