Should you hire a make-up artist?

Yes, you should hire a make-up artist if budget allows. Make-up artist can make most people’s skin look pretty close to flawless. Why does that matter? Well unless you want to pay for hours of retouching after the fact (shiny skin, blemishes, etc), it’s the way to go. Now you might think that a photographer can bring powder and do the basics but there are a few problems with that line of thinking:

1. Photographers are not makeup artists.
2. Photographers aren’t licensed as makeup artists because they’re not makeup artists.
3. Photographers cannot secure insurance as makeup artists because… see #2.

In most states, if a freelancer receives compensation for applying makeup, they need a cosmetology license and can face fines if they don’t have it… And if they don’t have it, they can’t get insurance. Without insurance (general liability, professional and product), in the event their product causes an allergic reaction, the likelihood of recovering any meaningful damages becomes low. And because photographers general insurance(s) doesn’t cover cosmetology – even for something as simple as applying powder – they should just say no, if asked. And most photographers will, if budget allows, answer “yes” to the question, “Should you hire a make-up artist?”

If you are still thinking you don’t need or don’t want to pay for a makeup artist, consider that the extra cost is minimal in comparison to your people looking fresher than the competition.

And lastly, makeup (and retouching) – even for men – is not about changing the way someone looks, it’s about making someone look five to ten years fresher. Glowing skin, bright eyes and teeth, and softened facial lines create that effect. So should you hire a make-up artist? Yes.

Update: In 2024, retouching has gotten a lot better so a makeup artist is not always necessary especially for headshots in a studio setting… But because of the ubiquitous use of Ai these days, retouching can go overboard. Call us if you have questions.