Who, when, and how much to tip for boudoir
Since boudoir photography is a service, should you tip your team?
This blog will help answer your questions on who should you tip, when, what amount is appropriate… and is Venmo okay or does it have to be cash?
Like with any service, adding gratuity is always appreciated, but never expected. We provide a luxury service in a welcoming, professional and comfortable atmosphere and our pricing reflects that. We do not rely on, or expect, tips in our studio. They are always a nice surprise!
Your team may include the makeup artist, photographer, and an assistant. The makeup artist may stay to assist during the session, or there may be a separate assistant entirely.
MAKEUP ARTISTS
In the email we send out the day before your session, there is a line that says, “please bring cash if you would like to tip your makeup artist.”
We have a go-to makeup artist who accepts cash and Venmo. Sometimes, we have a stand-in artist, so I do not include a Venmo account handle in the email (so that you do not send a tip to the wrong person!).
When to tip: after your service, if you believe the makeup artist went above and beyond, or made you feel taken care of, seen, and heard.
Amount: $0-$40 equals 0-20% for our artist’s fee. Some clients will tip more, if the makeup artist stays on site for the duration of their boudoir session.
How many clients tip their makeup artists: 6/10 of our clients leave the makeup artist a tip
Other ways to show appreciation:
Leaving a review on Google, Facebook, or Yelp that details the experience from start to finish, and attaching a fresh-face vs. finished-look image, if you feel comfortable.
Shout them out on social media and tagging them.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Leaving your photographer a tip is always a great and welcome surprise.
When to tip: In our processes, you will be prompted to leave an optional tip on the checkout page when pre-paying for your collection. If you pay with a card at the studio, it will also prompt you there. This is always an option, never an obligation. You can leave a cash tip before you leave the studio if you are compelled to show your appreciation for the experience we provided you, or send over a Venmo gift.
Amount: Literally any amount gives us the warm fuzzy feelings. We’ve had clients leave a $20 bill, and some will add 10%-20% gratuity on their invoice. With larger amounts, I will share it with the rest of the team who are not on site for sessions but help our studio run. An out of season bonus, yay!
How many clients tip their photographers: at our studio, 3 out of every 10 clients will leave a tip
Other ways to show appreciation:
A hand-written card sent to the studio after your session makes our day. We put them on the wall in the studio and I’ll read them when we need a pick-me-up.
Leaving a review on Google, Facebook, or Yelp that details the experience from start to finish
Referring your friends to our studio — privately or with a shoutout on social media
Talking about your experience within Facebook groups and other forums so we can give this experience to more humans!
ASSISTANTS
Amount: Normally, clients will offer a lump sum to be split amongst the team rather than paying an assistant separately. This can be any amount from $20 to 20% of your invoice. If you want to pay an assistant directly, the photographer can tell you the best way to go about doing it.
Other ways to show appreciation: A hand-written note sent to the studio is a great option if you feel they were an incredible asset and cheerleader during your boudoir session.
IN CONCLUSION
Leaving a tip for your boudoir photography team is a great way to show your appreciation! It is most common to tip your makeup artist, but if you don’t do so, we still love you and do not think any less of you. There are many other ways to support us that are not monetary. Referrals, reviews, and kind words go a LONG way.
Thank you for choosing the Amy Paine team for your boudoir session. We cannot wait to see you soon.
email amy@amypaine.com or text 253-237-4084 to learn more about getting on our calendar
visit www.amypaine.com/empowerment for FAQ
