Makeup Artist Contract Template
A free makeup artist contract template for weddings and events, covering the service timeline, trial appointment, party size, deposits, allergy disclosure, travel fees, and cancellation terms. Download it in PDF or Word and fill in the bracketed fields.
Last updated: August 5, 2026
What Is a Makeup Artist Contract?
A makeup artist contract is the written agreement between a professional makeup artist and the client booking services for a wedding, a photo shoot, a gala, or another event. It records the date and location, how many faces are being made up, how long each person takes, and the exact time everyone must be finished. It also handles the money: the trial fee, the deposit that holds the date, the balance due before the brushes come out, and the travel or lodging charges for work outside the normal service area.
What separates a good version from a generic one is the health and timing language. Makeup goes on skin, so the contract needs an allergy and sensitivity disclosure, a patch test option, and clear rules about when service must be refused, such as an active cold sore, an eye infection, or a recent chemical peel. On the timing side, it needs to state what happens when the party runs late or shrinks after the count deadline, because both of those events cost the artist money that cannot be recovered anywhere else.
When to Use This Template
- ✓You are booking bridal or event makeup for yourself and additional members of the party
- ✓You are a makeup artist and need consistent terms for deposits, timing, and cancellations
- ✓A trial or preview appointment will happen on a separate date for a separate fee
- ✓Services will be delivered on location, with travel, parking, or overnight lodging involved
- ✓Add-ons such as lash application, airbrush, or on-site touch-up standby are being purchased
- ✓You want the allergy, patch test, and photography usage terms settled before the event date
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Full text of the template. Fields in [BRACKETS] are placeholders you fill in.
Makeup Artist Contract
1. 1. Parties, Event Date, and Location
This Makeup Services Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into on [EFFECTIVE DATE] between [ARTIST OR STUDIO NAME], located at [ARTIST ADDRESS] (the "Artist"), and [CLIENT NAME], located at [CLIENT ADDRESS] (the "Client"). The Artist will provide professional makeup services for [EVENT TYPE, e.g., wedding, photo shoot, gala] on [EVENT DATE] (the "Event") at [SERVICE LOCATION ADDRESS], with services beginning at [SERVICE START TIME]. The Client is responsible for confirming the service location and for notifying the Artist in writing of any change at least [LOCATION CHANGE NOTICE, e.g., 14 days] before the Event, since a change may affect travel charges and availability. The day-of contact who can reach the Client during services is [DAY-OF CONTACT NAME AND MOBILE NUMBER]. Notices under this Agreement are effective when sent to [ARTIST EMAIL] and [CLIENT EMAIL].
2. 2. Services and Party Size
The Artist will provide makeup application for [TOTAL NUMBER OF FACES] people, consisting of the honoree or bride [INCLUDED / NOT APPLICABLE] plus [NUMBER] additional faces. The confirmed service list is: [NAME AND SERVICE FOR EACH PERSON, e.g., bride full glam with lashes, four bridesmaids standard application, two mothers standard application]. Junior services for guests under [JUNIOR AGE THRESHOLD] are billed at [JUNIOR RATE] and require parent or guardian consent. Services not listed above, including hair styling, brow shaping, body makeup, and special effects work, are not included and must be booked separately if available. The Artist reserves the right to decline a request that is outside their stated specialty or that cannot be completed safely in the time allotted. Any addition to the service list must be confirmed in writing and is subject to availability of time and staff.
3. 3. Trial or Preview Appointment
A trial or preview appointment is [INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE / AVAILABLE FOR A SEPARATE FEE OF [TRIAL FEE] / NOT INCLUDED]. Where booked, the trial is scheduled for [TRIAL DATE AND TIME] at [TRIAL LOCATION] and runs approximately [TRIAL DURATION]. The trial fee is due at or before the appointment, is separate from the Event balance, and is non-refundable once the appointment takes place. The Client should arrive with a clean, moisturized face and bring reference images, the dress or outfit color palette, and any product the Client intends to wear. The Artist will document the approved look with notes and photographs for reproduction on the Event date. Additional trial sessions are billed at [ADDITIONAL TRIAL FEE] each. A look approved at the trial is the look that will be reproduced at the Event; substantial changes requested on the Event date may not be possible within the scheduled time.
4. 4. Timeline, Per-Face Allocation, and Ready-By Time
Services will begin at [SERVICE START TIME] and all makeup will be complete by the ready-by time of [READY-BY TIME]. The Artist allocates approximately [MINUTES PER STANDARD FACE, e.g., 45 minutes] per standard application and [MINUTES PER FEATURE FACE, e.g., 75 minutes] for the honoree or bride, plus [BUFFER TIME] of setup and buffer. The final schedule listing each person and their appointment slot will be confirmed in writing at least [TIMELINE DEADLINE, e.g., seven days] before the Event, and the Client is responsible for distributing it to the party and for having each person present and ready at their slot. The ready-by time assumes the party size in Section 2; adding people after the timeline is confirmed may push the ready-by time later or require an additional artist at [SECOND ARTIST FEE]. The Artist will not compress the schedule in a way that compromises the quality or wear of the makeup.
5. 5. Arrival, Setup, and Workspace Requirements
The Artist will arrive approximately [ARRIVAL BUFFER, e.g., 20 minutes] before the first appointment to set up. The Client will provide a suitable workspace at the service location that includes a sturdy table or counter of at least [TABLE SIZE], a standard chair or stool with a back, access to a grounded electrical outlet within [OUTLET DISTANCE] of the workspace, strong natural light from a window or an equivalent lit area, and access to running water. The workspace should be clear of food, drinks, and clutter, and should be reasonably quiet and free of crowding so the schedule can be kept. If the location is a hotel, the Client will confirm room access and will cover any facility, resort, or vendor access fee charged by the property. If the space provided makes safe or timely work impossible, the Artist will notify the Client and the Parties will identify an alternative area before services begin.
6. 6. Health Disclosure, Allergies, and Patch Testing
Each person receiving services will disclose to the Artist, before application, any known allergy or sensitivity, including reactions to latex, adhesives, lanolin, fragrance, mineral pigments, nickel, or specific cosmetic ingredients, along with any recent cosmetic or dermatological procedure. A patch test is available on request at least [PATCH TEST NOTICE, e.g., 48 hours] before services, and is strongly recommended for anyone with sensitive or reactive skin or who is receiving lash application. The Artist will not perform services on any person presenting with an active skin infection, conjunctivitis or other eye infection, an active cold sore or fever blister, open wounds, untreated dermatitis, or skin that has undergone a chemical peel, laser treatment, waxing, microneedling, or similar procedure within [POST-PROCEDURE WINDOW, e.g., 14 days]. Each person accepts the risk of reaction to cosmetic products and releases the Artist from liability for allergic or adverse reactions not caused by negligence, and will seek medical attention if a reaction occurs.
7. 7. Sanitation and Single-Use Applicators
The Artist maintains professional sanitation standards on every job. Brushes and tools are cleaned and disinfected between clients with a hospital-grade disinfectant, cream and liquid products are decanted onto a sanitized palette rather than applied directly from the container, powders and pressed products are sanitized between uses, and mascara wands, lip applicators, sponges, and lash tools are single-use and discarded after each person. Pencils are sharpened between uses. The Artist will not double-dip any applicator. The Client will inform the Artist in advance if anyone in the party prefers that their own products be used; in that case the Client provides those products and the Artist is not responsible for the performance, wear, shade match, or safety of client-supplied cosmetics. The Artist may decline to use any product that is expired, contaminated, or unsuitable for professional application.
8. 8. Add-On Services: Lashes and Airbrush
Strip or cluster lash application is available at [LASH FEE] per person and includes [LASH DESCRIPTION, e.g., one pair of professional strip lashes applied with latex-free adhesive]. Individual lash application is available at [INDIVIDUAL LASH FEE] and requires additional chair time. Airbrush foundation is available at [AIRBRUSH FEE] per person and must be requested at least [AIRBRUSH NOTICE] before the Event so equipment and shades can be prepared. Lash adhesive and airbrush formulations may not be suitable for every person, and the Artist may decline application where sensitivity, eye irritation, lash extensions, or a recent eye procedure makes it unsafe. Add-ons requested on the Event date are subject to available time and are billed at the rates above. The Artist does not apply lash extensions and does not remove lash extensions applied by another provider.
9. 9. Touch-Ups and On-Site Standby
Basic touch-up instructions and a short list of recommended products are provided at no charge. If the Client wants the Artist to remain on site for touch-ups between events, for a ceremony-to-reception refresh, or for a photo session, on-site standby is billed at [STANDBY HOURLY RATE] per hour with a minimum of [STANDBY MINIMUM HOURS] hours, arranged in advance and stated on the invoice. Standby time begins when the last scheduled application is complete and continues until the agreed release time of [STANDBY END TIME]. A touch-up kit containing matched products is available for purchase at [TOUCH-UP KIT PRICE]. The Artist is not responsible for the wear or appearance of the makeup after leaving the service location, including changes caused by weather, humidity, crying, eating, sun exposure, physical activity, or products applied by anyone other than the Artist.
10. 10. Fees, Deposit, and Final Balance
The total fee for the services described in Section 2 is [TOTAL FEE], itemized on the attached quote. A non-refundable retainer of [RETAINER AMOUNT OR PERCENTAGE] is due on signing and reserves the Event date; the date is not held until the retainer clears and this Agreement is signed. The retainer is credited against the total fee. The final balance, including any travel, add-on, and standby charges, is due no later than [BALANCE DUE DATE, e.g., 14 days before the Event] and in all cases before services begin on the Event date. The Artist may decline to begin services if the balance is unpaid. Payment is accepted by [PAYMENT METHODS]. Gratuity is not included and is at the discretion of the Client. Returned or failed payments are subject to a fee of [RETURNED PAYMENT FEE], and unpaid balances accrue [LATE FEE] or the maximum permitted by applicable law, whichever is less.
11. 11. Minimum Party Size, Travel, Parking, and Lodging
A minimum booking of [MINIMUM NUMBER OF SERVICES] services, or a minimum spend of [MINIMUM SPEND], applies to Event-date bookings on [PEAK DAYS, e.g., Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays]. If the party falls below the minimum for any reason, the Client pays the minimum. Travel within [INCLUDED TRAVEL RADIUS] of [ARTIST BASE LOCATION] is included. Beyond that radius, travel is billed at [MILEAGE RATE] per mile or [FLAT TRAVEL FEE], plus tolls, ferry, or transit charges. Early-start services beginning before [EARLY START TIME] are subject to an early call fee of [EARLY CALL FEE]. The Client is responsible for parking, including valet, garage, or hotel parking charges, at the service location. For locations more than [LODGING DISTANCE THRESHOLD] away or with a start time before [LODGING TIME THRESHOLD], the Client will provide or reimburse overnight lodging at [LODGING ALLOWANCE] per artist for the night before the Event.
12. 12. Client Late Arrival and Shortened Service
The schedule confirmed under Section 4 is built around the ready-by time and leaves little room for delay. If any person is not present and ready at the start of their assigned slot, the Artist will move to the next person and will fit the late person in only if time allows. The Artist may shorten, simplify, or omit a service to protect the ready-by time and the remaining appointments, and no refund or reduction is due for a service shortened or missed because of a late arrival. If the Client requests that the Artist stay beyond the scheduled end time to complete services delayed by the party, that time is billed at [OVERTIME RATE] per hour or any fraction of an hour, subject to availability, since the Artist may hold other commitments. The Artist will notify the day-of contact promptly if the timeline is at risk.
13. 13. Cancellation, Headcount Reduction, and Substitute Artist
The retainer is non-refundable in all circumstances. If the Client cancels the Event booking, additional amounts owed are: [TIER ONE, e.g., no further charge] with more than [TIER ONE WINDOW, e.g., 60 days] written notice; [TIER TWO PERCENTAGE, e.g., 50 percent] of the remaining balance between [TIER TWO WINDOW, e.g., 60 and 14 days]; and 100 percent of the balance within [FINAL WINDOW, e.g., 14 days] of the Event. The headcount deadline is [HEADCOUNT DEADLINE, e.g., 30 days before the Event]; services removed after that deadline are charged in full, because the reserved time cannot be resold. Additions after the deadline are accommodated only if time and staff allow. If the Artist is unable to perform because of illness, injury, emergency, or another cause beyond reasonable control, the Artist will make reasonable efforts to send a qualified substitute artist from their team or professional network at the same rate, and if no substitute is found, all amounts paid, including the retainer, will be refunded within [REFUND PERIOD, e.g., seven days].
14. 14. Photography, Portfolio Use, and Limitation of Liability
The Artist may photograph or record the completed makeup and may use those images in a portfolio, website, social media account, advertising, or educational material, and may request images from the event photographer for the same purpose, with credit where practical. Any person may opt out by giving written notice to the Artist before the Event, and the Artist will then use no identifiable image of that person. The Artist will not disclose confidential details about the Client, the Event, or the guests. The total liability of the Artist under this Agreement will not exceed the amounts actually paid by the Client, and the Artist is not liable for indirect or consequential damages, including the cost of photographs, travel, or the Event itself. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of [GOVERNING STATE], with venue in [VENUE COUNTY AND STATE]. It is the entire agreement between the Parties and may be amended only in writing signed or confirmed in writing by both Parties.
15. 15. Signatures
By signing below, both Parties confirm they have read this Agreement, including the timeline, health disclosure, deposit, and cancellation terms, and agree to be bound as of the Effective Date. ARTIST: [ARTIST OR STUDIO NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [ARTIST SIGNER NAME]. Date: [DATE]. CLIENT: [CLIENT NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [PRINTED NAME]. Date: [DATE]. Photography opt-out requested for the following people: [NAMES OR NONE]. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, and electronic signatures have the same effect as original signatures on a single document.
16. Disclaimer
This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Makeup and beauty services are subject to state cosmetology licensing rules, local sanitation and health regulations, and consumer protection limits on non-refundable retainers and liability releases, all of which vary by jurisdiction. Nothing here is medical guidance, and no contract term replaces professional judgment about whether a service can be performed safely on a given person. Review and adapt this document for your own practice and state, and consult a licensed attorney or your insurer before relying on it. Use of this template does not create an attorney-client relationship with ScanContract.
Key Clauses Explained
What each important clause does — and what to watch out for before you sign.
Timeline and Ready-By Time
Allocates minutes per face and fixes the time every person must be finished and camera ready.
Clients should confirm the ready-by time against the photographer schedule rather than the ceremony time, since first-look photos usually come earlier than people expect. Artists should refuse to compress the per-face allocation to absorb a larger party, because rushed applications photograph badly and the artist gets blamed for the result even when the schedule was the problem.
Trial Appointment and Separate Fee
Books a preview session on a different date, priced separately from the event services.
Clients should check whether the trial fee is included in the package or added on top, and whether the approved look can realistically be changed on the event date, because it usually cannot within the scheduled minutes. Artists should make the trial fee payable at the appointment and non-refundable once performed, since a trial consumes a full chair block that could have been sold.
Health Disclosure and Patch Testing
Requires allergy and procedure disclosure and defines when service must be refused for safety.
Clients should tell the artist about recent peels, lasers, waxing, or lash extensions rather than hoping nobody notices, because a refusal on the morning of the event leaves nobody with a good option. Artists should keep the refusal list specific and written, since declining service on an active cold sore or eye infection is a professional obligation that is far easier to enforce when the client already signed the term.
Retainer and Balance Due Before Service
Takes a non-refundable retainer to hold the date and requires the balance before any application begins.
Clients should confirm the retainer is credited toward the total and not an extra charge, and should note the artist may decline to start with an unpaid balance. Artists should keep the retainer proportional to the time actually reserved, because a retainer that looks like a penalty rather than compensation for a blocked date can be challenged in some consumer contexts.
Minimum Party Size and Travel Charges
Sets a floor on peak-date bookings and prices mileage, parking, early call, and overnight lodging.
Clients should add up the travel, parking, early call, and lodging line items before comparing quotes, because a lower per-face rate with a distant artist frequently ends up higher. Artists should state the included radius and the base location explicitly, since a vague local travel included promise turns into unpaid hours the first time a venue is an hour outside the metro.
Headcount Reduction After the Deadline
Charges in full for services cancelled after the count deadline because the reserved time cannot be resold.
Clients should lock the count only when the party is genuinely confirmed, because bridesmaids who decide to do their own makeup two weeks out are still billable under this term. Artists should set the deadline far enough out to have a real chance of rebooking the slot, and should apply it consistently, since selective enforcement undermines the clause when it matters most.
Substitute Artist
Allows a qualified replacement from the team or network if the booked artist cannot perform.
Clients should ask whether the substitute comes from a vetted team or from an open call, and should insist on a full refund including the retainer when no substitute can be found. Artists should keep the substitution right explicit, because without it an illness on the morning of a wedding becomes a breach rather than a managed contingency.
Photography and Portfolio Usage
Grants the artist the right to publish images of the finished work, subject to a written opt-out.
Clients who want privacy should exercise the opt-out in writing before the event and name the specific people, since a verbal request after the images are posted is much harder to unwind. Artists should honor opt-outs cleanly and avoid publishing identifiable images of minors or guests who never signed, because portfolio value is never worth a likeness complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a trial before the wedding?▾
What happens if someone in the party shows up late?▾
Can the artist refuse to do my makeup on the day?▾
Is the deposit refundable if we cancel?▾
What if I only need makeup for two people?▾
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