Photo: Stephanie Wahlig Photography
As a professional makeup artist with over 15 years in the industry, I have noticed some confusion regarding the travel fees. This article is intended to clarify these charges, helping you understand their purpose and structure.
WHAT ARE TRAVEL FEES
Travel fees are additional charges applied when a makeup artist travels to a client’s location to provide services. These fees are structured in two different ways:
1. Studio-Based Artists who have a fixed location ( studio or salon) where clients who visit pay a set service price. However, if a client requests on-location services, the artist may add a travel fee to cover the additional time and other expenses.
2. Mobile Makeup Artists
Artists like myself ( Makeup By Diana ), who specialize in providing mobile services, bringing the makeup experience to you directly. This is a concierge-style service which offers convenience, eliminating the need for you to travel. While many mobile artists do not charge a travel fee within a certain area, exceptions apply, which I’ll discuss shortly.
HOW TRAVEL FEES WORK
Focusing on mobile services, travel fees are different based on distance and location.
Local Services
In the Phoenix area, Makeup By Diana usually does not charge a travel fee. However, for appointments in the West Valley (Avondale, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Buckeye) a travel fee may be necessary. Despite being considered local, the extended travel time and traffic congestion make it challenging to sustain standard pricing, especially for single-service appointments. This also applies travelling to Florence, Casa Grande, Anthem.
Beyond Phoenix
Services outside the Phoenix metropolitan area incur a non-negotiable travel fee. This policy is important for maintaining business viability and ensuring clients receive the highest quality service.
WHY TRAVEL FEES ARE NECESSARRY
“Travel fees only cover fuel expenses” is a common misconception, while in reality, these fees account for:
Traveling to and from a location which consumes valuable time that could otherwise be allocated to serving additional clients (Time is Money)
Frequent travel contributes to vehicle maintenance costs, including fuel and servicing
For events like weddings requiring extended travel (over an hour), we often dedicate the entire day to that client, necessitating compensation for potential lost bookings.
Now that you learned about these factors, you can understand what the travel fees reflect in order to deliver your personalized, on-location services.
TRAVEL FEES CALCULATION
Travel fees are determined based on the distance and time required to reach your location, for example:
1.5 to 2 Hours Travel: A flat fee of $150 is applied
Exceeding 2 Hours Travel: The fee increases to $200
4 Hours or More Travel: For distances requiring a minimum of four hours of travel, overnight accommodation fees are added (you want your artist to be well-rested and prepared, don’t you? 
)
For destination events involving air travel, additional charges applies, as well ( these will not only cover flights and ground transportation to the location where the event will be, but also comfortable lodging during the stay and daily allowances for meals)
We appreciate when you understand that traveling for work involves extra preparation and time away from regular business activities.
I hope this article clarifies what travel fees in the makeup industry is about. These charges are not intended to inconvenience you but to ensure that we can provide exceptional and personalized services sustainably so you can only benefit from it.