Jenny vs. Karen: Why Professional Makeup Artists Deserve Higher Rates

Jenny vs. Karen: Why I Stopped Apologizing for My Prices (and You Should Too)

If you’re a traveling makeup artist hustling from hotel to hotel, or you’ve lugged your kit through airports for a corporate conference or summit, this one’s for you.

After 20 years as a professional makeup artist and founder of City Lights Beauty + Experiential Agency, I’ve seen every kind of client — and every kind of artist reaction.
But at some point, you’ve got to draw the line between working for money and working for meaning.

That moment came for me when I met Jenny and Karen.

Meet Jenny.

Jenny values her time, her peace, and her reflection in the mirror.
She’s the client who books early, pays the invoice on time, and treats her artist like the professional she is.

She hires a traveling expert in hotel makeup artist for her conference appearance because she knows showing up polished is part of showing up powerful.
She trusts the process because she trusts the pro.

Jenny gets it — artistry isn’t just a service; it’s anexperience.

Then there’s Karen.

Karen wants the same result as Jenny but at half the price.
She doesn’t understand that what makes a corporate event makeup artist valuable isn’t just the makeup — it’s the communication, sanitation, systems, and experience behind it.

She compares a fully licensed, insured, tax-paying, education-invested beauty professional with “a girl who does it on the side.”
And that’s where I stopped apologizing.

City Lights Beauty isn’t the cheapest — and that’s intentional.

This isn’t a side hustle.
It’s a career that’s supported me as a single mom since 2012.
It’s allowed me to travel, work with incredible women, and build a team that runs on passion, precision, and purpose.

We’ve invested in booking systems, communication tools, sanitation standards, and continuing education because our clients deserve it — especially those flying in for corporate summits, high-profile conferences, and hotel-based events.

To my fellow artists who feel stuck or underpaid:

If you’ve ever googled“how to get more makeup clients,” “how to raise my prices as a makeup artist,”or “how to book more destination gigs,” 

hear me:

You don’t need to charge less to get booked.
You need to communicate your value better — and build systems that back it up.

You are not “too expensive.”
You’re just not for everyone.

And that’s the point.

To the Jennys of the world:

Thank you for respecting artistry.
For seeing the difference between a traveling glam team and someone showing up late with a cracked palette.
For knowing that when you book City Lights Beauty, you’re getting calm energy, clean brushes, and confidence that lasts all day.

Whether you’re walking into a corporate summit, hosting a conference keynote, or getting camera-ready at your hotel suite before a big event, we’re here to make sure you look and feel your absolute best.

The bottom line:

Cheap will cost you more — in stress, time, and do-overs.
Professional will cost you once — and last a lifetime in how you show up.

So no, we’re not the cheapest.
We’re the most committed.

And that’s why City Lights Beauty continues to serve luxury clients and mentor struggling artists into thriving professionals who value their worth.

Dear Jenny, Ready to experience what it feels like to look the part at your next big event?

Whether you’re stepping onto a conference stage, hosting a corporate summit, or simply want that polished, camera-ready glow in your hotel suite, our City Lights Beauty travel team has you covered — professionally, beautifully, and stress-free. Contact us here.

Dear Artist, If you’re a makeup artist tired of burnout, ghosted inquiries, and undercharging, I’ve been there.
City Lights Beauty didn’t happen by accident — it was built through systems, strategy, and a whole lot of grit.

If you’re ready to build a sustainable beauty business, attract luxury clients, and stop saying yes to “exposure gigs,” we’ve got you.

✨ Join the City Lights Beauty Society— mentorship, systems, and mindset for artists ready to rise.