Frequently asked questions

Face painting is $150 per hour, with a 2-hour minimum. Optional add-ons include a professional event flag banner ($25, best for outdoor events, as it stands 14 feet tall), a 10×10 protective tent ($150), and trunk-or-treat style setup from the back of my Grand Wagoneer (complimentary). See all pricing.

My rates are set, and they’re the same for every family, so everyone receives the same care, artistry, and quality. For that reason, I don’t negotiate, barter, or trade. Your quote is clear from the start, with no surprises.

Every event has a 2-hour minimum ($300 minimum), and I can work events up to 4 hours. If every face has been painted before your time is up, I may wrap up a little early. A great deal of work happens behind the scenes, and the minimum covers prep, travel, setup, and cleanup, as well as the painting itself.

I can comfortably paint 10 to 12 faces per hour, but that can vary with the complexity of the design and the “wiggliness” of the child.

A non-refundable 50% deposit holds your date and time. Within seven days of your event, I’m unable to refund deposits or change event times, including in the case of illness. Check open dates, then send a quote request. Once your date is confirmed, you’ll complete my client form.

Once your date is booked with a 50% deposit, it’s held exclusively for you, and I may turn away other families who hoped to have it.

I kindly ask that you value your face painter the way you would your caterer. By the time an event is cancelled, the work has already begun: my brushes and kit have been cleaned, my design menu has been arranged, my car has been packed, and I’ve been planning and prepping for your celebration. I’ve often arranged, and paid for, babysitters of my own, and I may have declined another booking for your date.

For these reasons, deposits are non-refundable, and I’m unable to refund deposits or change event times within seven days of your event, including in the case of illness. Full payment is expected as outlined in your client form. Thank you so much for understanding.

I accept cash or the payment method confirmed in your quote. I’m always touched when families think of me, but I’m not able to accept coupons, gift cards, vouchers, or trade in place of payment.

Tips are never required, but they’re always appreciated. Like your favorite stylist, tips are a lovely way to say thank you, especially when:

• I go above and beyond with extra designs, special requests, or staying longer.
• Your party grows beyond the number of guests originally quoted.

I’m not able to accept requests to paint in exchange for promotion, exposure, advertising, or social media posts, and these inquiries won’t receive a reply. Time, materials, and expertise are valued the same for every event.

I serve Birmingham, its Over the Mountain communities, and nearby areas, including Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Cahaba Heights, Crestline, English Village, Liberty Park, Inverness, Greystone, Indian Springs, Pelham, Helena, Chelsea, Alabaster, Trussville, and Irondale. For locations more than about a 25-minute drive away, your quote will include my hourly rate for the drive time.

All I need is a nice, covered, weather-protected spot, and I bring the rest! I have a table, paints, chairs, and, of course, my awesome paint kit.

Just a few simple things help everything run beautifully:

• A covered, comfortable workspace with room for my table and two chairs. By covered, I mean a cover overhead that protects my professional paints and table from sun, rain, pollen, falling leaves, bird droppings, and anything else the sky might send our way.
• A host contact who can welcome me, show me where to set up, and be my go-to person during the event.
• A few minutes to set up before guests arrive, so the first face is ready right on time.
• A watchful eye on little ones. Children are naturally curious about my kit, so I kindly ask parents to keep their little ones close, making sure no one hangs on the kit, touches the paints, or knocks over my water cup. It keeps my station safe and the magic flowing for every guest.

I treat every celebration with the same care I’d give my own family’s, and I love being welcomed as part of the magic.

If your event is outside, please have a rain or inclement weather plan in advance. I require a workspace sheltered from all weather conditions. If you need a tent to protect the station from direct sun, I can provide a 10×10 tent for $150.

Please note: if there is thunder or lightning and no indoor backup plan, I will pause all face painting until it is safe to resume (should time allow within your contracted terms).

Yes. I paint your event myself, so the artist whose work you see in the gallery is the artist at your party.

Some companies book your party at full price, then send a less experienced subcontractor in their place, sometimes a teenager earning a fraction of the fee. That isn’t how Goldilocks Facepaints works. You’re paying for experience, and you deserve to receive it.

In the rare case that I can’t be there (it has happened only twice), I may suggest a substitute, because life happens. I only recommend a proven painter I have worked with before and explicitly trust to do my work, someone with my personal stamp of approval: background checked, family oriented, and sharing my values.

I’d love to! Little ones are a joy, but they naturally wiggle and need more time per face, so fewer faces get painted each hour than at parties for older children. I may suggest simpler designs or a little more time, so every child gets a turn that feels just right.

If more guests join than the number in your quote, additional faces are $5 each.

One of the joys of face painting is revealing the final design. When each face is finished, I invite the child to gaze into my magic mirror and admire their transformation. I’m a photo-friendly artist, but I kindly ask that parents wait to show children their photos until after the magic mirror moment.

The best face painting requires as few wiggles and interruptions as possible. Please kindly refrain from talking with your child while they’re seated for face painting, especially if they are being quiet and still. Surprisingly, children tend to open their eyes and look at the adult speaking to them, which often disrupts the painting.

As a former teacher, I love seeing children encouraged and complimented for good behavior, but please save that for the end and the big reveal!

Absolutely. Adults love face paint! Elegant designs like ghost roses, sugar skulls, and beautiful double-dipped flowers are popular at corporate events, and the glitter bar is perfect for weddings, bachelorette parties, and proms.

I only use trusted, non-toxic, FDA-compliant, water-based paints. I’m a choosy mom, so I’m the go-to for choosy moms who want safe products.

Although extremely rare, skin sensitivities can occur with face painting. You may “jump the line” and request a small skin swatch before being painted.