Event Coverage - How much?

[HotHolly]

So, how much do your charge for Christmas party coverage?

Just wondering what you typically charge and what you give.

We've had a few people ask us to do their parties and we usually do portraits and weddings- not mass events. Both parties have over 300 people - 150 couples with 2 hours of requested coverage (formals only).

Any price point suggestions?

Should I precharge for this as an event that comes with 2 5x7s for each couple, or should I collect money per couple/ person while I am there?

Thanks...never thought I'd do this. Then again, I never thought I'd be a photog either

[ndsimm]

for all company evets, I usually charge and offer the same thing...a basic hourly rate and offer the images on CD. If they are looking for prints of the couples, do they want them printed on site? Will they be purchased later? who is paying for the 5x7's, the company or the couples? If the company is paying, then I would get a preset amount including the 5x7's. If the couples are paying, then I would either charge enough to cover those that don't buy, or if you have time, have them prepay and that should help you to plan.

I usually just give the company a CD and then upload the images to my smugmug gallery and let the couple buy from there...

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Most easy way for you is to charge a fee for the party and then do the prints off site and turn over the whole print group to the person throwing the party to distribute out to the people (are they work mates? all belong to the same Country Club/Association/Church/etc?) that way you can do minor adjustments to the pics after the shoot and you can concentrate on shooting the couples and not worry about everything else. You could attach a cover page to each photo with an ID # for that photo if the people then wish to get a larger picture or more prints later *that way you don't release the CD with the files to anyone and they can't print the work off willie nillie and you can get additional sales from the gig and you also can put out your best work *trying to shoot/run prints/collect $ and such in a 2 hour period from 150 people would take a crew of 3 or 4 people vs 2 if you just shoot.

[HotHolly]

Thanks for the imput. If anyone is brave enough to share numbers - PM me. Im wondering if our prices are really low? :o)