Birthday Party Pricing

[kachina]

Do any of you do kids birthday parties? If so, what is your going rate per hour and what products do you typically offer? This is a casual party without and special requirements. I would greatly appreciate any advice that you have.

Thanks,
Rusty

[akimartymar]

I've done a few of them for $35 plus $1 per 4x6. It may be a little cheap but compared to a wedding there is no stress involved. Plus I soft spot for kids and would feel bad charging any more than that for a parent who is just trying to get some pictures of their kids party and still enjoy the party themselves.

[ShaneKislack]

What's your cost of doing business?

[kachina]

Marty, I know what you mean. I'm inclined to do it more for the marketing opportunity than anything else.

Shane, I see where you are coming from but cost is only on of the many factors that I consider when pricing. Sometimes cost is irrelevant when pricing. I go through the following steps to determine pricing:

1. Develop marketing strategy - perform marketing analysis, segmentation, targeting, and positioning.
2. Make marketing mix decisions - define the product, distribution, and promotional tactics.
3. Estimate the demand curve - understand how quantity demanded varies with price.
4. Calculate cost - include fixed and variable costs associated with the product.
5. Understand environmental factors - evaluate likely competitor actions, understand legal constraints, etc.
6. Set pricing objectives - for example, profit maximization, revenue maximization, or price stabilization (status quo).
7. Determine pricing - using information collected in the above steps, select a pricing method, develop the pricing structure, and define discounts.

However, I really just wanted to get an idea of what others are doing. Based on my online research, folks are charging from $35 (Marty) to $600 for a 2hr birthday party.

[ShaneKislack]

Originally Posted by kachina

However, I really just wanted to get an idea of what others are doing. Based on my online research, folks are charging from $35 (Marty) to $600 for a 2hr birthday party.

I rest my case There really is no standard pricing. Personally, unless it's for a friend...I don't take my camera out of the case for less than $200. That's not ego...it's just that I spent hard earned money to buy that stuff and the liability of shooting around a bunch of strangers is such that I need $200 just to take that risk. YMMV

[kachina]

Originally Posted by ShaneKislack

I rest my case There really is no standard pricing. Personally, unless it's for a friend...I don't take my camera out of the case for less than $200. That's not ego...it's just that I spent hard earned money to buy that stuff and the liability of shooting around a bunch of strangers is such that I need $200 just to take that risk. YMMV

But isn't your liability insurance a sunk cost or does it change based on the number of events your shoot?

[zepp]

Originally Posted by kachina

But isn't your liability insurance a sunk cost or does it change based on the number of events your shoot?

It, along with many other cost, is a cost of doing business expense that should be factored in when determining job pricing.

[ShaneKislack]

I'm not speaking specifically about "insurance" as in "insurance policy". I'm not the best at explaining my motivations.

I tried several times to type out what I meant..but it just came out crazy. Sorry.

[bondarnes]

I charge for my time the same as for a small wedding with a smaller minimum order. It is almost as much work and takes about the same amount of time. Of course if it's for my grandchild's party......

[kachina]

Thanks for everyone's input. I probably made a mistake and quoted a low price. However, I am in turbo mode right now trying to build a decent portfolio and I make it clear that the pricing is a one shot deal. I will begin charging more traditional prices when I restructure in June.

[RiverSide]

Strictly my personal opinion, if at the end of it, you get paid and the net didn't come out of your pocket, then it's all good..especially if u managed to get a release to use the images in your portfolio..

[kachina]

Well, I booked my first paying birthday party so I guess the El Cheapo factor is important in SW Fort Worth. Since there will be 50 people there I will be taking lots of business cards :)

[dcnctx]

I believe there can be hidden opportunities in every shoot. You never know who will be at an event or will become famous, etc., etc., etc.

Besides if the demand becomes too great you can always pass the work off to some deserving rookies here on TPF. I'd say look for the silver-lining in this first one and make the learned adjustments as necessary for any future parties. As I see it, it's cheap, good, advertising at the very least and probably better than an ad in a local paper. The customer may be willing to sign-off on a portion of the effort as donated work, which should help at tax time.

I certainly understand not pulling the camera out for less than a certain amount. As for me, I'm just not to that level yet.

Hope it goes well and good luck.

[kachina]

The client actually backed out on me after making the deal because I would not give her a CD with the full res images. I quoted $70 plus $1 4X6s, $5 5X7s, $15 8X10s + a signed model release. I made it very clear that I was doing this as a portfolio builder and that my normal pricing would be substantially higher. She went with someone that would do two hours and a high-res CD for $90. I guess she will get her CD and head to Costco to get her prints. The CD was definitely the carrot for the client. My competitor's costs must be much lower than mine :)

Here is the competitor's pricing just in case any of you are interested.:

Event or Birthday Packages

• Birthday parties and events can be booked within 30 of the party date.
• Hourly rate is $45 (1 hr. min.) This includes a high resolution CD of all images from event date.
• Proofs, prints and albums can be purchased from the price list below.

Proofs or prints
Print pricing from birthday party!
4x6 - $3 5x7 - $7 16x20 - $99
8x10 - $12 11x14 - $59
Set of 25 4x6 proofs $15

Albums
Paperback Albums
These albums come in a variety of colors and sizes with 10 pages (20 sides) that are printed with durable heavy weight ink jet paper.

Pocket book
8x6 $55 $2.00 per extra page
Hard cover
9x12 $75 $4.00 per extra page
Leather Hard cover
9x12 $85
Deluxe hard cover (linen only)
12x16 $105 $5.50 per extra page

Coffee table style albums
These albums come in a variety of sizes, leather colors and textures with 12 pages or 24 sides.
10x10 $699
8x10 $499
6x9 $449
5x7 $349
4x6 $299

[CaptainTom]

That's the business world.

You will ALWAYS find someone out there who can undercut your price.

You need to seperate yourself from the crowd by creating VALUE and establishing a RELATIONSHIP with your client.

Some probing might have revealed that they wanted only a CD of the images. You could then have priced this product to your satisfaction, and the client would not have been inclined to look elsewhere.

If you sell by price alone, you will lose money in the long run. If you establish value and relationships, determine their wants, you will have a loyal customer.

End of sales lecture for today