Portrait Parties???

[PhotosbyHollyWood]

Has anyone heard of this?

have any of you done this?

ho do you think this will work... ?


do you think this is worth it?

[scottalanphoto]

whats that?

[PhotosbyHollyWood]

well this is what I have been seeing...


What is a Portrait Party??


Portrait Parties are an exciting opportunity for you and your friends to have professional portraits made in a fun and affordable way. Portrait Parties take place in your home (if you are the host) or any other suitable location. The host invites between 8 and 12 families to the party and for the hosts hard work enjoys credits toward portraits for hosting. It is a low stress fun opportunity to have beautiful portraits made of yourself or your children in a low pressure, relaxed atmosphere.

Hosts also receive special gifts of one of a kind handmade photo jewelry for each party attendee that host their own parties. These necklaces are not available for sale and may be the biggest attraction to hosting a party. Everyone will know if you have hosted a portrait party with Natalie when they see your necklace and just wait until you break it to them that they can't buy a necklace like this anywhere!

Through my experience there are two different routes you can take in putting your portrait party together:

High Efficiency or Big Fun. Each has it's own rewards.

High Efficiency: The highly efficient party has attendees coming and going all the time and when the last pictures are taken only the host and photographer remain. These parties average about $250 per attendee in orders. If the host had 10 attendees that equates to $2,500 in total orders and out of that she would receive her 20% print credit of $500. Hosts also receive special gifts of one of a kind handmade photo jewelry for each party attendee that host their own parties. Typically, one attendee in ten will host a party from a high efficiency party. Certainly not a bad deal, and let's face it, not all of us can pull off a high efficiency portrait party, (you might as well ask me to take care of the national debt along with it!)

Big Fun: The big fun party works a little differently. The host supplies food, drinks, sometimes wine and the idea is that the portraits are a sideline to the actual party. Attendees are encouraged to linger and have a good time. The average order at these parties is closer to $500. If the host had 10 attendees that equates to $5,000 in total orders and out of that she would receive her 20% print credit of $1,000. In 2007 several of Natalie's parties grossed double this amount including one Christmas Portrait Party that was the highlight of the year! (Talk about some happy hosts!) Hosts also receive special gifts of photo jewelry for each party attendee that host their own parties. Typically three attendees in ten will host a party from a "big fun" party. These parties are easier to pull off and I have several groups that rotate who will host the portrait party this season so that everyone gets the opportunity to order the big items (canvas or large prints) that they can never talk their husbands into letting them buy.

[PhotosbyHollyWood]

hahah... sounds almost like a tuppaware party... or for the younger ones a pampered chef party!!

mary k, spa party... hey it works for them right... why not for photography...

I am thinking about leaping in and trying it once... see how it works... what have AI got to loose?!?!? a few snaps of the shutter, and few hours of PP...

bu the gain is good regardsless...

word of mouth,
exposure,
pontential print sales,
some more but the kids are brainwashing me right now....lol

[Graydon]

my wife went to something similar where they had a mary-kay makeover and did some before n after shots... and then included some additional "after" portraits.

was an interesting concept and I believe it was well attended.

Only problem was that the portraits weren't very good in my opinion... bad poses and way too much pp (of course both subjective).

I think it'd be worth trying out... and sounds like you have the advantage of "first to market"... or relatively close to first.

[PhotosbyHollyWood]

thank you!!!

after the kids go to bed I think I am going to makeout a hostess package.. and see what I can work in there... INCENTIVES seem to be the key here!!!!

i will keep you posted on his see how well it works!!!!

[DeLeon]

I have heard of them and have been thinking of giving it a shot. I think the Mary Kay thing sounds good, except that you may end up competing with the MK rep for sales.
"do I buy makeup or photos?"
Let us know how it goes. I am very curious about this.

[PhotosbyHollyWood]

Originally Posted by DeLeon

I have heard of them and have been thinking of giving it a shot. I think the Mary Kay thing sounds good, except that you may end up competing with the MK rep for sales.
"do I buy makeup or photos?"
Let us know how it goes. I am very curious about this.

hahahh... no... NOT holding it with MK... giggles... there is NO way I can compete for her... I was talking about their incentives that they give...

the hostess gets a free goodie... JUST for booking the party!
then they get an incentive for X amount of the guest booking their own party...
then they get a little off the price of their stuff they buy when there party sales reach XX.XX amount!!!!

[PhotosbyHollyWood]

hahah I just went back and read about the MK before and after shots...

now I see where that comment came from!!!

[Graydon]

If you don't want to go the route of MK co-hosting... could look for stay-at-home mom groups that try to get together for "stroller walks" or other activities. I occasionally see them listed in the weekly paper in the "activities" section.

See if they'd go for a "Portrait Party at the Park" and see about getting the kids in a natural play setting and go the candid route... and you could use that to lead into something for just the parents'... especially if you find out that a lot of them also use Mother's Day Out programs.

As with most of these hostess parties... one of the KEY elements is having a hostess with connections and drive.

[suzyq111]

i've done them..i say from experience this only works if the HOSTESS is well connected and is MOTIVATED BY EARING PORTRAITS (but can easily PAY for them) I had mediocre results but i blame that on the hostesses i chose...HTH..