Company Christmas Parties

[petehalsted]

I figure that if I want to do some company christmas parties this year, I should be beating the bushes real soon. Since I've never done them I would appreciate any info hints from those that have. Here's a few questions that come to mind, but please fill in any info you think is important.

1. How do you charge, X$ for X hours or X prints. I assume you want some kind of guartee from the company, doesn't seem like the kind of thing you would shot spec.
2. What types of packages/prices did you offer beyound the "included" print that the company paid for. I assume since the company is "paying your time" your prices are lower than standard spec event prices.
3. Did you offer 1 background or ?. What size did you need.
4. Any other equipment. I have a 3 light 600w novatron. and a 10x20 muslin but I don't have any type of portable system to hold the muslin.
5. Best way to get these jobs. Mailing to local factories, etc. Cold call and ask for person that plans events. Or physically visit the person with samples in hand? or ??
6. Guess this should have been the first question. Are these events profitable and worth the effort?

Thanks for any input.

[Neil_Copeland]

Pete,
I haven't shot any company Christmas parties digitally yet, but I have put in a couple of bids on them for the upcoming season.

I do have some experience with them from my film days and found out a couple of things from that experience. First of all, work out some deal where you either agree to some kind of minimum for which the company pays you directly, which may or may not include prints of table shots, candids, or (best of all) employee couples or groupings. Going strictly on spec is a hit or miss proposition for sure.

If you have a good bit of spec involved, make sure it isn't an after work party as opposed to an evening affair of some kind. You may only make your minimum with an afternoon deal because folks just come in their work clothes, don't have spouses, and don't buy photos.

At the good parties I don't set up a background because they usually have a nice Christmas tree or decorated area that works well for this. Many are done in nice hotels that usually have a good sitting area near the party room where you can utilize the seating area and decor, and you can usually arrange with hotel staff to use that. Generally a two light setup is fine...umbrella or softbox on stands, front and backlight. If you must use a background, carry a 10x20 muslin and get a decent portable background you can put in a 4 foot softbag (around $300).

Referrals from other jobs I do have usually gotten me the calls for this kind of work, but cold calls can work if you reach the right person, usually one of the major secretaries in the office winds up handling things.

The big question...are they worthwhile? My answer would have been that it depends on the deal you struck. Mine used to range from lousy to great, but I would think with digital it's a whole new ballgame. If you don't have anything else scheduled during that time, it should be worthwhile to try it.

Good luck.
Neil

[petehalsted]

Thanks for your insights, can you give me any ideas on the type of pricing you used? Both for the company and for the prints.

Thanks Again

[MurrayEnglander]

Pete,
Corporate parties: I charge a flat hourly rate, two hour minimum telling the client we can print up to 100 prints per hour. While I also have a time & piece pricing, I have found companies and committees do not want to be in a guessing game of how many photos will be needed.
Will we really do 100 prints per hour? Most of the time not, since individual couples take more time to pose. Trying my best, I can do 75 per hour, with an slower photographer more like 50-60 per hour. However, what always happens after the party is on for awhile and there have been a few drinks consumed, the "groups" start coming over for photos and that is when the picture count starts jumping and 100 per hour is not uncommon.
Wednesday I was at Keystone for a conference and we had printed 300 photos in 2 3/4 hours.

We print only 5x7's with the D50's. As far as actually figures go, I have heard as low as $400 to a high of $850 an hour being charged.There are also those that charge a flat $10 per photo fee. As always, you have to calculate your possible costs and determine an acceptable profit margin.

Murray

[ July 20, 2001: Message edited by: Murray Englander ]