How do you charge for belly painting?

Today I painted my neighbor's belly. It was lots of fun and I want to do it again. She mentioned that she had told her friends that she was getting her belly painted and one friend, who is expecting twins expressed interest.
I know for parties it is an hourly rate and in our area that rate is usually between $75 and $150 an hour. And PPF events folks charge between $4 and $15 here.
But it didn't take long to paint the one belly.

Can you offer photography too? That way it becomes a package and you give the client a CD of images (as well as putting your portfolio together). Actually, I'm still waiting for my first paid belly gig, LOL!

I think I need to spend more timing actively promoting it...

So I was looking into belly painting and some other things as well..but this is the belly spot would you charge the same hourly rate as if your doing a party?

I charge $150 for a belly painting. This includes a consultation where I go to the clients house. Then I hit the drawing board and come up with several designs for them to choose from. If they live close by I also show them the designs before painting day to see what one they like . I then take 2-3 hours to paint a belly. I am extremely detailed oriented , and for me , this is the one time I can spend the time on a design!

I have even had people coming from out of town to have me paint them as they had seen my work and loved it:) I LOVE painting bellies. I also have teamed up with a photographer, who does amazing work, he really makes my art look great ! Everyone is different on how they do the bellies, I put an awful lot of time and work into every belly I do , this is what I do for a living so I charge for it

I was also thinking $150 a belly...I am so in love with this art form and it's just starting to take off for me I will post soon some of the new ones I have done..but to start with I did 3 free ones..then I started charging $60.. for the next 3..now I am charging $80 for the next 3..then I feel that I have a good enough portfolio going on..to start charging what it's really worth ..I also spend a fair chunk of time getting it together. I like to feel prepared so I can really enjoy the process... I am getting better at winging things now, but still feel I owe it to the customer to be striving for the best each time....Start where you are comfortable, be sure to tell them that you are doing it cheap to build up your portfolio..then your away..

freedspirit wrote:I was also thinking $150 a belly...I am so in love with this art form and it's just starting to take off for me I will post soon some of the new ones I have done..but to start with I did 3 free ones..then I started charging $60.. for the next 3..now I am charging $80 for the next 3..then I feel that I have a good enough portfolio going on..to start charging what it's really worth ..I also spend a fair chunk of time getting it together. I like to feel prepared so I can really enjoy the process... I am getting better at winging things now, but still feel I owe it to the customer to be striving for the best each time....Start where you are comfortable, be sure to tell them that you are doing it cheap to build up your portfolio..then your away..

I really like this idea! Thank you. I was planning on my first couple being free as well so this is great. Just what I was looking for in my help choosing a price.