Iowa · Birthday & Milestone Parties
Birthday Party Photographer in Des Moines, IA
Our own crews, not a marketplace: birthday party photography and video in Des Moines, retouched photos in about a week and the same price for every family.
- 750+ conferences · 2,200+ weddings
- Rated 5 stars
- Insured by State Farm: $1M / $2M
- Published prices, book & pay online
MacroSnaps in Des Moines
Birthday & Milestone Parties in Des Moines: photography & video
Milestone birthdays bring together people who don't always share a room: old friends, colleagues, family from out of town. Whether it's a first birthday, a 30th at a restaurant, a 50th with a band or a 70th with grandchildren, MacroSnaps photographers and videographers record who was there and how the evening felt, so the host can spend time with guests instead of organizing photos.
Des Moines is a major city in Iowa, home to roughly 210,000 people. Whether your birthday party is at Des Moines Art Center, Salisbury House & Gardens or a family home, your MacroSnaps crew arrives early to check light, angles and any venue rules.
For adult milestone parties we focus on the toasts, the cake and plenty of candid photos of guests talking and dancing, along with group photos of friends and family. For kids' parties we keep things quick and playful, working around entertainers, games and short attention spans, and getting the cake photos before the frosting is everywhere. Either way, tell us who matters most and we'll make sure they're in the gallery.
For a typical birthday party, clients in Des Moines book about 3 hours of photography ($450) and 2 hours of videography ($500). Photography is $250 for the first hour and $100 for each additional hour; videography is $300 for the first hour and $200 for each additional hour, with a 2-hour minimum. The first-hour price includes travel, so Des Moines costs the same as anywhere else we work, and there are no quotes to wait for.
What we capture
Key moments we photograph and film in Des Moines
Arrivals and greetings
Guests arriving and the guest of honor greeting them, often the best moment to catch reunions with people who haven't seen each other in years.
Toasts and speeches
Speeches from partners, children and friends, with the guest of honor's reactions.
The cake
Singing, the candles and the first slice, photographed from an angle that shows both the cake and the people around it.
Group photos
Organized photos of family, friends and colleagues, kept short so guests can get back to the party.
Candids and dancing
Natural photos of guests at the tables, at the bar and on the dance floor.
Kids' activities
For children's parties: entertainers, games, bounce houses, face painting and opening presents.
Venue and details
Décor, the table setting, signage and any personal touches like photo displays from earlier decades.
Pricing
Birthday & Milestone Parties photography & video prices in Des Moines
One published hourly rate for everyone, with a 2-hour minimum. No quotes, no negotiating: choose your hours and book online.
Photography
$250 first hour
+ $100 each additional hour
Typical birthday & milestone parties coverage: 3 hours = $450
Every photo edited and retouched, online gallery in about a week.
Book PhotographyVideography
$300 first hour
+ $200 each additional hour
Typical birthday & milestone parties coverage: 2 hours = $500
Highlight video set to music you choose, delivered in 2 to 4 weeks.
Book VideographyTypical for an evening milestone party; kids' parties are usually covered in 2 hours.
Minimum 2 hours · $250 first hour + $100 each additional hour
2 Hour Photography
$350
- 1 photographer
- 2 hours of coverage
- All pictures edited and retouched
- Online gallery of high-resolution pictures
- Raw pictures delivered on request
- Turnaround time: 1 week
3 Hour Photography
$450
- 1 photographer
- 3 hours of coverage
- All pictures edited and retouched
- Online gallery of high-resolution pictures
- Raw pictures delivered on request
- Turnaround time: 1 week
4 Hour Photography
$550
- 1 photographer
- 4 hours of coverage
- All pictures edited and retouched
- Online gallery of high-resolution pictures
- Raw pictures delivered on request
- Turnaround time: 1 week
5 Hour Photography
$650
- 1 photographer
- 5 hours of coverage
- All pictures edited and retouched
- Online gallery of high-resolution pictures
- Raw pictures delivered on request
- Turnaround time: 1 week
6 Hour Photography
$750
- 1 photographer
- 6 hours of coverage
- All pictures edited and retouched
- Online gallery of high-resolution pictures
- Raw pictures delivered on request
- Turnaround time: 1 week
7 Hour Photography
$850
- 1 photographer
- 7 hours of coverage
- All pictures edited and retouched
- Online gallery of high-resolution pictures
- Raw pictures delivered on request
- Turnaround time: 1 week
Local to Des Moines
Birthday & Milestone Parties around Des Moines
Tell us your venue when you book. If it needs a certificate of insurance, we send it before the event: MacroSnaps is insured through State Farm with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million general aggregate coverage.
Des Moines venues we cover
- Des Moines Art Center
- Salisbury House & Gardens
- Terrace Hill
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Iowa Events Center
Neighborhoods & areas
- East Village
- Court Avenue District
- Sherman Hill
- Beaverdale
- Drake neighborhood
- West Des Moines
Also serving nearby
- West Des Moines (6 mi)
- Urbandale (6 mi)
- Clive (6 mi)
- Johnston (7 mi)
- Altoona (8 mi)
- Ankeny (9 mi)
Around Des Moines
Best photo & video spots in Des Moines
Planning portraits, a first look or extra B-roll away from the venue? These are some of the most photographed places in and around Des Moines.
- 01
John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park
- 02
Iowa State Capitol
- 03
Gray's Lake Park
- 04
Principal Riverwalk
- 05
Water Works Park
To add a portrait or filming stop, book the extra hours and note the location for your crew. Some parks and landmarks require a permit or have set hours, so check before the day. Book online
Our work
Planning tips
Planning your coverage in Des Moines
Book the first half of the party
For most birthday parties, 2 to 3 hours covering arrivals, the toasts and the cake is enough. Ask us to arrive just before guests so we can photograph the room set up.
Schedule toasts and cake earlier
Holding the speeches and cake in the first two hours means you don't need to book coverage late into the night, and guests are still all present.
Give us a short group-photo list
Note the combinations you want, such as college friends, siblings or grandchildren. A list keeps group photos to a few minutes.
Consider a short highlight video
A 3 to 8 minute highlight video set to music you choose is a good way to keep the speeches and atmosphere of a 50th or 60th.
Professional photography doesn't have to be expensive
Why Des Moines clients choose MacroSnaps
13+ years, 750+ conferences, 2,200+ weddings
MacroSnaps and our parent company MacroHype have been photographing and filming for more than 13 years: over 750 corporate events and conferences and more than 2,200 weddings and private events. Des Moines gets the same experienced crews and standards we bring to every city we work in.
Prices published, not negotiated
Many vendors price by how much they think you can pay. We publish every rate: photography is $250 for the first hour and $100 for each additional hour, videography is $300 for the first hour and $200 for each additional hour, with a 2-hour minimum. Everyone pays the same price.
Insured by State Farm
We carry $1 million per occurrence and $2 million general aggregate liability coverage. If your venue needs a certificate of insurance, we send it before your event.
Our own network, not a marketplace
We are one company with our own photographers and videographers across all 50 states, Washington, DC, Ontario and Quebec, so the quality, editing and delivery standards stay the same wherever you book.
Book and pay online in minutes
Choose your service and hours, pick your date and pay securely. Your slot is reserved the moment you book, and your crew is confirmed by email.
Every image edited
All photos are edited and retouched and delivered in a private online gallery in about a week. Highlight videos are delivered in 2 to 4 weeks with music of your choice.
Simple booking
How booking a Birthday Party Photographer in Des Moines works
- 1
Choose your package
Pick the service and number of hours. Every price is published, so there are no quotes to wait for.
- 2
Book & pay online
Enter your date, start time and venue, then pay securely by card. Your slot is reserved the moment you book.
- 3
Your crew is confirmed
We assign a MacroSnaps photographer or videographer for your city and confirm the details by email.
- 4
Receive your gallery
Every photo is edited and retouched, then delivered in a private online gallery in high resolution.
FAQ
Birthday & Milestone Parties in Des Moines: common questions
Do you have a Birthday Party Photographer near Des Moines?
Yes. MacroSnaps has its own photographers and videographers working across Iowa, and we assign a crew for your birthday party in Des Moines as soon as you book. We also cover nearby West Des Moines, Urbandale and Clive. You deal with one company, with 13+ years of experience behind it, from booking to delivery.
How much does a Birthday Party Photographer cost in Des Moines?
The same as everywhere we work: photography is $250 for the first hour and $100 for each additional hour, so 3 hours is $450. Videography is $300 for the first hour and $200 for each additional hour, so 2 hours is $500. The minimum is 2 hours and the first-hour price includes travel to Des Moines.
What's the minimum booking for a birthday party?
The minimum is 2 hours. Photography starts at $350 for two hours, and videography starts at $500.
Do you photograph kids' birthday parties?
Yes. We cover first birthdays and children's parties, working around entertainers and games, and keeping group photos short.
Can you cover a surprise party?
Yes. We'll coordinate with you on timing and positioning so we're ready for the moment the guest of honor walks in.
How quickly will we receive the photos?
Every photo is edited and retouched, and your online gallery is usually ready in about one week.
Do you offer a photo booth?
Yes, a photo booth is available, and it works well at milestone birthdays where guests enjoy taking photos together.
Birthday & Milestone Parties near Des Moines
- Birthday Party Photographer in West Des Moines, IA
- Birthday Party Photographer in Urbandale, IA
- Birthday Party Photographer in Clive, IA
- Birthday Party Photographer in Johnston, IA
- Birthday Party Photographer in Altoona, IA
- Birthday Party Photographer in Ankeny, IA
- Birthday Party Photographer in Norwalk, IA
- Birthday Party Photographer in Grimes, IA
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Book your Birthday Party Photographer in Des Moines
Same published price for every client. Choose your hours, pick your date and pay securely online.