Prom Pictures...

[steedmic]

think am going to give this a try this year starting to write down some ideas

[phaither]

why limit yourself with a photobooth? just get some silly props (hats, moustaches, etc.) and let them use them in front of the camera without the booth. i'm planning to do this for a bar mitzvah party (age 13, FYI) against a plain white background. throw in a white-board that they can write on and you're good to go!
faith

Originally Posted by phaither

why limit yourself with a photobooth? just get some silly props (hats, moustaches, etc.) and let them use them in front of the camera without the booth. i'm planning to do this for a bar mitzvah party (age 13, FYI) against a plain white background. throw in a white-board that they can write on and you're good to go!
faith

An automated photo booth is way easier than the portable photo studio. I've done both, and the automated booth is faster, easier, and way more fun for the guests.

And just FYI, the last Bat Mitzvah I brought the photo booth to had over 200 sessions in less than 4 hours. Girls that age go nuts over it.

[phaither]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

An automated photo booth is way easier than the portable photo studio. I've done both, and the automated booth is faster, easier, and way more fun for the guests.

And just FYI, the last Bat Mitzvah I brought the photo booth to had over 200 sessions in less than 4 hours. Girls that age go nuts over it.

i'm sure it's easier, but it's got to cost a pretty penny. i plan on leaving my set up (manned by another photog) and letting the kids use my remote shutter. i'll be running around getting other shots of the party. 200+ sessions, huh? that's a surefire way to get my brand all over facebook!!
f

Originally Posted by phaither

i'm sure it's easier, but it's got to cost a pretty penny. i plan on leaving my set up (manned by another photog) and letting the kids use my remote shutter. i'll be running around getting other shots of the party. 200+ sessions, huh? that's a surefire way to get my brand all over facebook!!
f

I build my own. I think materials run around $1500, over half of which is the printer. Construction takes about 40 hours.

My new design can fit in a small car though

Red Curtain Photo Booth | Facebook

There's a few blurry photos (taken with my wife's iPhone) of the photo booth on our facebook page.

[Biomech]

I'll +1 Photoboothguy there.

I run a photo booth, at a wedding we typically get 100-150 sessions over 3 hours (400-600 photos).

Website
All Inclusive Photo Booth Hire! - myPhotobooth in England & Wales, UK including photo booth hire for weddings in Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Worcester, Oxford, Cheltenham, Gloucester and more

Facebook "Photo of the Month" album
Picture of the Month | Facebook

After the heavy lifting and building, it's a case of stand there supervising (which can be very hard work - 6 hours flat out in a nightclub of 700 people :O). What's good about a photo booth is that it's prepaid, it's efficient, instant high quality prints and most of all a lot of fun.


gbk_mpb by C-17, on Flickr

I also shoot proms etc with backdrops, the couch sounds like a great idea, but I put my "prom kit" in my car and a couch wouldn't fit :P

The only thing I'm a little worried about with this is off-camera lighting. Right now, I don't even like to use the pop-up flash on my camera, and have no idea how to use a lighting set-up. Anyone have some advice on a simple lighting set-up?

If you're shooting groups all over the place the lighting will be an issue. I'd suggest a speedlight with a small umbrella or softbox in an S-type bracket on a light stand. You can then have a portable light source. However, you are creating a lot more work for yourself that way.

With a static setup (backdrop), you'll get through a lot more people and make a lot more money. I might average 60-80 customers over 3 hours at £10 per print. Some buy 1 copy, some buy 5. The turn around is pretty quick. Plus with the static lights you can take a light meter reading, test shot and that's it, you literally compose and shoot - unless some idiot turns off ALL the lights and you have 15 seconds to come up with a focus fix :P

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

I build my own. I think materials run around $1500, over half of which is the printer. Construction takes about 40 hours.

My new design can fit in a small car though

Red Curtain Photo Booth | Facebook

There's a few blurry photos (taken with my wife's iPhone) of the photo booth on our facebook page.

You should think about marketing your booths...

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

You should think about marketing your booths...

I was going to two years ago, but got lazy.

I've been rethinking it again lately. I've seen other people's booths, and have yet to find one that is better designed than mine. Most are shocked that mine weighs less than 100lbs (combined...it comes apart) and was designed to fit in a Volkswagon Jetta.

I'll probably test the waters soon...build another booth or two, and see if I can sell them.

[Biomech]

Mines a solid rig, needs a van too move :P and they seem to be the most common over here - generally going for £10,000 ($15,500). If you could build some of those, you could make a fortune :P