My event and on scene trailer. PICS

[43 North]

So I thought I would post this up to share since I did a search and did not find anything. A little background on this trailer....... I bought it new a couple of years ago and it is an enclosed gun metal grey Interstate trailer.

The in cab enclosed length is 14 feet. It has a fold down rear ramp door and a side man door. When I bought the trailer I added the work bench and peg board. I also wired the entire trailer for AC power with a plug on the outside to hook up to an outlet or generator. There are three plug ins within the trailer and two sets of florescent lights. All of the outlets, switches, and wiring is rated for 20amps so adding heaters etc. is no problem. I also have a 12v RV deep cycle battery wired up in the trailer with a large AC converter that can run the equipment for a short while if I do not want to setup the generator.

Sorry for the crappy pictures but they were point and shoot camera in the rain :D




This first picture was taken standing at the end of the fold down ramp. Just an overall shot. In the lower right corner the yellow thing is a small suuuuper quiet generator that can run the trailer. The long table is a fold up one that stores along side one of the walls. Directly above it between the sets of lights is a power plug set that can run laptops etc. if needed. Also folding chairs along the right wall.

http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/trailer1.jpg



In this picture is just a general picture of the work bench. I just installed the computer and monitor today. Also mounted to the ceiling is a CD player/radio that runs off a power inverter, gotta have tunes right? :cool: Don't mind the tools and other items, I do use this trailer for other things from time to time. :p

http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/trailer2.jpg




I set this computer up with two hard drive hot swap bays, when pictures are downloaded on scene they are put on the original drive and then backed up onto these two other drives so there is a total of three records. This should help in not losing any data :oops: I also have a battery backup surge protected supply next to the computer. The large tote is actually my version of a Vagabond. It contains a similar battery power supply like next to the computer. I have wired the tote so that when you flip up the clear plastic tops there are AC plugins. It can also store some small photog items. The great thing is it is on wheels so just pull and go. When it is stored it plugs into AC power to recharge.

http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/trailer3.jpg



Any other questions or comments are welcomed.

[kmarriner]

I want to know more about this battery tote.

[43 North]

I want to know more about this battery tote.

Tomorrow when it is not raining I will go out and take some more in depth pictures to post up.

[J.Napier]

43,
I have a similar setup but mine can be easily pulled out and brought indoors at some of the other events I cover.
If you go to my Blog ling below scroll to the bottom and you can see it there.
Thanks for sharing yours.

[43 North]

43,
I have a similar setup but mine can be easily pulled out and brought indoors at some of the other events I cover.
If you go to my Blog ling below scroll to the bottom and you can see it there.
Thanks for sharing yours.

Nice Jeff! How are the viewing stations setup? Do they each monitor have a PC attached to it? Can you please explain in more detail how your operation runs? I don't see any printers so I assume you sell on the web and outsource prints?

I like the cabinets that you have as well. Nice truck by the way..... :cool:



One thing I am wondering is when do you "open" for business at these events? After it is over? Or do you have an assistant in the trailer and come back every so often to download new pictures? Any more info on working during an event etc. would be great!

[sspellman]

Your trailer looks like a good asset, but how does it add value to your services and business?

[43 North]

Your trailer looks like a good asset, but how does it add value to your services and business?

I am not sure at this point. To be honest with you minus the computer that I installed in it yesterday, the trailer has been setup like this for over a year. I used it for a small dune buggy that I used to own. I just figured that since I no longer have the dune buggy this is the direction I would start to take the trailer....... make sense?

So if anything it is more of a convenient place to house all of my gear and for it to be mobile. Not sure if this answers your question.....

[golfecho]

I am wondering, like Scott what the end-game is? I have seen folks covering large High School sporting events (like major rowing regattas) where they have someone out on the bridge shooting multiple shots of every boat that goes by, and then a runner taking the memory cards to someone in their "trailer" who sorts and sets up the photos on a display for instant (on site) printing. This is a scenario that I can easily see a trailer like yours being used for. But from your posting, I am wondering if you have the cart before the horse? Are you going to develop your photography business/model based on what you have in your driveway, or are you going to build or develop a business target and model and then equip yourself accordingly?

[43 North]

I am wondering, like Scott what the end-game is? I have seen folks covering large High School sporting events (like major rowing regattas) where they have someone out on the bridge shooting multiple shots of every boat that goes by, and then a runner taking the memory cards to someone in their "trailer" who sorts and sets up the photos on a display for instant (on site) printing. This is a scenario that I can easily see a trailer like yours being used for. But from your posting, I am wondering if you have the cart before the horse? Are you going to develop your photography business/model based on what you have in your driveway, or are you going to build or develop a business target and model and then equip yourself accordingly?

Again guys...... my point is that I already had this setup as is, all I did is install the computer, which I actually had sitting around as well. My thinking is that it did not cost me ANYTHING as it was all already done. I have not done anything with event photography before, only portraits. My initial thinking was a quick way to have all of my equipment mobile for portraits as well as a good storage area. That way if doing say a senior shoot outdoors all I have to do is hook up and go.

This would allow me quick access to all my gear, a great place for outfit changes, a place to dump memory cards when they are full, a place to get out of the weather if it goes south, etc.

The idea of the event photography just kind of evolved when I realized what the possibilities were for the future. I am sorry that my title may be a little missleading because I did but the word "event" in it, but my initial conception was for the "on scene" part of the title which is what I am referring to when talking about the outside senior shoots.

Thanks for the feedback and again I am just exploring potential avenues that I could go down.

[shphoto32]

Wow, that's a pretty sweet setup. It'd be a great setup for quick turn around stuff. Like processing some images from the wedding for a reception. You could get one of those fancy printers in there and print out 8x10s. I like it.

[dinko]

you should put in some vinyl flooring and pimp the rest of that thing out...

looks awesome i'm sure a lot of people are jealous of you right now haha.

[WillMass]

These photos are about 6 years old, from right after I put it on the road. There have been numerous upgrades since then, but you get the idea.

http://www.redlineeventphoto.com/id13.html

[J.Napier]

Nice Jeff! How are the viewing stations setup? Do they each monitor have a PC attached to it? Can you please explain in more detail how your operation runs? I don't see any printers so I assume you sell on the web and outsource prints?

I like the cabinets that you have as well. Nice truck by the way..... :cool:



One thing I am wondering is when do you "open" for business at these events? After it is over? Or do you have an assistant in the trailer and come back every so often to download new pictures? Any more info on working during an event etc. would be great!

43,
To see my view station setup or how it works go to Photo Parata and have a look around. That is the software I use.
I can run up to 10 monitors with one PC, I curently have 5 but hope to add another 4-5 soon. A dedicated server would ultimetly be best, but for now I run a Quad core with 4 gig of ram for injestion but XP only recoginizes 3 of it. I use an other duplicate machine for fullfilment and processing orders.
There are other opitions that you could have virtually unrestricted moitors but that requires a different hardware than what I am running right now but may switch to later. The size of the shows that I am doing right now does not require anymore than 5-10.
I do have photos you would just need to go to my website to see those. I do have a DNP DS 80 Dye sub printer but it was not set up in this photo, it normally would set on the bench top behind the PC's.
I to bought this trailer a few years back for my construction business and it evolved into this as my photography business has grown. I have figured that I would also use this for location senior shoots. The trailer came as you see it with cabinets and all. I will add another table on the other side with 4-5 more monitors this spring for baseball/softball tourneys but using smaller tables to allow more people in comfortably.
Thanks for the truck compliments I actually came to your neck of the woods (Kellogg) 4 years ago to pick it up, course it wasnt quite as tall nor had nearlly double the price of the truck invested into it at that time.... lol. Where in Idaho are you? I have some friends in Boise.
It would take me awhile to explain and for you to absorb all that went into building this system but I can answer questions as you read and research when needed. Just send a PM as it wont take up valuable space here.
it depends on the event/sport that we are covering as to how the cards get to the person doing the ingesting but its fairly all the same. Cheer events move at light speed it seems like so you need a runner but most others can be done with two people but three works best.
As soon as we get there we set up and try to see if anyone is interested in signing up for us to foucs on theier athelete, but we try to shoot everyone we normally have the photos up by the time the game or routine is over, agian cheer/dance happens so fast but we still get them up with in minutes of them finishing there routine.
Thats it in a nutshell. First thing is be comortable with the photgraphy end of things sports/events. Second get your equipment together and know how to use it and its ins and outs. Third get some events to cover and see what happens.
Of course this all goes without mentioning the legal aspect license,insurance and so on but you get the picture Im sure.
We will talk more Im sure.

[43 North]

So per a persistant request ;) here is the battery box I put together..... I am kind of a piece it together kind of guy so let me explain how this came about.


I purchased the case at Home Depot for around $30 if I remember correct for a different project that fell through. As you can see in this photo I have installed an AC outlet, 12v plug ins, and some other 12v connectors. You can see the pull out handle to the left that allows to roll the tote around.
http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/box1.jpg


You can see under the lid how the wiring is done. I do not have the 12v power hooked up right now as you can see, but could easily add a gel cell battery anytime. There is a yellow plastic tool type tray that lifts out that is not in the pictures, this provides for some other storage.
http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/box2.jpg


This just shows the backup battery supply that I am using. My work was going to throw this away so I snagged it to see what I could do with it. All it needed was two new batteries inside of it and it was back to new. Yes the foam blocks are very high tech to hold it in place. :)
http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/box3.jpg

The power supply is a "Smart UPS" series. I did a bit of research and found out this supply actually provides a true sign wave instead of the common modified wave therefore making it safe for strobes. You can see the hole that I cut in the back of the tote where the power cord for the power supply pulls through to plug in and charge. On the back of the supply there are 4 different AC outlets. I just created my own cord to connect and plug in the AC outlet that was installed on the tote lid. To use the supply on battery power you just simply turn on the power button. When you are not using it just shut it off. It works good because when I plug it in to charge it does not turn on the power supply, just charges the batteries in it. To be honest I have not put it through a long photo shoot yet that will test how long the batteries will last. If I remember correctly there is a total of 24 amp hours with the two batteries. Again I kind of just had most of this stuff laying around that I put together. I also like that I can pack more stuff in the tote when I need it and roll it around. Truthfully, I will end up getting a Vagabond someday :)
http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/box4.jpg

[sspellman]

Mike-

When I think of my photography business, I try to make investments of time and resources that will bring the most benefit or provide me a competetive advantage. You know your business best, but it doesn't seem to me that this acomplishes that and that there is some aditional cost to use this. Plus, with a desktop computer bolted to the floor I would be very worried about hard drive errors caused by vibration. New lenses, studio lights, on site printer, advertising, etc could be better investments for your business.

-Scott

[43 North]

Mike-

When I think of my photography business, I try to make investments of time and resources that will bring the most benefit or provide me a competetive advantage. You know your business best, but it doesn't seem to me that this acomplishes that and that there is some aditional cost to use this. Plus, with a desktop computer bolted to the floor I would be very worried about hard drive errors caused by vibration. New lenses, studio lights, on site printer, advertising, etc could be better investments for your business.

-Scott

Scott you have some very good advice, very much from a business perspective. What I don't think people understand about me is that this is really not a business for me but more of a hobby. At this point I could really care less about any kind of competative advantage. I have a fantastic and well paying career in my day job that I would never give up. Plus in the community I live in there really is not any competition for photography in and of itself. The photog stuff to me is a fun and healthy hobby. Many may look at this post and think that it is a little excessive for a hobby. To all his own..... right? :D

[TAZorich]

Here's a shot of my event trailer...
http://www.eventphotonow.com/EPNT/EPNT.jpg

[43 North]

Now that is a trailer!!!

[J.Napier]

Scott you have some very good advice, very much from a business perspective. What I don't think people understand about me is that this is really not a business for me but more of a hobby. At this point I could really care less about any kind of competative advantage. I have a fantastic and well paying career in my day job that I would never give up. Plus in the community I live in there really is not any competition for photography in and of itself. The photog stuff to me is a fun and healthy hobby. Many may look at this post and think that it is a little excessive for a hobby. To all his own..... right? :D

Mike,
Do what makes you happy. Sometimes its not about dollars and OR sense.:D
Prior to this last year most everthing I did photography wise was a hobby, yet in perperation to become a business.
I might recomend that if you do intend on trying to recover some of your investments. Do some research on different aspects of what you are hoping to accomplish and make purchases to reflect that end.
With that said, what you have shown or bought already to this point is in no way a bad investment all can be utilized towards the goal of onsite event setup.
With all do respect to Scott, what you do with your $$$ is your business.
Hell I got 15k invested in telescope equipment that I raeley use or will ever make a $ from. A 20k 30' sailboat setting in the water that I rearely use. And 90k invested into a truck that ill never get the money out of.
Sometimes its about want not need. Oh anybody interested in a slightly used pickup or boat? Then I could get that 400mm 2.8 I've been wanting for the occasonal feild sports I like to shoot...lol.

[J.Napier]

TAZorich,
Nice setup .

[43 North]

So I did a little addition today as I have been talking with some of the local motocross groups to do event photos. I added this shelving and will use older laptops as the viewing stations. Will the shelf space I can have 4 comfortable viewing stations, 6 if I want things to be a little tighter. As you can see in the second photo I anchored the shelves to the brackets, to my surpise doing this made them very stable. The great thing is I can quickly disconnect the shelves if I need to use my trailer for other things. The third picture is a network switch which will connect the viewing stations back to the main computer in the front of the trailer. I already had the switch and am only into the shelving about $45. I think it will work out well.

http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/trailershelf1.jpg

http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/trailershelf2.jpg

http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/trailershelf3.jpg

[TAZorich]

A few words of wisdom about having customers INSIDE your trailer:
- Make sure there's nothing they can bump into with their heads. Think of kids, too.
- Make sure you don't leave any camera gear, loose computer gear, or access to a cash box/drawer within easy reach.
- Make sure your trailer is supported on jack stands on ALL FOUR corners.

Good luck; looks like your wheels are turning. I'll be interested to see how much you learn in your first season!

[43 North]

A few words of wisdom about having customers INSIDE your trailer:
- Make sure there's nothing they can bump into with their heads. Think of kids, too.
- Make sure you don't leave any camera gear, loose computer gear, or access to a cash box/drawer within easy reach.
- Make sure your trailer is supported on jack stands on ALL FOUR corners.

Good luck; looks like your wheels are turning. I'll be interested to see how much you learn in your first season!

Yes good advice. Will see how this works out.... Hope it does but can revamp things if it doesnt. Already had thought about "loose" items that people could steal, think I have that covered.

[43 North]

I just finished up my viewing stations. Also a photo of the printing station. Next week I will Rhino line the inside of the trailer. That should wrap things up as far as setup.

http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/trailerviewing.jpg

http://www.43northphotography.com/pictures/trailerprinter.jpg

[DDCSD]

Mike, awesome setup! Ever get it rhino-lined?


Thanks, everyone, for sharing your set-ups.

[tatunka2135]

Mike;

My very first post here. You did one heck of a great job on your trailer, something to be proud of. One of the things I like most is the fact that you have recycled much of items you used for this project. I applaud your forward thinking and giving yourself flexability to change your design for other purposes.

I completely understand how and why this project came about. You have a great many options in front of you with only your desires, thought and elbow grease to slow you down.

I would be interested in seeing a pic of the final outcome sometime, It's going to be great!

Tat:D

[43 North]

Thanks guys for your comments. Yes I did end up doing a spray in bedliner. I went with Rustolium brand, $40/gallon at Walmart. I used a texture spray gun with my air compressor to spray it in. I sprayed the floor and went up 6 inches on the side of the walls. I ended up using 3 gallons to complete the trailer. I am very happy with the results for the price I paid. To clean up all I do is sweep, vacuum, and then mop the floor. Dries fast and I love it.

I uploaded a newer picture above of my printing station as I now run 3 printers. I have used my trailer at three different motocross events and has proved to be a great thing to have. I have received several compliments at the events.

I also graphiced it with my business name. Funny thing is that I was using the trailer to pick up a bunch of new laminate flooring the other day and stopped by a sporting goods store. One of the female employees asked about my business and expressed interest in getting some baby pictures done soon. Gave her my card to check out the website and to have my contact info. So the advertising part is great too.

[Augphoto]

Great stuff here. Anyone else have event trailer specs, ideas, or photos. Would be great to see more.

[Electric Monk]

Love the trailer, and the laptops are a good idea for those times your short on juice. As a thought, why not use a couple of touch screen machines like these: Asus EEE Top (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220017&cm_re=eeetop-_-83-220-017-_-Product) for the preview machines? The only down side I see being the wear and tear being more expensive to replace after awhile, but that type of traffic typically means your doing enough business that replacements wouldn't be too rough on your income.

[43 North]

Love the trailer, and the laptops are a good idea for those times your short on juice. As a thought, why not use a couple of touch screen machines like these: Asus EEE Top (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220017&cm_re=eeetop-_-83-220-017-_-Product) for the preview machines? The only down side I see being the wear and tear being more expensive to replace after awhile, but that type of traffic typically means your doing enough business that replacements wouldn't be too rough on your income.

Couple of reasons I went with the laptops as opposed to the touch screen type machines...... The laptops have the keyboard and mouse integrated. Setup is a snap as I store them in a plastic tubby when not in use. These older P3 and P4 IBMs are a dime a dozen, actually the ones you see in the picture I got for free.

At the next event I think I am actually going to setup an outside table with the laptops for people to view. Room runs out quickly inside the trailer when all the stations are being used, there is usually 2-3 people looking on one computer so you can do the math :)

Not in any of the pictures, I have added a full POS touch screen system to the trailer. Makes processing transactions and taking money sooooo much easier.

Thanks for all the feedback, I like to hear other people's ideas so keep them coming!

[wyofizz]

Guys,
What size trailers are they?

[43 North]

Guys,
What size trailers are they?

Mine is just a 14' single axle. Of course I wish I had a bit wider and longer but it works well and has enough room. I bought this trailer brand new for $3,000 so I really can't complain.

[wyofizz]

6 or 7' wide?

[josh5k]

43north - Did you get to use the trailer for any events yet? How has it worked for you these few months?

Any other improvements?

Thanks for sharing all this great info.

[43 North]

6 or 7' wide?

Mine is only 6' wide.

43north - Did you get to use the trailer for any events yet? How has it worked for you these few months?

Any other improvements?

Thanks for sharing all this great info.

I have used it at 4 events, works awesome. I recently upgraded the electrical in the trailer. It now has a breaker panel in it with the anticipation that I will be adding an air conditioning unit to the trailer.

I also ran conduit underneath the trailer tucked up along the frame and now have an outside plug on both sides of the trailer underneath. The wiring and plugs are rated for 20amps. This will give me flexibility to run outside lighting or display stations when I want to. I am very happy with my setup and in my opinion has been very cost effective since I have done all the work to build it.

[Electric Monk]

So at this point Mike, how are you powering everything?

[43 North]

So at this point Mike, how are you powering everything?

I have a 4300 watt Inverter type generator. It is very quiet and has a 30amp RV plug connector on it. That is the main type of wire that runs on the outside of my trailer to power the breaker box. Works great.

[Electric Monk]

what this price tag on such a generator, if you don't mind my asking?

[43 North]

what this price tag on such a generator, if you don't mind my asking?

Here is the link to the one I have. It is very nice and works well. The price is on the link but I did not pay that much for it.....

http://www.deere.com/en_US/parts/homeandworkshop/products/generators/ac_g4300i.html