Who here runs a photo booth at their weddings?

[TheHoff]

Originally Posted by bigrob

Can you please explain a bit more how you set this up?

It sounds like a great idea & I'd like to try it.

Thanks

I posted a thread here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=470834

[bigrob]

Thanks Hoff

[ETERNAL]

I was at a wedding a few weeks ago. They made a home made booth (black sheets around a PVC frame). They have a 50D hooked up remotely to a computer with flash and all. The laptop had a program and you pressed F4 (all other keys covered). The screen counted down from 5-0 and it took a picture. It took 5 pictures, then showed you the previews and said thanks for coming to our wedding.
The couple then uploaded the pictures to snapfish and we can now purchase pictures of ourselves or the other guests. Its so funny the pictures people took of themselves!!!

[Red Tie Photography]

Just a quick question i had about this. If you had a person running the "photo booth", would you find it tacky to have a tip jar? I think it might, but wanted to see your ideas.

[tim]

Tacky.

[TheHoff]

Hella tacky.

[Red Tie Photography]

Thanks guys, that is what i thought.

[mattograph]

"Will work for food" has a certain ring to it, though.

[DizzyV6P]

I've already seen this at 2 weddings. This company set-up a custom-made collapsable booth and has an attendant manning it. The guests go crazy in the thing. You mix a big party/wedding, lots of drunk guests and you get a huge hit and the B/G get tons of funny pictures. My dj partner that just got married had one and got over 500 photos on a CD. They were charge around $1200 for four hours of "work." Hmm.....tempting business model.

[Peacefield]

Originally Posted by mattograph

If one of your perspective clients asked you if you do photo booths, would you look them in the eye and tell them, "No. I think its a gimmick. I would rather be known for my superior images."

I doubt it. Because here's the real truth. There are probably 25 or 50 guys in your market that take images as good or better than yours. And if they offer the client more value, or more importantly WHAT THEY WANT, they will get the job.

I wish I had more competition like you.

Well, I'm coming to this discussion about five pages after it began.

I don't do photobooths and have no plans for one as they don't fit into my marketing plan. My style of photography can be described as classical and timeless. My clients lean towards the sophisticated and traditional. There's nothing about a photobooth that fits this picture. I met with a prospect last night who made it a point to tell me that she hates selective color and dismisses it as something gimmicky. I agree, of course, it's just nice to hear clients say it. Well, if she thinks selective color is gimmicky, what must she think of a photobooth? Or even a professional photographer who offers one?

So, Mattograph, it's really about knowing your target customer. I don't feel that there are 25-50 guys with images just like mine. I work very hard to create a distinctive style and look and it regularly attracts a very specific clientele. That client has no interest in a photobooth. If yours or others do, great, if that's the client you wish to pursue.

I can only suggest more fully understanding the wedding photography marketplace as something broader and more complex. There are a lot of layers and segments. For me, just the availability of a photobooth would harm my credibility with my target client.

[PMCphotography]

Well said, Peacefield.

[jonwhite]

Originally Posted by Peacefield

Well, I'm coming to this discussion about five pages after it began.

I don't do photobooths and have no plans for one as they don't fit into my marketing plan. My style of photography can be described as classical and timeless. My clients lean towards the sophisticated and traditional. There's nothing about a photobooth that fits this picture. I met with a prospect last night who made it a point to tell me that she hates selective color and dismisses it as something gimmicky. I agree, of course, it's just nice to hear clients say it. Well, if she thinks selective color is gimmicky, what must she think of a photobooth? Or even a professional photographer who offers one?

So, Mattograph, it's really about knowing your target customer. I don't feel that there are 25-50 guys with images just like mine. I work very hard to create a distinctive style and look and it regularly attracts a very specific clientele. That client has no interest in a photobooth. If yours or others do, great, if that's the client you wish to pursue.

I can only suggest more fully understanding the wedding photography marketplace as something broader and more complex. There are a lot of layers and segments. For me, just the availability of a photobooth would harm my credibility with my target client.

Aren't you the same person that said you "keep an eye on Craigs list for opportunities"

That seems kinda at odds with the clientele you say your serving.

BTW you do realize that whilst your dismissing selective color you have one in your online gallery don't you?

[tsw910]

never knew a photobooth will end one's career as a wedding photographer ..

[jonwhite]

Photo booths arent for everyone but some of the opinions that are being voiced here are with little or no knowledge about how they can be done well and how it can be a business advantage, each to their own though of course.

[cdifoto]

The upside to a booth with a tip jar is that you'd only have to pay the attendant waitress wages. In the US, that's $2.13 an hour.