Who here runs a photo booth at their weddings?

PMCphotography wrote in post #9077194
I think, quite honestly, they are the stupidest things to to have setup at a wedding. I think it's gimmicky and i think the photographer who sets one up would be much better served watching for natural interactions between the guests at the wedding and capturing those. I'll leave the gimmicky/novelty sideshow (no matter how many "extra dollars" it would make me) to others and concentrate on getting shots of the bride and groom and their guests NOT acting like drunken jackasses. I'm sure friends will get plenty of those later on their point and shoots.

I would guess that you havent shot that many weddings? Maybe when you have more experience you will be able to see the logical space a photo booth fits into during the wedding day. It doesnt have to be gimmicky or detract from coverage of the bride and groom, its just an addition to the days coverage that in my experience many bride and grooms enjoy having.

I dont think any B&G are gonna hire a wedding photographer based soley on them offering a photo booth but its an added extra that is another hook to get people to book you in the same way that good albums or other things you offer additional to the photos are.

Everyone is entitled to their own opnion of course but I think yours is being formed too quickly.

I think they're great. I've setup a home made one for some events (I don't do weddings) and they are always a big hit with the guests and they're a very profitable money maker for me.

I think you're just being really too sensitive and I agree, when you get more experience, you'll be happy to accommodate your customers however they wish and realize that money is money. Your quality and standards, and even reputation have nothing to do with it.

I'd rather not be known as the stodgy old photographer that is stuck in their ways. I'd rather be on the cutting edge and using techniques and tools to make money.

But, more power to you I guess.

I also think a photo booth is a great idea, if you're shooting a wedding of a decent size there's no way you can get a photo of every guest, by setting up something like this the end result is the couple has a photographic record of everyone at their wedding that they can look back and laugh at in years to come. I would look to run it as a complementary optional add on, so I'd do my usual stuff throughout the day and have this as something different. Hypothetical numbers, but if you charge the couple $500for the booth which get them all the digital photos and a big poster with everyone on it and you pay an assistant $200 to set up and man all day that's $300 in the back pocket you otherwise wouldn't have got and the couple is thrilled with the result. If they don't think it's a classy thing for their wedding then they don't book it, no big deal.

PMCphotography wrote in post #9078571
Well, there's a local photographer who does one at every wedding, and he's known as "the photo booth guy..."

I'd rather not be known as that.

What ARE you known as, then?

I helped out at a wedding and did a photo booth and it was a pretty big hit!

I went to a wedding in Scotland last year.

The photographer took a photo of every couple as they were "introduced" to the B&G going in to the reception.

Later on you went & looked at your photo and they printed it there & then if you wanted.

£10 for 10x8.

At a guess they sold 90 photos.

bigrob wrote in post #9078991
I went to a wedding in Scotland last year.

The photographer took a photo of every couple as they were "introduced" to the B&G going in to the reception.

Later on you went & looked at your photo and they printed it there & then if you wanted.

£10 for 10x8.

At a guess they sold 90 photos.

Bah. No one wants to be known as the guy that makes an extra 900 quid, do they?

PMCphotography wrote in post #9077194
I think, quite honestly, they are the stupidest things to to have setup at a wedding.

Well, so is the chicken dance but you still see it whether you want to or not.

There is nothing natural about a wedding day - it's all scripted by the clergy, DJ and you.

Man... your gigs must resemble funerals.

TheHoff wrote in post #9079050
Bah. No one wants to be known as the guy that makes an extra 900 quid, do they?

Or the creative guy.

Or the fun guy.

Or the guy that gave Crazy Cousin Elliott something to do besides staring at the brides breast all night.

PCMphotography, what stops you from watching the action and the bride and groom? I think everyone here is in agreement that you hire someone else to shoot it; your assistant, your second photographer, or best friend. With this they idea that dont have to have the best equipment to make the photos turn out great. Give them a Canon XS, even a kit lens, put it in manual and set it all up yourself. Dont let them change any of the settings and shoot in jpg. Seems like you can get pretty great pics as an addition, and it wont cost you much at all.

PMCphotography wrote in post #9078354
Why not? because I'd rather be known for the strength of my photographs than "that guy who does the photo booths"...

I don't think Nate Kaiser is known as "that guy who does the photo booths".

I would definitely LOVE to have a photo booth like that at my next large wedding.

Anyone recommend a good quality fast printer?

You guys should check out StudioATG; they are the MASTERS of photobooth funness. These photos actually ADD to the "strength of their photos."

http://www.studioatgbl​og.com …cfm?q=photo+boo​th&x=0&y=0

RT McAllister wrote in post #9079175
Well, so is the chicken dance but you still see it whether you want to or not.

There is nothing natural about a wedding day - it's all scripted by the clergy, DJ and you.

Man... your gigs must resemble funerals.

Now there's an idea....How about a photo booth at funerals to lighten things up a bit!

JRB wrote in post #9080397
Now there's an idea....How about a photo booth at funerals to lighten things up a bit!

I like it. 9 ft seamless behind the casket, lots of uplighting. What a hoot!

Speaking as a former bride here, I think they're a great way to get memorable photos of your guests. Candids are good, but so many in my album are awkward shots of friends mid-sentence as they spent time catching up with each other.