After setting up the photo booth, make a precursory run through it and check for anything that could be a potential problem and deal with it then.
Make sure that all cables and cords are secured with cable ties and routed in areas where there will not be any foot traffic. If possible, even consider attaching the legs of the stands to the floor, possibly with duct tape. Since the light stand will be top-heavy, consider using sand bags to add some weight to the bottom. Thankfully, no one was hit and the umbrella was still functional after a little ‘persuasion', but this could have been avoided. Within 10 minutes of opening my photo booth, one of my light stands ended up lying on the floor, mangling the brand new umbrella that was attached. If anything is left unsecured, there is a chance it could take a tumble if it gets bumped or someone catches a foot on it in all the excitement. Be sure to eliminate or at least minimize any tripping hazards, such as cables, extension cords, tripod or light stand legs, etc. OK, so it is Tip #2, but safety should always be paramount, especially when we are photographing people, and particularly for a photo booth, because there is lots of activity, with people coming and going. As they say, if you fail to prepare, then you prepare to fail. Additionally, it is important to figure out the location of the nearest electrical outlets to plug in chargers, battery packs, lighting, or your laptop. However, it was still a good idea to set up several hours in advance to determine the best layout for the photo booth in relation to how the venue was arranged and the activities that were going to take place. For my particular experience, the event was being held in a location that I was familiar with, so I already had some idea of what to expect. This will help to increase your confidence level and also help to remove some of the variables so that you can focus on providing the best experience possible. There are a few things to look for on these reconnaissance missions that will help you prepare your gear and to make sure you have everything you need when the shoot starts. But if ever there is a time to be cheesy, a photo booth may be it! Scout the LocationĪs with most types of photography, but especially where portraits of people are involved, it's a good idea to scout out the location of the shoot to get a ‘lay of the land'. So, let's get started! This is a cheesy graphic.
Note that this article does not deal with the business side, such as how much to charge for your photo booth, insurance needs, or contracts, but rather the gear that is necessary and how to set it up. That's what I set out to do and this article provides some of the things I learned along the way. I knew that there had to be something in between, that would provide some decent images with good lighting, without being overly complex and expensive to set up.
What I found was information that was either over-simplified, using a point-and-shoot camera and maybe a flash, or a much more complicated system utilizing a full enclosure and lots of fancy (and expensive) gear that I don't have. Pretty simple, right? Well, there is a bit more to it than that, so I took to the internet to learn what I could about setting up a photo booth. After all, it's just a matter of setting up a camera, a light or two, and letting people take pictures of themselves. This wasn't a paid gig, but rather a favor for friends and something I wanted to try out. Recently, I was asked if I could set up a photo booth at a big surprise going-away party.
Not only is it a fun experience that will leave some fond memories, but the resulting photos can be a valuable keepsake for the guests who get involved as well as the event's honorees. Even those who generally don't like sitting in front of a camera will often break out of their shell, garner a few props, and take a few silly photos. They can be lots of fun and offer little pressure to those being photographed. Photo booths seem to have gained a lot in popularity, especially at weddings, but you may see them at birthday or retirement parties, or a variety of other gatherings. Most everyone has probably been to some type of event that had a photo booth set up for the guests.