They say a picture speaks a thousand words, so why not create a visual masterpiece with your guests? Photography at any event is important, but is through the lens of a limited number of people. Your professional photographer is just that, a professional. They will take snaps of the event so that you can revisit and share the important moments with your guests and others who may have not been able to attend – but what about the moments in between? Capturing spontaneity, laughter, fun and excitement is best done when your guests are in control of the images of themselves.
This is by no means discounting the role of a photographer at an event, whether it be a wedding, birthday or corporate event, your professional photographer will be capturing the important moments and ensuring that they are visually documented. The role of a photo booth is to add another dynamic to your event. It provides an interactive means whereby your guests can provide a visual expression of their experience on the day. Who doesn’t like to take selfies without holding a camera phone?
By having a photo booth at your event, you are capturing the inner child of everyone who is attending. Make the experience fun by having props (which most photo booth suppliers can provide) or getting your guests to make their own props like speech bubbles or signs. The possibilities are endless!
As this trend only emerged recently, there are a few things you need to keep in consideration when researching a photo booth provider:
• Make sure your supplier is reputable. Check their references and ask them about how their booth is set up. The last thing you want is a poorly slapped together booth that looks tacky and really doesn’t provide the service you have paid for.
• Ask what is included in the package. A base price may be limited to the booth itself, attendant and hours of rent. It may not include things as props or guest book. Make sure you discuss with the supplier what you are looking for and ask for a quote with all inclusions you want. Most packages are calculated on hourly basis and provide different options for inclusions. So when your planning your event, think about if you want the booth for the whole event or only part of it. Read the package options and see if they fit what you are looking for. If you want the whole shebang be prepared to pay top price.
• Attendant please! Every photo booth company should have an attendant manning the booth. This is to ensure that your guests know what to do and to ensure a smooth transition from one guest or group of guests to another. If an attendant is an optional extra, cross them off your list.
• Collect and share. Ask the supplier if they provide digital copies of the pictures taken or if there is a webpage you can send to your guests to share the photos taken at your event. People love looking back at spontaneous moments, it would be a shame if you couldn’t share them.
Having a photo booth provides a little unadulterated fun and spice to an event and is well worth having. Your guests will love it, and the photos you will have will speak a thousand words of hilarious fun!