For the past 3 years we've done an 'open' photobooth - run it at weddings after dinner staffed by my second shooter/assistant.
Did it with what we had - monolight w/ umbrella, background stand with white fabric, camera on a tripod with an operator pushing the button, tethered to lightroom on a laptop, we crop as needed and add a border and print on a dye sub as single 4x6 prints. Only thing I had to buy was the printer ($1000ish).
Lots of brides prefer/expect a closed booth, and often when one thinks of photobooth they think 3 or 4 images on a strip. The 'word' is people are more, um, free, in a booth with nobody watching them.
OK, so I'll give it a try...now there are lots of booths for sale..$2500 to $8000, perhaps more. Talking to a photog out in kansas that runs 5 booths (all with hired labor - he sits home, books the dates and makes bank deposits) clearing just under $500/booth per gig. So i'm copying his concept.
I got a canon SL1 camera ($400), plan to use a speedlight (can get chinese ones for $150 but I have extras), laptop (have that). the booth will be a pipe and drape deal (under $600 w. carry bags). I have the printer, a button to make it 'go' is $30. And I have props.
Only thing I really need to come up with is a way to mount a screen, camera and flash and of course, the button...I think I have that figured out, about $100-150. Magic arm for the camera, light stand, grip and a VESA mount for the monitor..button not sure yet. Plywood? Duct tape? LOL. Industrial velcro perhaps. the pipe and drape covers the sides, the tripod with gear on it will be faced with a vertical banner with slots cut for the monitor and camera to stick through and it will hang from the overhead pipe - it willhave the directions on it, samples/suggestions, an ad for me of course. Rolls up and cost me under $30
Have an idea for transport...the printer is 40lbs. So thinking large wheels under a short sided plywood box. Stack bins in it and run a cargo strap over it. Put table and pipe and drape on it, vertically, and wrap a strap/bungee around that. One trip in...or so my thought thinks. A four foot table sits at the 'head' of the photobooth (4'wide booth) and on it sits the printer and laptop against the lightstand/tripod - support, close for wiring. I have some black cloth to cover it for now, will likely get a real skirt for appearance. Bins and bags fit under table during the event. Props will sit on a venue provided 8' table.
Probably have to add a 'modeling' light to provide general lighting in the booth.
Software is from Breeze Systems, $175. A touchscreen for running the software offers a lot more options (video, facebook, email).
Reading about booths there are stand up or sit down, hard or draped, open or closed. Video ones have issues with sound - DJ's are too loud LOL.
Wednesday I'll do a better setup, check out it's green screen capability, printing (it can save 'prints' to a folder, kinda cool) and ponder ways to cut the four x six prints into two 2x6 strips
Did it with what we had - monolight w/ umbrella, background stand with white fabric, camera on a tripod with an operator pushing the button, tethered to lightroom on a laptop, we crop as needed and add a border and print on a dye sub as single 4x6 prints. Only thing I had to buy was the printer ($1000ish).
Lots of brides prefer/expect a closed booth, and often when one thinks of photobooth they think 3 or 4 images on a strip. The 'word' is people are more, um, free, in a booth with nobody watching them.
OK, so I'll give it a try...now there are lots of booths for sale..$2500 to $8000, perhaps more. Talking to a photog out in kansas that runs 5 booths (all with hired labor - he sits home, books the dates and makes bank deposits) clearing just under $500/booth per gig. So i'm copying his concept.
I got a canon SL1 camera ($400), plan to use a speedlight (can get chinese ones for $150 but I have extras), laptop (have that). the booth will be a pipe and drape deal (under $600 w. carry bags). I have the printer, a button to make it 'go' is $30. And I have props.
Only thing I really need to come up with is a way to mount a screen, camera and flash and of course, the button...I think I have that figured out, about $100-150. Magic arm for the camera, light stand, grip and a VESA mount for the monitor..button not sure yet. Plywood? Duct tape? LOL. Industrial velcro perhaps. the pipe and drape covers the sides, the tripod with gear on it will be faced with a vertical banner with slots cut for the monitor and camera to stick through and it will hang from the overhead pipe - it willhave the directions on it, samples/suggestions, an ad for me of course. Rolls up and cost me under $30
Have an idea for transport...the printer is 40lbs. So thinking large wheels under a short sided plywood box. Stack bins in it and run a cargo strap over it. Put table and pipe and drape on it, vertically, and wrap a strap/bungee around that. One trip in...or so my thought thinks. A four foot table sits at the 'head' of the photobooth (4'wide booth) and on it sits the printer and laptop against the lightstand/tripod - support, close for wiring. I have some black cloth to cover it for now, will likely get a real skirt for appearance. Bins and bags fit under table during the event. Props will sit on a venue provided 8' table.
Probably have to add a 'modeling' light to provide general lighting in the booth.
Software is from Breeze Systems, $175. A touchscreen for running the software offers a lot more options (video, facebook, email).
Reading about booths there are stand up or sit down, hard or draped, open or closed. Video ones have issues with sound - DJ's are too loud LOL.
Wednesday I'll do a better setup, check out it's green screen capability, printing (it can save 'prints' to a folder, kinda cool) and ponder ways to cut the four x six prints into two 2x6 strips