Birth of a photobooth

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IceBurghDJ

DJ Extraordinaire
Apr 17, 2015
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Western Pennsylvania
iceburghdj.com
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
 
I did the P&D booth for a while. Dropped it. You'll find guests will jerk on the curtains and after almost watching the rig crash a few times, I gave up on it. Anytime they ask me whether it's open or closed, I tell them that mine is fully staffed (not automated) and open-air style. This allows us to shoot groups from 1 to 15. I've never had anyone mention wanting a closed booth so guests could be "free" to "express themselves". Closed booths invite trouble and trouble means you'll now have to scan every, single photo, on every shoot. The booth will cost you an extra hour (or more) per night for setup/teardown and that's not including the extra hassle of hauling or even paying for it. If you go the screen style, it's going to end up limiting the group sizes you can work with and will make it a selfie station. From a sales perspective, I'll go up against your concept anytime, anywhere and I'll win 95% of the time.
 
I work closely with several companies that provide each style. There are definitely pros & cons to each, but a good host/hostess at the front of the line is the key in the success. Whether a larger or small group, they coordinate the entrance & exit, along with any explanation or instructions that need to happen. They also monitor the props and ensure you don't lose them all before the night is over. They dictate the operation, not the guest. ;)

There should not be any filtering or scanning of the images. Just print them and give them. It's not your job to police what happens. I've seen some pretty crazy stuff. ;)

I think one of my photographer friends has the perfect setup; it's an enclosed unit, but can do small or very large groups. She likes to be set up in a corner, so she can utilize two hard surfaces, with one end for the camera setup and the open side for entrance/exit. The camera & printer with inside booth display is located in a mobile box. She'll set up the shot, then use a thumb trigger to take the shot. The rest is automated and spits out the image. It can print out multiples already cut, load directly to a previously set up cloud account, save to a disc, etc.... I know her husband spent some time creating it, but it's probably the nicest one I've seen that's been DIY.

I did the P&D booth for a while. Dropped it. You'll find guests will jerk on the curtains and after almost watching the rig crash a few times, I gave up on it. Anytime they ask me whether it's open or closed, I tell them that mine is fully staffed (not automated) and open-air style. This allows us to shoot groups from 1 to 15. I've never had anyone mention wanting a closed booth so guests could be "free" to "express themselves". Closed booths invite trouble and trouble means you'll now have to scan every, single photo, on every shoot. The booth will cost you an extra hour (or more) per night for setup/teardown and that's not including the extra hassle of hauling or even paying for it. If you go the screen style, it's going to end up limiting the group sizes you can work with and will make it a selfie station. From a sales perspective, I'll go up against your concept anytime, anywhere and I'll win 95% of the time.
 
There should not be any filtering or scanning of the images. Just print them and give them. It's not your job to police what happens. I've seen some pretty crazy stuff.

Yea right and a single panty shot, which you failed to cull from the digitals you delivered to the client is enough to get you fired from a repeat corporate client. Ask me how I know.
 
Must be dem nashville rednecks or sumthin' like dat maybe. Moonshine is big down there I saw this past summer. LOL

Kansas City Photo Booth By Booth Crazy is my, um, mentor. Booth can be 4-7' on any side. I'm considering getting 2 longer poles so it can be bigger/longer but I'll decide that tomorrow after some testing.

round here enclosed is 'the' standard and 'open air' is looked at as 'wtf?'
 
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OK...it's not on the schedule till tomorrow, but I got new toys and I wanna play, not work!

So I set it all up and even got the greenscreen to work!

Have to play with additional/other lighting to see how that works.

the breeze software takes over the screen - ALL screens. So a second screen (for the client to see themselves) run off a laptop functions, but not ideal.

So to go look for a maybe a touchscreen all in one...
 
Alrighty then...
the pipe and drape arrived today - fast service from Pipe and Drape Photo Booth Enclosure | Photobooths

It comes with 12 panels, one white..i thought it said one SIDE..so i'm gonna want a second white panel. the carry bags are a heavy muslin/canvas..not too impressed but they'll work I think. The plates are heavy as hell..the rest isn't bad. can't set it up in my studio as my ceiling is about 4" under 8 foot tall.

the 4' min dimention is realy 58" - which is fine, 2 panels fill that nicely. So I only need 8 on a job even if I stretch the length a bit.

I ordered a cheap computer from staples, will be in monday. $399. For now will use a 17" monitor I have. I can get a touchscreen for 200-250, but I'll wait on that as i can do fine without it.

Got a folding 4' table at wallyworld to go with the booth. will fit in the car better when my, she doesnt want to be called assistant...takes it on gigs.

Need signage, want prop displays.

Am using a light stand to hold the camera w/ flash, LCD and button. I put a pvc cross pipe on the stand to hold the lcd, will make that mount tomorrow. Need 4 M4 screws but otherwise no cost to this part of the process.

Gonna probably get a rockn roller cart, need something to put the plates in (faster/easier to leave the pins in so they won't fit in the plate bag) and need a case/box for the printer and computer and lcd.

The software lets you do custom screens (JPG) for start/taking/printing, etc so I did up ones for the bridal show - my name, show specials, etc. And did up the print they'll get (again, an ad piece).

Before the next booking I'll need to order more media, but am good for now. reading forums and blogs I learned that you control your print costs with the timing of the booth. 4 pictures vs 3 on a print means slower booth thruput, and teh software allows adjusting the time between shots, for printing, etc. If you time it so a session is 1 minute and you are non-stop busy (which you won't be for 4 hours) and 1 print per session you'll have at most 60 prints/hour, $9 or so. there is some science to this!

Monday night i'll get the computer up and running, software installed, etc and test it on tuesday in it's final configuration.
 
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