Photobooth equipment

[Baked_bean]

Heya guys,
I currently manage a marquee company and we are looking to create a photobooth to use at our events, the idea is to take shots in the booth and print out two copies of each shot (one for the guest & another for a photo album). Just wondering what equipment i would need for this and any advice on which equipment to use.
So far i am thinking:

SLR with basic kit lens (canon 1000d as im a canon man)
Tripod
Laptop
Studio flash light with softbox
Printer
maybe a small screen to display the image to the guests through liveview

Any hep would be much apreciated
Thanks

[Simpo Two]

Unless there is some off-the-shelf booth system with all the gubbins in it then I think you've got all the bits in your list. With a fixed setup you can get away using JPG so hopefully no processing to worry about.

Whoever works it is going to need to be competent though.

[AndWhyNot]

There's a couple of event specialists frequent the TalkBusiness section on TalkPhotography.co.uk. Sure some will have done similar and others will be happy to contribute specific answers to specific questions. Mike Weeks is one name that springs to mind.

Simpo Two said:

Whoever works it is going to need to be competent though.

With people as well as equipment

[Baked_bean]

Thanks for the answers guys,
I was gonna be operating the equipment myself. I believe i am competent, im a keen amatuer photographer with an A-level in photography.... also im heavily involved with the clients anyway so it should all be ok in that respect.

I am a member on talk photography so ill ask a few questions over there.

[Phunk]

I've done this before.

Just connect your laptop directly to the camera and shoot tethered.

Use something like lightroom and the image will pop up straight away so you can edit it if you wish and show the user.

You can also automatically get it to print with any logo border you like.

Total time from taking picture to printing was sub 20 seconds.

If you plan to do this a lot, get a Dye Sub printer, awesome quality and low running costs.

[Ed_P]

Just a few precautionary thoughts/calculations prior to any event(s):

- As you're working alone, assume time divided roughly equally between photographing, uploading/editing, printing, everything else;
- What's the maximum number of potential guests/prints;
- How long does the printer take to complete each print;
- Will prints be supplied straight off the printer or mounted and in a protective sleeve;
- Is there enough time to get everything done and stay sane.

In my own experience of events, there is often a surge of interest at the start of the event (depending on event type), when an additional pair of hands (or two) - suitably trained up, might be beneficial.

There is often a need for some "crowd control" (particularly with sudent events), when although the setup is for singles/couples, about 10 all want to squeeze in for your fantastic shots, totally overlapping the background!

Obvious stuff: have the camera and lighting all in manual; get it all set up and tested prior to first customer and know how to make exposure "tweaks" when necessary.

[Simpo Two]

Depending on how demanding the customers are, with some careful setting up it might be possible to whip the card out of the camera, shove it in a suitably-enabled printer and hit 'go'. No laptop or extra software required; quick and simple.

However this is just an idea, I haven't tried it!

[Baked_bean]

Thanks guys, given some good answers. Anyone got any photos of the set ups you used? As all i can find photos of are the fancy ready built ones?

Thanks in advance

pm me if you prefer to email me with pictures.

[LongQ]

Baked_bean said:

Heya guys,
I currently manage a marquee company and we are looking to create a photobooth to use at our events, the idea is to take shots in the booth and print out two copies of each shot (one for the guest & another for a photo album). Just wondering what equipment i would need for this and any advice on which equipment to use.
So far i am thinking:

SLR with basic kit lens (canon 1000d as im a canon man)
Tripod
Laptop
Studio flash light with softbox
Printer
maybe a small screen to display the image to the guests through liveview

Any hep would be much apreciated
Thanks

Just in case mains power is awkward or adds to the setup/breakdown/H&S workload - a suitable high capacity battery pack to run the studio lighting - and you may find you need more than one studio light unless you are setting up a portable 'studio' that will work with a single light source.

You should perhaps consider a trip to Focus on Imaging next month to get a feel for all the options available to you.

And this might be of interest too.

http://breezesys.co.uk/DSLRRemotePro/index.htm

[Simpo Two]

True although in this case he's doing the marquee as well so it's up to him to sort out the mains!

[LongQ]

Simpo Two said:

True although in this case he's doing the marquee as well so it's up to him to sort out the mains!

Good point Simpo! Nevertheless the robust field battery solution is still worth considering. Indeed if LED lighting was used for the marquee it might also solve mains supply issues from time to time ....

[Baked_bean]

thanks for all of the advice guys, been really helpful.
any other pointers before i let this thread die?

Also, it is upto me to sort the power. Shouldnt be an issue, we have generators even if there is nowhere to run power from.

Edit to add: Any more info on Dye-sub printers? ive had a look around but just any personal recommendations?

Edited by Baked_bean on Monday 21st February 09:51

[LongQ]

Baked_bean said:

thanks for all of the advice guys, been really helpful.
any other pointers before i let this thread die?

Also, it is upto me to sort the power. Shouldnt be an issue, we have generators even if there is nowhere to run power from.

Edit to add: Any more info on Dye-sub printers? ive had a look around but just any personal recommendations?

Edited by Baked_bean on Monday 21st February 09:51

I think the most commonly used system is the Mitsubishi Click combination or the Mitsubishi printers connected to something else. These can be rented by the day although knowing how to use them effectively might suggest ownership and regular use would be advisable. The Flash Centre do rental (for example). A long weekend counts as one day in their rental terms if that is of interest.