Uncategorized - Tuesday, July 7, 2009 22:47 - 0 Comments

Photo Booth 101: What to consider when renting

So, you have been planning a wedding for months now and you have done a lot of research to find the right vendors. By now, you have checked off important items such as your reception site, photographer, DJ, limo service and the myriad of other components that make your dream day a success and now it comes down to the icing on the cake – a photo booth. Maybe you have seen one (hopefully a Say Cheese booth) at someone’s wedding, on television, or at a bridal show. Either way, it seems apparent that renting a photo booth is a novel and worthwhile way to spend your wedding dollars and treat your guests to a night of memorable fun. Fortunately for you, there aren’t too many of us around. We photo booth companies are still somewhat a rarity within the wedding industry. That means you don’t have to search high and low to find the right vendor amongst dozens of choices like you would for say, a photographer. With that said, here are some aspects to consider when renting a photo booth.

1. Ask for samples from your vendor. Believe it or not, there is a distinction in paper quality. True photo stock paper is thicker and glossier than less expensive varieties. A good litmus test is to compare the sample to the Kodak paper you just printed off at Wallgreens or Target for example. Second, find out HOW the pictures are printed. Dye – sublimation is the key work here. In basic terms, a picture that is printed through dye sublimation will not fade over time and the print quality is simply superior. So here is another litmus test: Hold the picture sample up to sunlight. If you can see  blotches in the ink, that’s most likely a laser jet printer at work. Why is this important? Your photo booth pictures better stand the test of time, as your wedding day is a very important day in your life. You assume the photographer you hired will deliver quality prints to last a lifetime. Why should you expect anything different from a photo booth scrapbook? This will be your visual guest book after all!

2. Can the photo booth get into your reception venue? Photo booths can vary in size, so make sure your machine can fit into your venue.

3. How is the booth constructed? Camera and printer technology are important. You want something with commerical grade quality, much like a regular photographer would use. Commerical grade quality components will ensure reliability and quality prints that last a lifetime, not a few years. Also, it helps if your photos will come out pre-cut, so the attendant on hand does not have to do so manually. That means more photos for your scrapbook and your guests during the alotted rental time.

4. How far away are the people in the picture? This is important to consider because the closer the face, the more “personality” you will see in your guests’ pictures. Otherwise, it can look more like a posed picture with a digital camera. It’s important to control how far away people are from the camera. Otherwise, you can have pictures with miniscule heads and bodies. The magic of a photo booth lies in its uncanny ability to elicit silliness, romance, and unique faces from your guests. This is the “fun factor” of renting a photo booth, so you want to maximize what that looks like. In other words, it’s all about the face. That is where the personality of your guests shines.

5. Read the contract. As you would with any other vendor, do your homework to see what you are receiving for your money. Items such as travel fees, alotted rental time, set up fees, etc… should all undergo due dilligence. The bottom line question: ”Am I getting what I am paying for?”

6. Seek references. Speaking for ourselves, we have done hundreds of weddings and other events like corporate parties, mitzvahs, proms, and the like. Like anything else, experience and quality are vital when choosing any vendor. This is our sole focus and we have gained a lot of experience over the years.