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.

DMB is known for their live performances and they certainly lived up to their reputation for yet another year at Riverbend. While playing most of their songs from their latest CD (Groogrux King), the band mixed in many of their past hits, turning five minute studio tracks into fifteen minute jam sessions (no kidding). One major highlight included a banter between saxophonist LeRroi Moore and Carter Beauford on drums that lasted a good ten minutes or more. The more it rained, the more fun it seemed people were having and I think DMB is one of the few bands that keep the devotion and attention of thier audience despite weather like we had Tuesday night. These guys are simply fabulous live.

So all in all, a great night. The Say Cheese photo booth was able to stay dry (thanks to a canopy) while everyone who saw the concert got appropriately soaked and loved every minute of it. This is what we are about. This is what motivates our company to do what we do: help people have fun and create lasting memories. Everyone who looks at their photo strip will remember how great that concert experience was. Hopefully, when they look at their mud-stained shoes, they will say it was worth the price of admission. Hey, at least the photo booth was free.

We are so looking forward to another great summer for Say Cheese!

Patrick on hand to assist newly converted "cheeseheads"

Some attendees enjoying the evidence of their silliness in one of the booths.

Where there is a Say Cheese photo booth, there is a smile close by.

There was a silent and public auction, and everyone in attendance was able to watch the Live Academy Awards broadcast on a giant silverscreen. Every supporter received “star” treatment with a red carpet entrance into the hotel, their own goodie bag, gourmet three course meal (the Clooney Porkopolis chop was incredible by the way), champagne, open bar, chocolate galore, dancing, casino games, and unlimited use of the Say Cheese photo booths on hand. It was a night filled with fundraising with friends, all for an EXCELLENT cause.  

PWC doesn’t just remodel someone’s floor plan; they remodel lives. We at Say Cheese count it a privilege to be part of something bigger than ourselves, to genuine help a fine organization like PWC. Say Cheese is about capturing the good times in life in pictures and we consider helping people in need to be a good time.

Everyone loves pictures

People always have and always will be in love with pictures. Pictures remind us of important events and people in our lives. We relive the good times with friends and family through them. All of us have heard the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Though it may seem cliche’, it’s true. That’s where we come in. For some reason, people let their guard down in a photo booth. Their personalities shine through as they cut loose with their friends and family. Eyes become crossed, tounges stick out, and suddenly friendly competition sprouts up to see who can create the goofiest, almost regrettable photobooth picture of the night. Oh, how many times people have asked me to describe the goofiest picture I have seen!  It seems I get that question every weekend. Maybe it’s the curtain; maybe it’s the drink in their hand. Heck, it’s probably both. But I do know this: people have crazy fun in a Say Cheese photobooth and they create unique pictures that do not come about by traditional means.  

It’s an awesome party favor

For those getting married: We have been doing this long enough to realize that choosing the right party favors is not only tricky, but costly. So if you are looking for a party favor for your guests, you found one that is hard to beat. We can promise you that this will be the hit at your wedding reception, the standout item that everyone will be talking about. And best of all, you’ll be getting all the credit! Your guests will also love our original fridge mangets, drink coasters, and key chains. We try to offer favors that people will find sentimental value in. It’s all about the memory! That’s why we say “Rent the fun, keep the memories”.

Our Reputation

We’ve been around, well before the various ”pipe and drape” companies started to sprout up. There’s a reason why you may hear us on the radio, see us on television, or see us at so many different bridal shows. We know what we are doing and we treat you right. We stand behind our product and service. Our photobooths are the real deal, with COMMERCIAL grade cameras and printers that work - all the time. Say Cheese for reliability, outrageous fun, and memories to last a lifetime.

Folks waiting in line for some "cheese"

folks were able to create fresh memories for two separate scrapbooks with the efficiency of an assembly line. And everyone received a fridge magnet for their photo strip. This was certainly a wedding to remember. Oh, and hats off to the staff at the Hyatt who did a great job feeding the masses!

Seven layers of heavenly goodness