People have been taking photos of one another since photography became accessible to the public with the Kodak 1 camera in 1888 and the “selfie “ has become part of everyday language.
However, most of the pictures taken today especially with the ever-present iPhone soon get forgotten, lost in the “cloud” or buried in social media news feeds.
The photo booth makes these spontaneous fun pictures available immediately to take away as a real photograph to be treasured forever stuck on the fridge door or in a frame on a desk.
Guests of all ages get to mingle as the booth acts as a real draw and an icebreaker at all events including weddings, or other life events as well as corporate marketing and promotional occasions.
Modern photo booths come in a variety of styles and layouts to suit all requirements and budgets.
There are two main styles available, the first being the traditional oval booth often called a “passport photo” machine as these were derived from the machines used typically in train stations to provide passport and ID pics.
The machines were often used for fun pictures and every teenager had a strip of photos often with their best friends and usually pulling silly faces.
With the arrival of the digital revolution it became possible for the machines to be broken down and setup at party or hospitality venues in fact anywhere where people gather to have fun.
The second style is the open booth which as the name suggests is open plan with a backdrop or the features of the venue itself. It is not unusual to use the booths outside using the grounds and buildings themselves as a backdrop.
Camera units are often styled as old fashioned plate cameras but the technology they hide within their handmade exteriors is anything but old fashioned. The DSLR camera found in the better units are likely to be of the same make and type as the majority of professional photographers use.
Computers running bespoke specialist software, and printers as seen in high street photo printing shops and professional studio lighting complete the package.
Advantages of this open style booth include being able to have more people in the pictures with guests being able to interact and join the fun instead of being hidden behind a curtain.
As well as printing physical photos modern setups can also send the photos straight to guest’s phones by email or text and from there you can guarantee they will be shared on social media. This will show the world how popular your party or special day is and if you are hosting a promotional or marketing event, it could add huge exposure and increased engagement with your brand.
Bespoke graphic designs with your own text or logos and a choice of props make each occasion unique to you, make it yours with memories to last forever.