Hire an Interactive Photo Booth for Your Next Party

The words "photo booth" used to conjure memories of cheap boxes at the mall, crammed to over-capacity with teenagers trying to make the most of their dollar. But photo booths are making a comeback, and this time they're guaranteed to entertain any crowd. From on-demand professional head shots taken at networking events, to funky costumes enlivening a playful wedding reception, photo booths are popping up at parties near you.

There are two main styles of photo booths. The kind with the box and curtains prints small photos on a strip as you wait. The other kind is an open photo booth (with no actual booth) that utilizes a professional camera, backdrop, and props. Shelly Gerrish, photographer and co-owner of Photography for Good, prefers the latter setup. Although box-style booths can be set up in a smaller area and offer more privacy, Shelly says open booths allow guests to be more interactive with the party.

When you get your picture taken at an open photo booth, you share the experience with the rest of the party. The people waiting in line see your pictures and start to get ideas of their own. Everyone is talking and laughing about the process. The photo booth becomes a station energizing the party. Plus, a live photographer is interacting with the guests, getting them laughing, and catching their best moments. "Costume attendants" can help people get dressed and get into the spirit of the event. No one is left standing around wondering what to do.

Shelly warns against hiring photographers who offer to add a photo booth set-up with their wedding packages. In many of these instances, you are only given a white sheet as a backdrop. The photos are taken from a webcam, or a standard camera with an in-camera flash, resulting in subpar photos. With a photographer who specializes in the photo booth experience, on the other hand, you get professional lighting, costumes, and backdrops that can be customized for each event.

When you decide to hire photo booth photographers, it's important to give them plenty of advance notice. Meet with them at least a few weeks before the event, so the photographers can buy or create props to go with your party's theme. For especially elaborate setups, Shelly has built entire sets, and hired actors to pose with the guests. If you just need a basic black backdrop and standard props, on the other hand, you're probably fine hiring photographers as late as the day before your event–given that their calendar is free.

If you have an unusual or striking feature in your venue, talk with your photographer about using it as the background for your photo booth. Often, you won't need a traditional backdrop at all. Are you hosting an event in an art gallery? Use the art on the walls! Shelly recalls one vineyard wedding where the couple opted to pose guests around aged wine barrels, and the results were stunning.

Another great reason to hire a photo booth is to entertain the children's section of your party. If you're providing a babysitter for guests' kids during the event, a photo booth is an engaging way to keep them occupied. Not only are the kids kept active and entertained during the party, but your guests get to take home a bunch of cute photos as party favors.

Questions to Ask

If you found the photo booth online, ask to speak with somebody live and human. If they won't meet with you in person, chances are they won't be very personable for your event, either.

During your meeting, ask about the quality of the prints that you will be getting. What size are they, and how fast do they come out? Look for a professional photo booth with high-quality printers. You should expect to get the prints of your photos almost as soon as you've taken off your costumes, with little-to-no waiting. The last thing you want is to have your guests walk away with a poor-quality, smudged print from your special day. Look at samples of photographers' prints from previous parties, or have them email examples of what is possible through custom layouts and text.

What equipment do the photographers plan to bring? Do they have high quality lighting and light stands? Most photo booths look best with at least two lights. Stay far, far away from anyone who uses an in-camera flash or a webcam.

Will there be actual photographers manning the photo booth at your party, or just "attendants?" Beware of untrained, bored attendants who just push the button on the camera without knowing how to adjust for any situation that arises.

What features are included in the price? Some photographers offer low prices to grab your attention, but with that come cheesy props, limited prints, and extra charges for just about everything. Do your research so "cheap" doesn't end up being more expensive (and less fantastic) in the long run.

Are there custom props? Think beyond the usual assortment of cheap wigs and funny sunglasses. High-quality photo booths will have a wide variety of original props and costume accessories, and will even make new ones especially for your event.

Shelly Gerrish has been in the photo booth business for three years. She previously worked as a wedding photographer, where she started to see photo booths popping up at weddings. She was amazed to see many of them were put together poorly, and decided to set up a few of her own as an experiment. The response was so enthusiastic, photo booths quickly became her new career. Her photo booth company, Photography for Good, serves the San Francisco Bay Area.