Tips For Shooting an Event Aftermovie

Shooting after the movie is one of the most common jobs for aspiring and professional videographers, whether it be for conventions, corporate conferences, or music festivals. While every kind of event requires a different approach, here are some solid guidelines that apply to all of them.

Prepare your equipment

While this might seem like advice for absolute beginners, its importance cannot be overstated. If you’ve ever found yourself on location with only one battery pack, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Forgetting only a single part of your equipment can make your job a whole lot more challenging or even impossible. Create a checklist that you can go through every time you head out to shoot to avoid the danger of leaving something behind.

Plan ahead

The last thing you would want to happen is arriving at an event that is almost over. Make sure to check out the schedule or setlist (in the case of a festival) so you don’t miss out on any important footage. Furthermore, research the location where you’ll be shooting, either online or in-person if possible. This way you can determine the light on the scene and prepare your equipment accordingly, and maybe even pack an additional light source, like an LED-Panel.

Communicate with your client

This is essential. Find out what expectations they have, what atmosphere they want you to capture, if they want you to stick to a strict concept or if they give you a free hand, and whether there is something specific they want you to film. You should also inquire about your own needs, like where to store your equipment if needed, or which power outlet to use to charge your only battery pack (in case you forgot tip no. 1).

Be a director

Interact with people at the event. A person smiling straight into the camera is always a good shot to have. You can ask people to do certain things, like lift a glass or perform a certain task – nothing complicated of course. Don’t be afraid to ask them to do something again, if the shot was out of focus for instance. This applies to event staff especially, you both work for the same person after all. No one will mind if you ask nicely.

Don’t be a director

On the other hand, you shouldn’t try to control everything that’s going on. Try to blend in and capture natural moments. Don’t walk around with a huge eye-catching camera rig. If people know they are being filmed, they will act differently.

Vary your shots

If you want to create a compelling aftermovie, try to capture different kinds of footage. Bring various lenses with you: I would recommend one with a short focal length (10-15mm) for wider shots, a zoom-lens for shots of groups of people or booths, etc., and a macro-lens for close-up shots of someone performing, for instance. While most of your shots should be tracking and/or panning shots, so the event looks fun and dynamic, you should also have still shots, to make your video more diverse and interesting. Try different angles of the same subject, if you have enough time. You can make a small group of people look like quite a crowd if you “compress” them by zooming in.

Capture the venue

You should create a sense of the venue where the event is taking place. Do wide outside and inside shots. Maybe do a shot of the building, if the event is taking place inside. Not only does that make for a nice intro to the video, but it also connects the event to the venue, enabling future guests to recognize it.

Better shoot too much than too little

This one speaks for itself. Even though after movies tend to be only a couple of minutes long, you don’t want to be forced to compromise when editing. The more footage you have, the less constrained you are in the post.

Tell a story

I’m not talking about a story-kind of the story; however, try to be consistent and linear when you edit your footage. For instance: If you have a shot of a bar, the follow-up shot could be of someone picking up a drink and joining their friends. Afterward you could show them walking up to a stage and dancing. Then you shift the focus to the performance and so forth. This makes the video much nicer to watch.

Pick the right song

The song you choose will underline and strengthen the mood and atmosphere you are conveying in your aftermovie, so it must be chosen wisely. Perhaps you should consult with your client before settling for one. At Tunetank there is a wide selection to choose from and you will definitely find what you need.

Effective Ways to Promote a Video Production Company

The world was a very different place twenty years ago. Businesses used radio and television channels to promote their brand/products. As we moved forward, the trend has shifted from leaflets to television to online platforms making everything digital.

1. Invest in a delightful website

This is a cakewalk. If you have an eye-catchy website in your hands, leads keep coming and falling from the sky. Make sure your site is user-friendly and visually pleasing (Of course, visuals are a must, we are a video company!). Don’t display everything you offer on your website, yet make it look simple and adequate as much as possible.

2. Build a perfect portfolio

Your clients/customers believe in what they see. So, the best possible way to gain their trust is through a classic portfolio. Get your creative hat on and start developing your own portfolio.

Point to remember: Don’t forget to add your unique style to your portfolio. Your style is the key that’ll differentiate your company from others.

3. Enhance your work (Constantly!)

Never give your customers a chance to have second thoughts about you. Improve your company’s productivity constantly. Keep surprising your customers with your new templates, updates, and offers. So that your customers will be busy exploring your service only.

4. Make use of Hosting Platforms 

Share your amazing work on different platforms. This will help you to promote your business and spread awareness. Also, when your videos are noticed on other platforms, you make it easier for people to find you.

Some things to consider before the folks with cameras arrive:

• Location Scouting – Where are you going to shoot and what challenges do you have there? Are there lighting, audio or other logistical problems that you will have to solve. A pre-production location visit and discussion with on-site maintenance or security is often necessary.
• Permits – Do you require permits for shooting, sign-off /waivers for people in the video, special insurance, parking access for the crew and equipment, etc.?
• Crew – Who is on your production crew? Camera, Audio, Lights, Director, Production Assistants, Grip for special equipment, Teleprompter operator? When is shooting scheduled to start and how much time is required for everyone to set-up?
• Equipment – What type and how many cameras do you need? What do you have as back-up if something goes wrong? Do you have all of the right lights, lenses, audio equipment, jibs, sliders, reflectors, tools, power, etc. necessary? Do you need special equipment or props or products for the shoot?
• Talent or Presenters – Who is on on camera? Are they prepared to be on camera? Have they rehearsed their lines or will they be using a Teleprompter? When should they arrive? What should they be wearing? Do they want / require hair and makeup? Are they on a tight schedule? (The answer here is almost always ‘yes’….)
• Weather – Are you shooting outdoors? What happens if it rains/snows/hurricanes? Do you have an alternate shoot date?
• Schedule– – Does your storyboard include a shot list and schedule that lets everyone know when to arrive and how long each scene or shot is going to take?

• If you consider all of the above steps and take the time to properly consider your video planning checklist, you will have a much higher likelihood of success on your next video production

What Is Automotive Videography? All You Need To Know

​Automotive videography many people think it’s just all about shooting cars; no, rather its more about creating an effect or creating a big picture that has to feature a car as the subject. There are a lot different types of cameras for your car commercial, Drones, Gopro cameras, motion activated hidden camera, car dash camera name it!, all just for that special moment involving your car. It will be ideal for people to follow the rules, the laws and most especially the safety tips before indulging in Automotive Videography session; these is necessary also for your safety.

 So here, I will be covering some basic essentials need to be  known for anyone whose about making some video, using cars or for  whatever kind of car commercial you’re planning for.

Location Matching The Car

It is truly important to remember when doing car commercials that you’re into selling a story than much more of the car itself. Yes, you may have a bunch of ideas on how to shot angles of cars and different shots for car, but bear in mind that you are finally at the end of the day; creating a story that you’re telling. The car is the character, the location is also a character, for example; if you have a Pick-up Truck, make sure you put that Pick-up Truck in a location that makes sense for a Pick-up Truck, or if you are shooting something like a fast car or a racecar; put it on a racetrack. It just kind-of make sense if you pair the car with the right location.

Things That You Need To Shoot A Car Commercial

Now, to begin shooting a car commercial, there are certain things you need to consider having and they include:

1. A Proper Crew: You need about three people to make a crew in Automotive Videography, first one is being yourself         ( Camera operator / Director / Producer), and the second is somebody to drive the vehicle you are actually shooting and lastly; the person to drive you in the vehicle that you are shooting from.

2. Means Of Open Communication: This is a prerequisite for car commercial, you’ll need a walkie-talkie, and it’s extremely important especially because you need to communicate with your driver who also needs to communicate with the other driver on how close the two cars should be when doing a Chase shot. Again, this aspect is crucial, if you want a safe environment to shot.

3. A Camera Gimbal: Obviously, when in motion, the car you are in can get quite shaky, so for you to have some good footage, it is highly recommended you bring your gimbals.

4. Slider: This will help you get some details, Macro shots; the badges, the logos, the interior of the car, and honestly; your gimbals may not just do the trick, where at times you need to deal with circumstances where the car just wobble in an up and down motion. So it is recommended you bring along a slider for such an event.

 5. Lens: There are about three lenses to recommend for Automotive Videography:

Wide Lens: Because you’re going to need to shoot a wider view of the car in an amazing location

A Telephoto lens

A Macro lens: You’ll need this to capture the beautiful details that go into the interior and exterior of a car. Also, if you really want to step up the production on your car commercial; then it’s ideal for you to come along with a drone – if you don’t have one, you can rent or borrow to enable you get a little bit more creative with aerial view shots.

Tips For Shooting The Ultimate Music Video

Shooting a music video can be an exciting experience that can help aspiring musicians to jumpstart their careers. Although music videos don’t have to look like million-dollar productions, today’s technology creates an unprecedented expectation of quality.

1. ASSEMBLE A PRODUCTION TEAM

How many times have you seen a successful musician make it to the top of the charts alone? The answer of course, is never. Musicians will need to work with other people in order to make a successful music video. This means that musicians will need the interpersonal skills required to motivate others to accomplish a shared vision. In some cases, this may require that musicians offer an equity stake in the project to others that are helping out. It might even be necessary to seek funding from investors. Thankfully, the Internet makes it much more practical to do this in today’s world. Through social media, aspiring musicians can network with others that have specialised knowledge in video production or marketing a music video. If certain effects require financial capital, musicians can seek to raise a few thousand dollars in funding by simply using social media. By doing this, musicians can expect to get much more out of their painstaking efforts to create the ultimate music video.

2. MAKE IT SERIOUS

The difference between the average music video and a cutting-edge production is the effort that goes into it. If you want to make a great music video to go along with your best music, it is important to be serious about the project. This will inspire others to help out when they see how motivated you are toward your goals. Throughout all aspects of the music video’s production process, you should show that you are serious about achieving the end goal.

For the video itself, you should also be very serious about meticulously optimising every aspect of its production. Unless you want your video to permanently brand you as an amateur, it is important to look professional. This means that you will need to assemble other people to help out and obtain the equipment necessary to make quality videos. Although you can have fun along the way, you should not let this interfere with your success.

3. USE A HIGH-QUALITY CAMERA

While high-definition cameras were the latest thing more than a decade ago, video technology has become much more advanced. In most cases, it is recommended to avoid using a regular consumer video camera. Most people today have smart phones that are more powerful than consumer video cameras that were sold as recently as a few years ago. Unless you own a high-quality camera designed for professional video production, you will need to go out and find one.

4. SHOOT IT MULTIPLE TIMES

When it comes to actually shooting the video, one take never does it. With professional productions, it is not uncommon to see hundreds of takes for a single scene. Although this might seem laborious, it is unlikely that you will be able to assemble all of the resources necessary to film the same shots again. From coordinating equipment and people to reserving a site for filming, it can be difficult to come back and film again at a later date. If in doubt, you should film again to ensure that your video’s success won’t be undermined by a careless mistake. You should also make sure that you shoot the video from multiple angles. If you can afford to do so, you should even use multiple cameras. However, the same effect can be obtained by simply taking more shots. You might even consider using a high-quality smartphone or digital camera to film extra angles. This will ensure that you have all the shots you need to move on to editing your video.

5. USE PROFESSIONAL EDITING SOFTWARE

Although overlooked by many novices, the editing stage is perhaps more important than filming itself. This is where you will bring everything together with special effects and overlays. Without doing this right, your music video will look like an amateur production that could brand you as a musician that is not serious. Therefore, it is critical that you have a person on your team that understands the right way to use editing software. Ideally, this person should be professionally trained in video production and editing.

Do’s and Don’ts

In the era before stadiums and arenas (big or small) became multimedia entertainment complexes, fans watched the game in relative anonymity. Unless ESPN or television network cameras were on hand—and you gave the producer a good reason to train those cameras on you—the possibility of finding yourself on display and on the spot to do something clever was almost nil.

As if it isn’t tough enough not to look like an idiot when you’re singled out in front of a few friends or coworkers, the pressure to play it cool is enormous when you find yourself emblazoned on a 50×28 screen in front of 12,000 gawking spectators.

We’re living in the era of the 24-hour news cycle and, as a society, have unfortunately embraced the inaccurate idea that there are two sides to every story.

Which means these days we have a difficult time agreeing on what the meaning of is is, yet there is at least one thing that remains a universally accepted norm. When someone points a camera at your face, you smile. It’s as simple as that!

If you’re not sure what, exactly that entails, take a look at the video above and make note of the mustachioed man’s intense, unbreakable dead-eyed stare. Watch it a few times so you really get its full impact. And then never repeat it.

No Love For Speed Camera Operator Bogged In Landsdale

the speed camera being set up on Drive northbound after with the ute reportedly bogged to its diffs in the median strip. It was then reported again an hour later that the speed camera, and bogged vehicle, were still present an hour later 12.45pm.

Those who are after a good laugh should jump on the post to read the comments, as punters have a field day showing no love or compansion for the bogged operator.

Isn’t it an offense to crossover like that. Needs to be booked. Most joyful post of the day.

he karma, now that’s one bogging not too many people would volunteer to assist ? That’s a carton! Do as I say not as I do.

Job descriptions on Media Match

When characters in films run out of a burning building or simply walk across a room to open the door, they are usually moving closer or further away from the camera. This means that the focal length — the distance of the camera lens from the subject — is constantly changing. Adapting or “pulling” focus to accommodate these changes is the main responsibility of the 1st Assistant Camera (AC). 1st ACs are usually requested by the director of photography or the camera operator and work on a free

2nd Assistant Cameras (ACs) are key members of the camera crew, and are responsible for the smooth running of the entire camera department. Audiences watching a finished film are not conscious of the camera — a complex piece of machinery, powered by batteries which must be charged and reloaded. Nor are they thinking of the difficult job of anticipating when a magazine (the sealed container that feeds the unexposed film into the camera) is about to run out, and what a pressurized job it is

Performs clerical work in support of company accounts and utilizes financial management software to do so. This person must compile, analyze, reconcile, and verify financial and statistical data as well as perform related work as assigned by their superior

Automated Dialogue Replacement, also known as looping or dubbing. This is the critical process in film and TV whereby dialogue is recorded in a studio for any number of reasons: to replace existing production sound that is not usable either for technical considerations (usually due to a noisy location) or editorial ones (lines of dialogue have been changed); to add a voice-over to a film (often planned from the outset, but occasionally added at the last moment to help clarify a hazy plot)

Camera Pilots fly the aircraft that carries the aerial camera crew (aerial director of photography (DoP) and aerial camera assistant). Together they shoot the aerial sequences that form part of the finished feature film. Camera Pilots are also responsible for flying any aircraft, including helicopters, planes, hot air balloons, etc., that appear as action props in finished films. This may involve performing difficult stunts requiring a high degree of expertise and experience

The Roles and Hierarchy of a Video Production Team

When working on any video production, it’s important to know the roles and hierarchy of the team. This way you know who to approach with questions and which person leads what department. There’s somewhat of a standard to this, but each crew operates a little differently. This post shows the typical hierarchy for video production, following the structure we typically use at 522 Productions.

Things to Note

Depending on the type of project and budget, this may change a little… or drastically. For example, it’s not uncommon for the Director of Photography (DP)/Cinematographer to also serve as a camera operator and lighting director. This is not the ideal situation, because of the additional responsibilities placed on smaller crews, but this often becomes reality  with budget constraints.

Producer

The producer is the initial contact for the project. They talk with the client to arrange the high-level goals and expectations. It’s their responsibility to assemble the production team. The director typically comes first.  From there, they put together the necessary crew members. The producer usually stays involved throughout the project lifecycle: pre-production, production and post-production.

Director

The director is typically the most involved person on and off set. They assist with assembling the right crew to get the job done. They make adjustments to the script to keep the video on budget and on time. They oversee all parts of the production. Questions get funneled up to them.

First Assistant Director (1st AD)

The 1st AD is mainly responsible for scheduling on set. He wrangles talent, keeps the crew on time, and assists the director and producer. In some cases, the 1st AD also checks off the shot list, assuring lines are read as intended and the correct props are in the proper place.

What Do All The AV Labor Positions Do

There are SO many AV labor positions. They can be confusing when you are reading your AV quote. Technical director? Production assistant? What do they all do? Do you need them all at your event? will be discussing the major AV Labor positions, what the positions do and how they relate to your event. This is a GREAT crash course on AV labor positions and what you need to know for your event, you must watch below! Let’s jump in.

Video Transcript – What Do All the AV Labor Positions Do

So my goal in today is to talk to you about all of the positions you could potentially see on a quote and how they might help you bring your vision to life. So as we go through this, the big thing is to know that you’re not going to have all of these positions at every single one of your events. You might only have one of them. You might have a handful of them. The important thing is to know what they do and if you do need them, to request them from your AV company. But a lot of times, this comes from the AV company and them saying what they need. So as we jump into this, keep that in mind that this wildly varies from event to event and what your needs are and also what the AV company needs to create what you need and produce the event. So are you guys ready? This is gonna be a long one, so strap yourself in, and we’re gonna drop a lot of knowledge bombs and a lot of information all in one video.

Producer

So let’s start off with probably the largest and most expensive role when it comes to your event, and that is the producer role. You might not see this unless you are doing a very large general session, a very theatrical event, or if you are needing someone to help you generally with the vision of what you’re trying to accomplish. The producer is very much in charge of the content and the overall vision of the event. They’re usually also managing everybody below them. Up here and below, when we start getting into these clouds, they’re high up there, so a lot of them are kind of more of a managerial role. They’re managing everything, a lot of different details. So the producer, though, is really much in charge of the vision. They’re usually the ones working with the talent. They’re working with scriptwriting. They’re working with the technical director to essentially try to figure out how can they take your complex vision or something you’re trying to do and bring it 100% to life from a creative standpoint. So you’ll see this with a lot of event production companies. You’ll see this with a lot of entertainment companies and a lot of, again, bigger general sessions, bigger theatrical events.

Assistant Producer

Next up you have the assistant producer. Essentially, this person assists the producer, also known as an AP sometimes, to essentially bring it. They might be getting their hands a little bit more dirty, getting into the weeds, really working with the technical side. Maybe they’re working on graphics. Maybe they’re working on scriptwriting, everything like that, getting a little bit more in the nitty-gritty when it comes to everything. Again, a lot of times when you see things like assistant or, you know, number two next to them or things like that, they assist the person above them. So assistant producer assists, obviously, the producer themselves. Kinda obvious, right?

Stage Manager

All right, next up you have, related to content, is the stage manager. Another title of this might also show up on the quotes is called a show caller as well. I’m gonna probably get some flack in the comments, because it’s all, how everyone describes everything is a little bit different between AV companies, regions, countries, everything like that. But essentially, the stage manager itself is usually someone backstage that is managing what’s going on onstage. They’re the ones pushing the talent out to make sure that they get out there in time. They’re the ones working with the final, you know, how they look, how it’s all running, everything like that backstage. Now usually they’re big on timing, making sure everything runs on schedule, obviously, and that the people are in the right places at the right time.

Tips for Creating an Awesome Photo Booth

Photo booths are fun. Photo booths at parties are extra fun. Whether you’re stepping back in time to sit in a vintage “two-seater” with someone you love or standing in front of a sparkly backdrop with several friends at a wedding reception, chances are you’ve enjoyed the printed results—so much so that you’ve decided to make your own photo booth for your upcoming holiday party or your own wedding reception. Whether you’re working with an iPad and natural lighting or a more elaborate setup with a DSLR camera and lights, here are a few tips and ideas to make your photo booth a success, regardless the size of your system.

Tailor your backdrop to your event. For a crisp, clean background of your choosing, Savage offers rolls of seamless paper in a variety of colors. While white, gray, and black are more traditional photo booth backgrounds, consider a color that matches your event. Tech Green seamless paper can even be utilized for green screen photography, allowing you to mix it up and explore a variety of images and backgrounds. For a more rugged background, consider an Infinity Vinyl Background. Much like seamless paper, this vinyl background hangs straight but allows for quick cleanup if a guest accidentally spills their drink or desert while they take a quick picture.

Alternatively, you can add dimension to a wall in your home or event space with rows of balloons or something even more unique, like decorated plates lined up in a row. Removable wall paper or sticker decals can also quickly transform your background without the residue. Metallic fringe designed for a doorway, or party streamers draped over a background support system could provide a unique and fun look to your photo booth without breaking the bank. For outdoor venues, add a string of lights to the foliage, drape fabric, or hang lanterns over lower hanging tree branches.

If your photo booth isn’t a traditional “booth,” and it doesn’t have anyone supervising image capture, clearly mark off the area with gaffer tape and write out instructions that even your youngest guest can follow easily and walk away with an instant print. Adding a rug to the area your photo booth occupies can help set the mood and can provide something of an escape from your event. Adding a seat or two in front of the backdrop can not only help frame the area in focus, but provide a welcome relief where older guests can take a load off.

If you don’t already have a photography prop box, now is the perfect opportunity to put one together. Grab an old crate or basket and fill it with oversized glasses, stick-on mustaches, cowboy hats, feather boas, whiteboard or chalkboard conversation bubbles, and more. The more props in your box, the more likely your guests will pose for multiple pictures, experimenting with different looks and different groups of friends or family members.

How to choose the right photo booth company

Photo booths have become popular nowadays. Therefore, if you are planning a party, make sure that you consider hiring a photo booth. However, there are many factors you are recommended to consider before you hire one. Since there are a lot of companies that are offering the same photo booth services, you need to be keen and choose the best one that will allow your guests to leave with a great moment of experience

Type of booth

Due to the technological advances, there are some of the latest booths that are easy to use. This, therefore, makes photo booths to be of many types. That is why you need to know the best type of photo booth you need before you go to the market to buy one. The latest booths have high-resolution digital cameras, and touch screen controls. Therefore, make sure that you choose the best type of booth for your event or party.

The cost

When you want to hire a photo booth, you are supposed to remember this factor. Ideally, most companies will charge you depending on the period your occasion will take. Also, there may be additional charges for certain features. Some of the companies advertise their price. Also, the cost of hiring a photo booth on some of the companies varies depending on the location

Accessories and themes

This is another factor you need to put into consideration before you make your final decision on photo booths. It is essential to know that some companies can alter the look of a booth basically around the event theme. Therefore, this can be done with the customized props, the outer shell of the photo booth and the background of the pictures.

Video messaging

This is another important feature you are supposed to check before you hire your photo booth company. Therefore, if you need a video messaging in your event, make sure that you check with the enterprise and know whether they can provide it.

PHOTO BOOTH RENTAL: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PHOTO BOOTH

Layout– Exactly what type of layout are you trying to find with the prints? Do you want picture strips with several little photos, a 4 × 6 with 3 pics and a logo design, or one huge 4 × 6 design photo? Can you include you own individual touch like a logo, quote, a photo of the mountains where you are having your wedding event, or color that matches your wedding/event? If you are going the photo strip path, does the printer cut the strip for you and will it make a straight cut? Very few printers have the capability to slice the image strips and just the best of the very best can do it straight. Too many booth companies end up having an attendant cut the strips with scissors– slowing the service and providing a less than professional technique to the product.

Props– Are the props enjoyable and appropriate for your party? How will they be displayed? Will they be thrown on a table haphazardly or will they be arranged in a wardrobe or nicely on expert display screen racks? Can you request specific themed props like mustaches, or sports stuff? Exists an extra expense for props or are they consisted of?

Referrals and online presence– Any business worth hiring has reviews and a strong online existence. If a business’s site looks inadequately designed, what does that inform you about the pride they take in themselves? If a company can not stand happy and look excellent online, how can they look good at your event? An excellent looking site with testimonials and pictures of recent setups at events states a lot that words alone can not. You wish to see photos!

Size– How much area do you have for a photo booth? The cubicles with a hard shell are actually cool however they use up a lot of area. Also, you are restricted to the number of people you can fit within. Photo booths that have a removable drape can accommodate as lots of people as you desire. So, get a group shot with all 7 bridesmaids or your extended family! An open booth can also be organized to record the beautiful background that you probably have if your event is in the mountains or other picturesque area, or use a sophisticated background for even larger group enjoyable. Open design booths are quickly ending up being the most required design.

Green Screen– Some photo booths provide green screen innovation. With a green screen you can project any photo in the background; which is quite cool! This is normally an added expense, so you will have to weigh the cost/value. It will likewise take up a bit more space and may not look as attractive as a conventional photo background. It is more typical for special occasions and business functions, and not as popular for weddings.

The Right Photo Booth Company

Digital Photo Booth services have quickly become the must-have item for weddings, birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, quinceaneras, high school reunions, charities, expos and corporate events! Everyone from DJs, photographers, videographers, event coordinators, hotels and venues are all scrambling to find ways to incorporate this exciting and unique new concept into their own service offerings.  With so many styles of photo booths (of varied quality) and so many companies in the market, it can be very daunting for consumers to pick the right photo booth and the right company to be part of their special event.

Who are they?

We know that in the event industry, there is no do-over or second chance to get it right on your wedding day or other special event. So you need to do your homework carefully before you pick your vendors. Research the company to make sure you want them to be there with you and your guests at your very special event. Can you trust them? Are they reliable and experienced event professionals? Do they specialize in just photobooths? In other words, you need to ask the right questions to your potential vendors beyond “How much does it cost?”

Does the company have a good reputation?

Check legitimate wedding directories and wedding vendor sites such as WeddingWire.com or EventWire.com.  If the vendor isn’t listed or reviewed on these or other reputable sites, you should ask why not.  If they aren’t advertising their business, perhaps they don’t have a good reputation or worse yet – they don’t have the money to reinvest in their own company.  You might be thinking “So what if they aren’t spending money on advertising themselves” but we would instead ask “if they don’t have the funds to properly advertise their product then who’s to say that they will still be in business by the time your wedding arrives.”  We have actually had a few clients in the past come to us needing a last minute booking because they originally booked with a fly-by-night company or Groupon that ended going out of business before their wedding date.  So do your due-diligence and speak with event coordinators, wedding planners, venues, friends, and family to investigate their experiences with the company in question

How many events have they done?

Many companies try to make it look like they have been in business for a long time.  But how many events have they really done?  How much experience do they have with working in the event industry.  Are they going to work well with the rest of your vendors and the venue? Do they have a portfolio showing past work?

What equipment are they using?

Many companies would have you believe that the bigger the mega-pixel the better the quality.  On paper this would seem to be the case, but the reality is that no matter what the mega-pixels are, most photo booths are designed to take advantage of space constraints and a limited depth of field, so proper lighting and the printer’s DPI (dots per inch) are much more important factors to consider.  Therefore, a more important question to ask if whether or not the company can deliver professional lab quality photos?  Do they have to manually cut the photo strips with a scissors? How fast is their printing process?  Some companies use inexpensive printers which give sub standard print quality and are likely to fade, smear or do not last.  These type of companies may not be inclined to mail you sample prints either.

Questions To Ask When Choosing a Photo Booth Company

Before you decide to just hire the cheapest one, read through this question list. Even more important than price is finding a great company to work with. How a photo booth company does business, how they treat you, and the attention they put into the experience will speak volumes more than a number on a quote form.

Are you licensed and insured?

If you’re taking the time to hire a photo booth company, you should be careful not to hire someone who’s just doing this as a hobby.

What type of booths do you have?

Some companies offer an upgraded tablet as their only photo booth. While there’s nothing wrong with that, there’s a big difference between someone who just buys a bunch of iPads and someone who takes the time to invest in high-quality, professional photo booths

With photo booths, as with most things, you get what you pay for.

A photo booth company with a rock-bottom deal might charge extra for stuff you’d expect to be included, like props, a backdrop, or prints. With every company you interview, make sure they are clear about what their price includes.

Modern day photo booths offer different size prints, digital images, social sharing, even video messaging!

If you are dead set on a model that makes animated gifs, for example, this is something you’ll want to ask each photo booth company as you interview them. If having 4×6 prints instead of the typical 2×6 strips is important to you, ask about that as well.