Grab your friends. Strike a pose. Snap!
Everyone loves photo booths.
Whether it’s a wedding, party, or a company event, the photo booth is fantastic entertainment for any event. Apart from that, everyone gets a lovely souvenir filled with happy memories with family and friends.
As a result, many companies are now jumping on this trend. Just do a Google search, and you’ll find so many photo booth services to choose from.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled 3 things for you to consider before choosing a photo booth provider in Singapore:
- The different types of photo booths
- What are the features to look out for
- How is the company’s track record
Let’s go through them.
The Different Types of Photo Booths
Here’s an overview of the 5 main types of photo booths you can find today. Each photo booth might have slightly different variants and features, and the best way to find out more is to contact the companies.
Standard Photo Booth
This is the most commonly seen type of photo booth, which takes still photos of your guests. They might offer different sizes of prints, such as 4R and wallet-sized prints.
GIF Photo Booth
GIF photo booths have been rising in popularity, and are probably the second most popular type of photo booth. There are 2 ways of taking the GIFs—Boomerang-style, or by combining 3 or 4 still photos.
They’re most commonly printed as photo strips, but can be printed as holographic prints too. This technology was introduced by Ubersnap, and you get Harry Potter-style prints that will steal the show.
Video Booth
The video booth usually works by taking 2 or 3 short videos of your guests, and combining them into a longer video with music.
Slow Motion Video Booth
The slow motion video booth takes (you guessed it) slo-mo videos of your guests, which look really cool and (sometimes) unexpected. They usually provide instant playback for guests to preview the videos. The videos can be edited into a short film afterwards.
180º/360º Photo Booth
Remember the famous “bullet-time” scene in the Matrix? These photo booths can bring that to your event. They work by setting up an array of cameras in a semi-circle or circle, with each camera taking a photo from a slightly different angle. These photos are then combined into a GIF, giving you the patented “bullet-time” effect.
What Are the Features to Look out For
Now that we’ve summed up the different types of photo booths, let’s look at the features that they might offer.
Remember, each event is different and you should prioritise the features according to your own requirements.
Open or Enclosed
The open photo booth is the preferred option for most events. They’re quick to set up, don’t take up much space, and are usually more affordable than enclosed booths. You’ll be able to see other guests having fun at the booth, and that helps to draw a crowd.
Enclosed booths come in different designs, and many are inspired by the early automatic photo booths or neoprint machines. They can offer privacy to the guests, especially for those that are camera-shy.
Speed
If you’re planning an event with a large number of guests, the speed of the photo booth can be an important factor. Standard and Boomerang-style GIF photo booths can offer a quick turn-around, so that more guests can experience them.
On the other hand, video and slow motion booths tend to be slower, because they need more time to take and edit the videos.
Types of Prints
- Standard prints. Offered by the large majority of photo booths, they come in different sizes—such as 4R, photo strips and wallet-sized prints.
- Flip-books. Offered by a few companies, they contain a series of photos. When flipped rapidly from one page to another, the photos will appear to be animating—just like a video. Be sure to ask about the printing speed of the flip-books; you don’t want to keep your guests waiting for too long.
- Holographic prints. If you’re looking for a different experience for your guests, you might want to consider holographic prints—where you can literally see your GIFs come to life on paper, Harry Potter-style. Ubersnap was the first in the world to introduce this concept, and it’s a one-of-a-kind memento for any occasion. With our rapid printing speed (developed with our own technology), we have supported some of the largest events.
Sharing Options
Most photo booths can send the digital files (photos or videos) to your email or phone—so that you can get your own GIFs on-the-spot, for viewing and sharing.
Want to see all of the photos or videos? They’ll be uploaded to a web gallery or Facebook after the event. This might take a day or more, so be sure to check with your service provider.
At Ubersnap, all of the GIFs are instantly uploaded to our web gallery, so you don’t have to wait. Everyone can see how much fun everyone else is having at the photo booth.
Options for Customisation
Most photo booths will provide options for customisation. Common ones include the photo frame, the backdrop and props. This is usually sufficient for most events; if you’re looking for more customisation, the best approach is to speak to the companies directly. Look for companies with a strong client base (with case studies) and a good track record.
With Assistants or Fully Automated
Looking for a hassle-free experience? Get a photo booth with assistants, who will help you set up, operate and tear down the booth. Most organisers opt for this because they’re busy enough during the event.
If you’re looking for an affordable option, or perhaps a long-term rental, you can go for a fully-automated, self-service photo booth.
How Is the Company’s Track Record
Now that you understand the different features, what’s next?
Being in the business, we hear of horror stories—companies that show up late, refuse to print extra copies, or even don’t show up at all! Fortunately, they’re the minority; most companies provide good service. That said, you don’t want to be the unlucky one to hire a poor service.
The best way to prevent this is to look at the company’s track record before hiring them. Look out for testimonials, case studies and reviews from previous clients. You’ll learn about:
- The type of events they cover
- Their service quality
- The styles and themes they can execute
A strong client base is always a good indicator. Look for companies that have worked with large brands and interesting events. At Ubersnap, our clients include Apple, Uniqlo, Mercedes, BMW, Netflix, L’Oréal, Sephora, Facebook and many more.
Did you know that a photo booth can be a powerful marketing tool as well? This is especially relevant for corporate events, like product launches and roadshows. People love sharing about their own experiences, and that’s an opportunity for you to insert your brand in their conversations. Ask the companies about their track record with helping their clients achieve these goals.
In Conclusion
We’ve covered the criteria that you need to consider before you hire a photo booth.
Here’s one last tip—the right company should feel like partners to you.
Features and track record aside, communication is incredibly important. Do you like speaking to them? Do they seem to understand your needs? Don’t underestimate the importance of good communication.
Are you looking to create a special, unforgettable event? We should talk.
