Sienna’s Idea Pulse - Photo Booth Anyone?

       Good Afternoon everyone! Well here we are with our first blog post! Remember what I said about wanting to share ideas with you? Well here is an idea I must share. There are so many ways you can make your wedding unique. Photos are an amazing way to capture fantastic moments at your wedding that you can refer back to down the married road. Photo booths are one of the most fun ways to do this! When people spend a large amount of time and money on an event, they want to remember it. When you look back at photos from the past which ones bring back more memories? Is it the pictures where a photographer was posing you all so that it looked the best and the light hit just right, or was it the candid photos where you and your friends were doing what you wanted to do and acting how you wanted to act?  

I know when I look at the photos from my past it is the pictures where I am making a silly face with a friend or where I was not completely focused on the camera that really helps me relive those great memories.  Guests have a blast getting inside the booth, sliding the curtain closed and letting their personalities run wild! However, the ultimate additions to photo booths are props.

The Props

Now, I don’t know how familiar you are with Etsy.com but if you don’t know what it is, I’d like to introduce you. It is an amazing website where phenomenal everyday people with talents of their own can create their own online store and sell their homemade goods! It is one of the most creative websites I have ever seen. Please see for yourself! As far as the Photo props go…take a look at a few fun things I found on www.Etsy.com.

Maro Designs

HeathOriginal

                                                                      Little Retreats

 

                                                                          

Now on to the booths…the photo booth is becoming quite popular at wedding receptions and if you’ve ever experienced it you’d know why! It is an incredible way to make fun memories that your guests can take home with them. Like your wedding album photo booths definitely create life long memories.  There is nothing like a little sibling rivalry to see who can make the goofiest strip or seeing the charm of 12 old friends trying to fit in a small booth.  Compare your photos; you might even want your DJ to announce a contest for the funniest photo. As you can see below there are many ways to enhance your photo booth fun!

The Ideas

1.) Make It Interactive – Get your guest’s to break out of their shell using hats, masks, mustaches, boas…etc. Encourage them to grab something that brings out their personality!

2.) Location: High Traffic – Make sure that your Photo Booth is stationed in a high traffic area, a place where your guests will certainly pass by and just can’t resist stopping for a photo session. It is important to know what those areas are at your venue. Here at the Lodge we have taken care of that for you. The best Forest House high traffic areas are near the bar in the main lobby, or in the lounge by the dance floor. These locations are convenient for setup as well as for the best traffic flow opportunities.

3.) Two Types: The Booth vs. the Backdrop – In order to choose which type suits you best consider the following; Do you want a large space to work with, which involves the ability to take pictures with more people at a time and the ability to use large or many props? If so, the backdrop is right for you. However, if you would like more of the classic two people in the booth and slide the curtain closed idea, the booth is definitely your pick. Both are fun ways to go, both are usable with props and both are an amazing reception addition that your guests will love!

4.) Sign or Not to Sign? -  One of the best creative props I have seen is the editable sign. You may choose to provide a sign that your guests can make their own with the assistance of a white, or chalk board. In this way your guests can be involved in writing creative messages to you. This is a sure way to make personality burst out of the picture itself! An example of this can be found above in the picture from the Etsy shop; MaroDesigns (http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaroDesigns). Imagine being able to write anything you come up with and including it in your pictures! So, ask yourself: Sign or not to sign?

5.) Choose your Artist wisely - Some may choose to hire a professional to setup and operate the booth, while others may choose to have a setup of their own and let their guests take their own pictures. In my experience I have noted that your guests are most likely to get their pictures taken when there is a fun charismatic photographer operating the booth, rather than if they have to take their own. Again, either way has pros and cons, so think on the matter with your guests in mind.

Here at the Forest House Lodge we work with one photo booth artist quite often, he does amazing work and we would definitely recommend him, his name is Joe Kalamaras. He is one of those people that just glows with the obvious statement that he loves his job! Joe is also one of our preferred DJ's and his information can be found at; www.sjsdiscjockey.com.  Here is some evidence of Joe's photo booth fun from a few of our couples and families…

      

There are a few other Photo Booth artists we would like to name…          

Allison Johnson: she has captured many beautiful memories for our Brides & Grooms here at Forest House Lodge and has just added the photo booth to her many talents. Please check out her work at www.pinupweddings.com.

The Goodness: They are a one of a kind dynamic duo and have ‘cornered the market’ when it comes to putting fun into the photo booth idea! They understand in-depth the essence of interactivity. You can view their work and contact them at; www.thegoodness.com.

You can be confident that a photo booth will put smiles on your guest’s faces! I remember one couple that used a photo booth in replacement of favors. The pictures were the favors because the guests receive the pictures almost immediately and get to take them home. If you are looking for a tip to save on additional cost, that may be something to consider. Lastly, do remember to always incorporate your wedding theme into the booth idea. Weddings should be an extension of your personality and it helps to tie everything together to create a unifying experience that everyone will surely remember.

In any case you can be assured that a photo booth will boost the excitement levels at any party. Happy Photo Booth Planning!

With love and care,

Sienna, Forest House Lodge Wedding Journalist