Photobooths?

In the past couple weeks, I’ve been asked to shoot a couple of christmas-related events. Not by a traditional method of photography, but with a photobooth. Photobooth-style photography, while definitely not the ultimate method of capturing an event, definitely has its place in today’s culture.

A photobooth generally involves an area of an event set aside specifically for photography. This is an area where the photographer has a special backdrop, lights, and often props for people to use in photos. The idea is that people can step into the photobooth and quickly and easily get some quality, well-lit photos taken.

When a photographer sets up a photobooth, most of the creative power in the photographic process is put into the hands of the subjects in front of the camera. What the photographer can still do in this case to make creative photos involves setting up the photobooth.

One photobooth I did was for a Christmas play my church was putting on. The idea was that each family would pose for a quick photo, and the photos would be posted on the church website for free download to get more people looking at our church website. It wasn’t my idea, but people seemed to really like it. I set up my backdrop, which was two decorated Christmas trees, outdoors under a balcony. My lights came in the form of two off-camera flashes. (We’ll get more into lighting and how flashes work later.) After I set up the studio area, I could quickly cycle families through for their portraits, and they each got a nice free family portrait!

My other photobooth was one for my highschool group at the same church. I had a small room to set up in. One wall was covered with a plain white backdrop, and I set up my camera against the opposite wall. This photobooth could have been covered easily by a single flash, but I decided to shoot it with three, because I could! Who doesn’t like a little overkill, eh? Lots of photos were shot that night.

A photobooth can limit a photographer’s creativity, but when executed right, they can really add fun and value to an event!