10 Photo Booth Props for Every Occasion

December 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Photo booth props add levity and a sense of fun to each shot taken in your photo booth. While the type and manner of the prop will vary by occasion—cartoon glasses might be a harder sell at a banquet dinner than at a jovial wedding reception—a steady cast of stand-by items will provide a base to build on for each event.

 

1. A small chalkboard and chalk – Guests can write messages about themselves or the event hosts, or phrases they’d like included in the photo.

2. Feather boas in various colors – Easy to pack and appropriate for kitsch or put-on class, a feather boa plays well at a young wedding or a 50-year reunion.

3. Flowers – From formal to fun, a small offering of fresh (or reasonably realistic artificial) flowers gives guests something to do with their hands while posing, and adds color to the shot.

4. Balloons – Whether they’re scattered at the base of a photo or filled with helium and held, a handful of inflated balloons are a low-cost, easily replaced item to keep in your kit.

5. Empty frames – Large enough to frame the face and small enough to avoid comedy, a set of empty frames add a level of depth and perspective to the overall shot.

6. Brightly colored pinwheels – Offering contrast to a solid backdrop and the ability to create a bright palette in a single group shot, a set of paper pinwheels in bold colors can be independently made or inexpensively bought for each event.

7. A quote bubble – Shaped from a chalkboard or paper, a handful of quote bubbles can add a nice message to the event host, or a playful phrase to the photo. Create one out of dry erase-board paper or paint to make it reusable.

8. Bowties in various colors – In prints that aren’t too flashy or glittery, easy-to-apply bow ties are useful at any event. Attach paper copies to the end of a wooden dowel, or offer clip-on cloth versions.

9. Sunglasses – Keep a small set of black, plastic sunglasses on hand for use at daytime or evening events. They add a small amount of humor to a formal event photo without going over the top, or play into a broader, sillier photo scheme in a more festive setting.

10. A fake moustache on a stick – Someone will use it, no matter the occasion. Same goes for a pair of bright red lips.

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Illusions About Buying A Photo Booth

September 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

If you’re considering buying a photo booth, know that you are not buying a “business”. You are however buying a piece of equipment that will allow you to create your own business. When you truly buy a business you are buying, not only the equipment, but the customers, branding and all the work that the previous owner put into that business. There should be records, email lists, contact information and more.

Illusion #1

The illusion some people have is that when they buy the photo booth that they are immediately “in business”. This is true in a sense. You can buy your booth, take it home and immediately book a gig. No one is stopping you but there is a bit more to running a successful business than booking a few gigs and most booths do not come with a customer base included.

Typically, when buying a photo booth you are only buying the equipment. It will be up to you to register your business with the state, usually about $150.00, as an LLC or S-CORP. The main difference between these two is mainly taxes and how the filing is handled. Those that want less paperwork usually go for an LLC and those that want a better tax shelter go for the S-CORP.

Tips for Websites

The next step is a company logo, business cards and a website. Your website is a very important part of your business and the second illusion many people hold is that websites are like cars, you just choose what you want and it runs. The truth is that websites are more like children. You are always looking after them. They need a lot of attention and guidance and there is no “one way” to make them perfect. They are constantly growing and changing, forcing you to keep learning and challenging what you know.

Websites are also multi-faceted. They are meant for interaction and data collection. If you are not collecting information with your website you are missing the boat. Websites are not meant to be advertisements. They are there to engage and encourage potential customers to take action.
When a potential customer comes to your site you want to capture their information, either by getting them to call you, write you or fill out a form. There are many ways to do this including: newsletter subscriptions, free reports, quizzes, e-books and discount mailing lists. Always think about the action you want your potential customer to take and make it easy for them to do it.

Lead Generation

Since you will likely have zero to only a few customers at first you must begin building your email lists from the beginning by using a service like Aweber. Contact management is crucial to the life of your business. Sign up for Meetups and Meetup.com and engage people in your community. Word of mouth works wonders but there is nothing like networking to bring in a constant flow of new potential business. 

Learn about Facebook advertising and how it works. Did you know you can do research about your niche market by starting the submission process for placing a Facebook ad? If you don’t understand demographics learn. It is easy to get started with a few quick Youtube tutorials to get your feet wet in the world of marketing.

Make no mistake, a photo booth business is like most other businesses at its core and if you want to be successful you likely have a lot of learning to do along the way. That being said, the photo booth business is one of the most fun and entertaining businesses for small business owners to get into. People really do flock to the booths and you will pick up clients fast if you maintain a professional attitude and a healthy interest for the business. AAAphotobooth has years of experience and top quality booths. When you decide you are ready to buy a photo booth they are one of the best companies to get you started. Above all have fun and follow your dreams, wherever they may lead you.

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Marketing Tip: How to Build a Foundation of Clients

July 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

A Solid Client Base

The hardest part of starting any company is to not know where the next paycheck is coming from. It can be a little scary but it’s also the best part of being your own boss. You can take on as much or as little business as you can handle. One of the biggest first steps of any young start-up is building a steady client base. Your number of customers may jump up and down depending on the year, economy and season. If you can work off of a steady foundation of clients though, you’re in good shape. Here are a few simple steps for how you can build a network of trustworthy and repeat clients for your photo booth business.

Look to Local Businesses

There are a couple things you should look for in building up your client base: do your prospective customers have a need for your product, and if so, are they likely to repeatedly use it? Thankfully, if you own a photo booth, the answer to both questions is a resounding yes! The technology is only growing in popularity, and is always a smash hit at events.

A good place to start looking for interested clients is at local companies and event centers. Companies, for instance, will host many parties and events throughout the year for their employees. Many would love to have a photo booth present to assist in the festivities. Event centers, on the other hand, might be looking for something even more permanent. They could rent your booth during conventions and conferences, thereby guaranteeing you a steady client and steady income.

Another golden opportunity for marketing your photo booth business is local malls. Check around and see if any malls around you already have any photo booths. If not, offer your services to the mall’s director. You may have to pay a small rental fee to serve as a kiosk in the mall, depending on where they locate your booth but it will be worth it. Shopping malls provide incredibly high volumes of foot traffic and plenty of families with kids are walking around just looking to have a good time!

Promotions

Many businesses involved in sales are constantly searching for the best way to get people’s attention and your photo booth is a true head turning item. These companies could rent your booth for a weekend to use alongside their own demonstrations and presentations to grab people’s attention and get them to stop while they pitch their own products. That’s the beauty of owning a photo booth: it can be used for many different purposes! While you’re racking your brain thinking about the next innovative way to market your photo booth, it can be used to market someone else’s product! These kinds of clients are a boon for your business because they will use your booth repeatedly. It’s helping them grab people’s attention, and it provides another reliable customer for you. Talk about a win-win!

Starting your own photo booth business can be scary, but just think about all of the opportunities. There are countless companies, event centers and businesses looking for a photo booth. You’ve just got to go out and let them know you’re available!

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Marketing Your Photo Booth Tip: Team Up With a DJ!

July 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Strike Up a Partnership

Sometimes the best way to build your business is to team up with another aspiring businessperson in your community. Don’t look at other entrepreneurs as competition but instead as teammates. The list of things people want to have at events is a short one. At the top of nearly everyone’s is a DJ and a photo booth. Why not strike a deal so you both succeed? Teaming up with a DJ will help dramatically build your business’ reputation and client base. Sharing your talent, resources and equipment with another can be a great business move – sometimes two heads really are better than one. Joint venture marketing is one the strongest steps you can take to successfully market your business.

Find the Right Business Partner

Weddings are big business for both photo booths and DJs, serving as the primary customer for both in many cases. So search around for the best local DJ and see if he or she would be interested in forming a business partnership. You can find them by searching online, cruising your local social media, or by just asking around at bars and clubs. Who gets the most business? Who do people hire repeatedly? After you feel like you’ve narrowed down the field to a good list of candidates, reach out to them and see if they’d be interested. Remember, DJs are entrepreneurs just like you. They’ll be willing to listen.

Now comes the hard part. You’ll have to sit down with the interested party and hammer out the nitty-gritty details of your joint venture partnership. How will profits be split? Will you share equipment? How will you market yourselves? But throughout the negotiations, remember that joint venture marketing for your business is a fantastic way to expose your company to a wider base of customers, and make more money in the process. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers: would you rather hire a DJ and a photo booth separately and pay a higher price, or obtain both for a discount?

A Joint Marketing Plan

There are compromises in a joint venture, but both parties will ultimately achieve greater success. It’s easier to market a DJ/photo booth package deal for weddings and other events than it is to market each separately.  Have an honest conversation with your new business partner about how you’re going to reach your customers. You both bring many unique talents and contacts to the table, so don’t be afraid to utilize both of your skill sets to reach out. He or she may already have connections in the wedding business, or work off of referrals from previously satisfied customers. You may have a long time client that rents out your photo booth at every possible opportunity. If you combine your knowledge and resources, business can boom just like that.

Marketing your booth can be difficult, but if you build your business on the foundation of a rock-solid partnership, the process will only become smoother over time. Sharing your hard-earned business with another is never easy but keep your long term goals in mind. Teamwork can pay big dividends.

 

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Market Your Photo Booth for Last Minute Fourth of July Parties

June 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment

A Festive Holiday

With Independence Day coming up next week, many people are gearing up to throw a serious party. You know the Fourth of July drill: barbeque,  beverages and spending the day with family and friends. While you might think of the Fourth as a pretty low-key affair, in recent years it has grown into a more lavish and celebratory holiday, almost like New Year’s Part Two. This holiday is a great opportunity for you to market your photo booth to people and parties you may not have even thought of. And that’s ultimately the key to successfully marketing your booth: you’ve got to think outside the box (or booth, in this case).

Family-Friendly Fourth Events

There are generally two types of Fourth of July parties: the family-friendly ones complete with yard games and fun activities. Then there are more adult-oriented parties, with plenty of adult beverages and fireworks. The beauty of this holiday is that you can easily market your photo booth to either group. But since these two opportunities are so different, you’re going to have to market your booth in two very different ways.

For the family-friendly gathering, think about where these big bashes will be held. Families will gather for the Fourth in the suburbs so target the affluent neighborhoods. They’re more likely to have the money and space necessary to go all-out on their Independency Day shindig. After you’ve found specific areas you want to target, it’s time to market yourself. Put your brightest, most colorful flyers up in local businesses, like grocery store bulletin boards, or hang them up on neighborhood street lights or communal posting places—anywhere they’re going to get seen.  Just because the Fourth of July is coming up quickly doesn’t mean you can’t seize the opportunity to rent out your booths. Remember, most people are planning their parties at the last second, too, and will be looking for fun events and activities for their guests. It’s up to you to be visible to them.

Adult Parties

Let’s be honest: getting together with friends and having a couple of adult beverages is a large part of many people’s Independence Day plans. Nothing fits that loose and fun party atmosphere more than a photo booth.

While a lot of people looking to let their hair down on the Fourth will host a casual backyard affair, some will throw a party of epic proportions. It’s these people you want to look for when marketing your photo booth. The most fun part of marketing your photo booth is putting yourself in the shoes of your prospective clients. So think: how best can you reach this untapped client base? People don’t know they need a photo booth for their holiday get-together until you show them that they need one. Here’s what you can do:

  • Post a lot on social media. Facebook and Twitter are great ways to reach out to a younger audience. Even if your prospective clients aren’t friends with your page, you can publish a Fourth of July promotion that can reach them through other people sharing and posting it.
  • Go face to face locally. It might be the opposite of new-school social media marketing, but if you go down to a local park or restaurant and hand out flyers to people, you and your product will be remembered. 
  • Word of mouth never hurt anyone. Businesses, and especially local businesses like yours, thrive on referrals and recommendations. So tell your friends about your Fourth of July deals. Word of mouth can also reach future customers.

The Fourth of July may not traditionally call for a photo booth, but with the exploding popularity of the product and a little savvy marketing, you can make sure your clients ring in America’s birthday in style with one of your booths at their party.

 

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Prop Shop like A Pro

June 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Prop-A-Lot

To prop or not to prop, that is the question. There are risks when you invest in props. Sometimes people get a little carried away after consuming too many adult beverages and bye-bye props. Sometimes the children get a hold of them and the only chance for your prop’s survival is to be made out of stainless steel and bolted to the floor! Regardless of the risks involved, the solution is simple: offer props because they make customers happy.

Cost

Props come in all shapes, sizes and prices. You will find the average prices between $2 and $5 per piece. It’s recommended to find as many props as you can that cost $1 or less. Do not forget to include shipping costs to your prop package prices when applicable if ordering online. Also remember to add 20% for your time and effort. 

Decide whether or not you want to get crazy with all these props. You can quickly find yourself spending several hundred dollars building up a large inventory. You can try to build up your supply slowly over time, with each event. Also see how the different props stand up to different types of revelers’ use.

You can try charging a flat fee for the use of the props which can cover the cleaning costs and earn you a small commission. You may also want to try charging a flat fee for a prop theme kit package that guests can keep. Whichever way you decide, remember to have fun with it and communicate that fun to your customers. 

Many Props

Building a large and diverse inventory of props is the not the easiest step in your business. Start with the classics like over-sized mustachios, lighted glasses, and big hair rock-n-roll wigs! Then move on to oversize cowboy hats, pirate hats, sombreros, top hats, and Uncle Sam hats. Don’t forget the inflatable air guitars, tommy-guns, and police batons. Every prop should be over the top, outrageous and fun. And remember to build your inventory of accessories for specific events!

Online Prop Shops

There are many sites out there offering affordable products. Some of our favorites are:

 Each company offers a great variety of props in dozens of different categories. These sites are easy to navigate and offer convenient as well as affordable shipping rates. However, never underestimate the ability to find great pieces at toy stores or even a random yard sale!

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How To Turn A Regular Wedding Guest Book Into An Exciting Photo Keepsake

March 3, 2012 by Leave a Comment

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Wedding guest bookTips for Brides – Make it special

 

Wedding guest books are an age-old tradition, but in reality, they capture little of the feeling of that special day. Sure, you might break yours open ten years later to settle a debate over whether or not Uncle Bob actually attended… but who’s going to look at a bunch of signatures for the pleasure of it?

 

Wouldn’t it be more exciting to open your guest book and see everyone dressed in their best and grinning for the camera? It sounds difficult at first—who has the time to photograph everyone as they come in to sign their names on a wedding day?  The answer is fun and simple.  A wedding photo booth and a glue stick will practically do it for you!

 

How to

 Just have your wedding photo booth set up at the entrance, right next to the guest book.  When guests begin to arrive, they will be able to snap a strip of photos of themselves and have it in their hands in a matter of seconds, quickly adding it to the book with a bit of glue. All they need to do after that is add a personal note and there you have it!

 

Getting this to happen naturally is another story.  First, before the guest arrive, have your maid of honor take the first photos and place the strip in the book.  This can be done easily and cheaply with a few glue sticks (just make sure to provide more than one in case any go dry or roll away on the floor). Once the first strip is secured, have them write in a personal note.  This will set the precedent and anyone who goes to sign the book will feel like doing the same.  

 

You’ll save others time and confusion by providing an example first. If you’re having the guests glue the photos in place, make sure that there are outlines on each page that show where the photos go. Finally, make sure there’s still room for those signatures and special wishes!  You can do this by choosing the right guest book. You may also be able to find special books with laminate photograph casings like photo albums, which will offer longer-lasting protection for the photos.

 

Just imagine

With signatures, personal remarks, and a strip of photos, each person’s entry will be a sincere and loving addition to the book and it will surely capture the true life and excitement of the day. Why settle for an old-fashioned wedding guest book when a photo booth can make it so much more?  By renting a wedding photo booth you can easily create a special keepsake that generates good feelings for years to come.

 

 

Tips for Photo Booth Professionals

If you’re a photo booth entrepreneur, you can add value to your service by creating a template book to demonstrate the idea to the couple. It’s always a hit and not everyone thinks of it.  Not only could you offer the idea, but you could go one step further and carry extra glue sticks, pens and guest books in case disaster strikes.  What if someone forgets the book or loses the glue sticks?  Having a backup ready for them could mean saving the day.

 

Want to see more AAA Photo Booth tips and tricks for entrepreneurs? See our other blog entries or sign up for our newsletter. 

 

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