Our latest and best innovation for the YouBooth photo booth is our Social Media Portal.  We’ve created a way that seamlessly allows everyone to email their YouBooth photos to anyone else, and to upload them to Facebook and Twitter.  People LOVE this feature!  The Social Media Portal makes sharing photos really easy and it extends the brand awareness for any corporate event.

The Social Media Portal requires a Wifi connection and our equipment.  The portals attach to almost any table or counter – the more portals you have, the better!  Easy image sharing guarantees your event will be remembered.

Another technical addition for the YouBooth is projecting the images onto large screens in the room.  People love to see their photos blown up on the wall – for most of them this is as close as they’ll come to being in the movies!

We’ve incorporated some fun No Tech ideas into our YouBooth events as well.  Props, of course, are always a hit.  We used holiday-themed props again this year and they were more popular than ever.

We’ve also included dry erase boards and large markers, allowing people to create their own fun signs.  The quick signs encourage creativity and yield some truly funny (and memorable) photos.  It’s fun to use a question-answer format, with a question printed on the photo above the shot, and the answer written on the board.

And remember, the photo booth backdrop can make a world of difference.  Some corporate clients use a standard step-and-repeat banner, but others (like Nintendo) take it a step further and use fantastic product artwork.  Of course, flowers always have great affect, softening the overall effect and adding shots of color. 

Lots of engagements take place in New York City, but rarely do you see an engagement like the one we covered over Thanksgiving.  An inventive man from Canada was determined to propose in a truly memorable and impressive way while he and his girlfriend were in New York.  So he decided to rent out the Rockfeller Center Skating Rink and propose on the ice, beneath the glittering Christmas tree and holiday crowds.

The day before the proposal, the groom-to-be realized that this momentous life occasion should be photographed. He turned to his concierge at the W Hotel for a photography recommendation, and found his way to us.  We were able to provide an exceptional photographer at the last minute, and the couple’s special moment was captured.  The results are magical – take a look!

At this year’s Biz Bash Expo, we partnered with ISES to ramp up membership recruitment at their booth.  Every year at the Expo, ISES hosts a booth where they offer information and on-the-spot membership sign-up.  Typically, people have taken the information and deferred the membership application.  This year, ISES wanted to encourage memberships at the Expo by offering a free headshot to those who signed up, complete with professional make-up.

The membership drive was a huge success!   ISES garnered 15 new memberships at the Biz Bash Expo, a record for the New York Chapter and perhaps, they think, for the entire organization.  Seems on-the-spot headshots were the perfect incentive.

The draw was two-fold: first, everyone walking by could see our make-up artist extraordinaire, Filis Foreman at work and our photographer, Stavros, doing the headshots.  This created some curiosity and buzz.  Secondly, for those contemplating a membership to ISES, the offer of a free professional headshot was enticement enough to seal the deal.

It’s gratifying to know that the headshot photographer and make-up artist we provided made such a difference to the ISES membership drive.  Filis was phenomenal, making everyone look better than they ever thought they could.  Stavros delivered outstanding headshots, working in minimal space and on the fly.  All-around, it was a successful venture for everyone.

ISES has said they want to repeat the promotion next year, so if you’re interested in ISES and want a new headshot, look for us at the 2012 Biz Bash Expo!

Funny, so many of our clients worry about the big shots: certain poses with specific family members, the ceremonial kiss, the first dance.  While it’s crucial that we capture these major moments, it’s really the detail shots that give wedding photography depth, texture and interest.

The most memorable and evocative wedding photography includes lots of detail shots in addition to capturing the big moments.  These might include close-ups of the cake and flowers, the back of the bride’s gown, the wedding rings, and most important of all: the emotions.

So much of great wedding photography is about capturing the look between a mom and her son the groom, or dad as he dances with his daughter and the couple, as they secretly share a joke with a knowing look.  A good wedding photographer instinctively knows when and how to zoom in on these fleeting moments without being intrusive.

A wedding we recently photographed at The Four Seasons perfectly illustrates these principles.  The exceptional wedding photographer we provided, Daniel Krieger, played off the spectacular architectural simplicity of The Four Seasons, using the beautiful space to full advantage.  He included a variety of details in his wedding coverage, delivering a stunning visual story of Melissa & Johnny’s wedding at The Four Seasons.

Take a look…

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The sponsors turned to 5^th Avenue Digital to shoot event photos of the audiences enjoying this wonderful summer evening activity. There have been about four screenings a week at four locations around the city: Tompkins Square Park, Coney Island, Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens and McCarren Park in Brooklyn. We’ve had a photographer at each event, shooting the crowd.

Here’s the coolest part: how we were able to help epix with their event marketing efforts.  At the event, our photographers provide attendees with a web address. Within 24 hours after each Epix Movie Free-For-All showing, our team has uploaded all the images and posted them on the designated website. There, people find their photo, print it, save it, or even share it by email with family and friends. Event marketing at its best.

The Epix Movie Free-For-All photos show New Yorkers at their summer best, enjoying the outdoors and each other. People love them! Visits to the EPix site have exceeded expectations, with thousands of people viewing, sharing and printing their photos. Check it out these great shots for yourself:  http://freeforall.epixhd.com/photos

5^th Avenue Digital is thrilled to be a part of this quintessential event marketing opportunity and great summer activity. We can’t wait to see what is planned for next summer!

If you have an event coming up and are interested in providing your attendees with the kind of event marketing service that we provided for Epix Movie Free-For-All, please feel free to contact us.  This is what event marketing is all about.

What’s a Photobooth?

It’s a self-contained, attractive unit that allows you to take your own photos. They print right in front of you in just seconds. It’s the easiest, most memorable party favor around!

How Does a Photobooth Work?

All the magic is in the unit. All you have to do is book the photobooth and smile. Unlike other photobooths, YouBooth photo booth, is free-standing. No squeezing into a tiny booth  Plus, we bring the YouBooth, photobooth to your event, set it up, stay with it to assist, and take it away at the end. You get unlimited, full-size 4×6″ prints (not little strips) – and lots of compliments.

Why has the Photobooth gained popularity again?

Digital photography lends itself to many instant photography options. This together with the fact that the DIY generation loves anything that can be done themselves, makes the new round of photobooth perfect for the new generation of users.

What are the photobooth options?

The best part of the YouBooth Photobooth is the ability to customize the experience for your brand or social event.  Photos can be printed with a custom border, a logo or the guest of honor’s name and the event date.  The backdrop can be customized in numerous ways: with streamers, fabric, a printed background, or a beautiful element in the room, such a painting or decorative wall.  You can even use green screen technology, which will create a photo background that represents any place you want.  Tell us what you want to create, and we can probably find a way to do it.

Judging by the crowds and the photos, the event was a huge success.  Our photographer, Stavros, said he felt like Santa at Macy’s right before Christmas, with the hoards of people waiting for their turn in front of the green screen.  Stavros reports that the line wound from the tent in Columbus Circle into Central Park.  Hundreds of people waited in the rain to get their photos taken.

It’s clear to see why they waited.  The photos are adorable!  Yet despite the rain and crowds, the event was well organized so everything ran smoothly.  People were friendly and patient, and they loved the photos, T-shirts and other fun swag given away in the tent.  Kudos to NYC & Company for producing another stellar city event!

Part of the fun of working at 5th Avenue Digital is learning new and often fascinating things about our world and the people in it.  And I usually learn them from our photographers and clients!  Most recent example: with photography and onsite prints we provided for HBO.

As a thank you to one of their sponsors, Verizon, HBO brought Bernard Hopkins to the Verizon office to meet and greet their employees.  Each person had their photo taken with Hopkins, which we printed onsite so people could take their photos home.

Our photographer on this job, Stavros – being the thorough professional he is – wanted to know more about who he was shooting, so he did some research on Hopkins.  He discovered quite a story.

Hopkins is the current WBC and Light Heavyweight boxing champion, the oldest boxer ever to win a world title, surpassing George Foreman’s record.  What’s more remarkable is how he got where he is.  At 17 he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for nine felonies.  To protect himself from the atrocities he witnessed in prison, he learned to box – and became very good at it.  He was released after less than five years, and decided boxing was his way to a better future.

Since then, he’s achieved enormous success in the boxing ring and in life, as an entrepreneur and business owner.  Known for being bold, brash and sometimes controversial, his impact on the boxing world is undisputed.

Stavros believes that knowing something about the person he’s photographing translates to better pictures.  There must be something to this, because our clients love working with him.  And I have to say, when I look at the photos, my knowledge of Hopkins’ rough climb to success affects my perception.  I see a smart, thoughtful, determined man.  Take a look at the photos and see if you don’t feel the same.

Thank you, HBO, for imparting yet another lesson in the human experience!

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Last month, a communications and media agency called AKA featured our YouBooth photo booth at their summer company party.  And WOW, do they know how to have fun!
Their selection of props was truly inspired.  With some thought and creativity, their props they took the YouBooth photos to a new dimension.

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Take a look at the web gallery on this link and you’ll see a life-size cardboard cut-out of Kate and Wills, a child’s inflated pool float, barbeque tools, straw hats, a boa, picture frames (we provided those!), balloons, plastic boats, and – perhaps the key to it all – Jello shots!

These photos are so much fun to look at, and it’s mostly because the props bring out the playfulness in everyone.  (Though some might argue the Jello shots had something to do with it!)  Kudos to AKA for showing us how to do it right!

]]> http://www.5thavenuedigital.com/photography-blog/index.php/corporate-events/photobooth/how-the-right-props-maximize-photo-booth-fun/feed/ 0 http://www.5thavenuedigital.com/photography-blog/index.php/corporate-events/photobooth/5th-avenue-digital-introduces-a-newer-sleeker-youbooth-photo-booth/ http://www.5thavenuedigital.com/photography-blog/index.php/corporate-events/photobooth/5th-avenue-digital-introduces-a-newer-sleeker-youbooth-photo-booth/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:37:12 +0000 Beth Baynum http://www.5thavenuedigital.com/photography-blog/?p=1106 One of our company tenets is to stay ahead of the curve and look for new ways to innovate and improve.  Even when we do something well, we look for ways to make it better.

That’s why, despite the strong reception our YouBooth has gotten in the past year, we looked for ways to make it even more attractive and fun to use.  I’m using the royal “we” here but actually it’s all the work of our exceptional Producer and resident Genius, Rylan Crooks.  Even though the booth he invented has been a huge success,  he envisioned some tweaks that could make it even better.

So improve it, he did!  Thus is born our new, even more beautiful YouBooth.

The new YouBooth is translucent white, so it blends with any décor, and can easily be branded with a logo or customized images.  It’s smaller and lighter.  The photos print even faster, and can of course be branded as well.  Another innovation is a count-down monitor that alerts people when the photo will be snapped.  Very cool!

If you haven’t tried the 5th Avenue Digital YouBooth before, now’s the time to find out how much fun it adds to any event!

Recent Events Using You Booth, Photo Booth