The overall morale in 2011 was higher than it has been for the past three years.  There was hopefulness in the air.  Here at 5^th Avenue Digital, we saw:

•    Companies having summer outings and holiday parties for the first time in years.

•      Advertisers spending marketing dollars on events with consumer interaction and (thankfully) photo capture, for   mementos or social media benefit.

•     The return of corporate incentive trips and large company celebrations.

•      Companies putting money back into their image and deciding to update their employee’s headshots.

•      Business surging once again for the venues and planners we work with.

It seems like everyone is starting to see the economic woes dissipate. The many jobs we were lucky enough to be part of this past year indicate we are on our way, after two years of corporate celebrations being relegated to the back burner.

I’ve worked hard to assemble a team of super-talented photographers, who have captured not only incredible corporate images this year but have also taken our 5^th Avenue Social division to new heights.  We have partnered with a dynamic group of planners and venues and are very excited to share our new portfolios that feature images from their clients’ events.  I am already anticipating the new images we’ll be seeing in the coming months.

One of my proudest accomplishments in 2011 is the newest model of the YouBooth photo booth.  The collaborations with our clients have allowed us to introduce the newest technology crazes to their events.  The YouBooth has a new exterior design, plus the most exciting new feature: a social media application that allows guests to upload their photos directly to Twitter, Facebook or email.

This year the YouBooth was proudly used at pop-up store events, holiday parties, mitzvahs, weddings – any occasion where fun was required.  What we love the most is finding creative solutions that maximize each client’s use of the booth.  I owe a special shout-out to my producer, Rylan Crooks, for always finding ways to execute our clients’ unending ideas of how they envision using the YouBooth.

Building a strong business in this economic time is certainly a challenge.  We have watched many of our partners in event planning scale down the past few years, and it’s so comforting to watch them scale back up.  We are very grateful for their trust in us and we treasure these partnerships.

I am also very grateful to my 5^th Avenue Digital team: the amazing group inside the office, Beth, Rylan and Tim, and the photographers, videographers and designers that make our clients their number one priority.  Teamwork and partnerships have been the overall theme in 2011.  Knowing that you have the right people in the ship makes being the captain a joy.  I am grateful every day that I get to work with the team I have, and I would not have been able to double our business this year if it hadn’t been for them.  There have been some rough waters in terms of owning a photography business over the past three years, but it looks like smoother sailing ahead.

Thank you all who have contributed to an amazing 2011.  We will be sharing some of our favorite photographic moments in galleries over the next few weeks.  Here are a few more of my favorites.

We continue to pursue our goal to create a company that provides a quality product with exceptionally responsive service.  The wonderful news is that our planners and clients who work with us are recognizing the value we offer them, and our company continues to thrive in an environment where most photography businesses falter under the weight of intense competition and shifting consumer needs.

Our YouBooth photo booth has proven to be the most successful product we created this year.  It stands out from the other free standing photo booths because it does it all: high quality prints that pop out in seconds, simultaneous transmission to A/V screens and the ability to customize back drops and branding on the prints.

Essentially, the photo booth is a custom party in a box!  Corporate events, bar mitzvahs and weddings have been enjoying the benefits of having the guests take control of their picture memories.  And each guest gets to take home a memento!  It’s much more memorable to give your party guests a real print instead of sending a photo to their computer after the party.

We have noticed a change in the type of photographers that people want to shoot their weddings, and we have responded by collaborating with some of the best in the business.  Photojournalism is out and editorial photography is in.  This has been brought about by all the gorgeous photos found on wedding blogs and in the proliferation of bridal magazines.  Photographers are getting more creative with the pre- and post-wedding shoots and about finding ways to add this editorial flavor to the actual wedding day photos.  We are very excited to share these new photographers and the beautiful work they are doing for our clients

Bar Mitzvah photography has not changed as radically as wedding photography.  Our clients still want wonderful family pictures and artistic candids of their family’s special occasion.  The biggest difference we have found in this economy is that value is king!  We provide photographers by the hour, so our clients can document the events that are most important to them and can choose how to preserve their images.  Our photography services are offered a la carte, so our bar mitzvah families get more their money – excellent values on top notch photography.  Most of our clients still want albums, because in the end, isn’t that what you have left?

Also this year, we have seen a return of the monumental social occasions.  Consumer confidence seems to have returned enough for people to again host large celebrations of the special birthdays and anniversaries.  We have had the opportunity this year to photograph sweet 16’s, 50th birthdays, 80th birthdays, graduation parties and some special anniversaries.  These images are suffused with love!  Truly, there is nothing better than being in a room full of the people you adore, who adore you in return, and having the lasting images that commemorate these occasions.

In the corporate world, we have seen a steady increase in using photography to document events.  Holiday parties returned as a way for companies to thank their employees and supporters.  We photographed a number of golf outings and client appreciation parties.  We didn’t see a lot of excess but still the events are back and that’s a great sign.

The big news in corporate events is branding.  Whether it’s with the YouBooth or with onsite printing, companies want their guests to take home a picture with their logo or tagline on it.  Thankfully, we have become known for being able to execute high-end green screen photography fast and efficiently, even with large print counts, and always backed by our responsive customer service.  With corporations, these are the things that matter and we are happy to say we’re now the go-to company for many PR, marketing and advertising agencies.

My wish for the coming year is to keep the momentum going so we all can experience even greater success in the year ahead.  Thank you to everyone who has helped bring us to where we are, and we look forward to working with you more in 2011!

Here are a few of the ideas that we have been booked on in the past few weeks for the holidays ahead:

Youbooth, Youbooth, Youbooth! Photo booths are the hottest thing right now and Youbooth stands out by providing instant prints as well as instant entertainment and fun.  By using technology to enhance the photography, we allow our clients to customize their offering to suit their specific needs.  And luckily we have more than one photo booth, for larger parties.

Onsite prints – with photos taken by one of our professional photographers versus the DIY photo booth—are still a big hit for holiday parties, especially when used with green screen.  The idea of going far away (via a green screen image) without leaving the party is pretty attractive at this time of year.  Others are opting to use a holiday themed image for their green screen background.

The gift of family portraits or a new headshot is an old idea that’s making a comeback.  Some companies are offering their employees a studio photo session for themselves or their families, or a headshot to be taken at their party, where they also provide professional hair and make-up prep for everyone.  With social media now a part of everyone’s lives, we all can use a great headshot. What a great way to appreciate your employees!

Photo albums and folios are another gift idea we see more and more.  We’ve created wedding albums for the parents of several of our recent wedding couples, which they’re giving as holiday presents.  A Bar Mitzvah mom asked us to create a three-photo wall folio of her son and family, as a gift for her parents.  And a corporate client ordered large prints of her group photo to give as gifts to her team.

If you’re looking for gift ideas for your family or company, call us!  We’re happy to provide creative solutions to fit just about any budget.

While the economy seems to be (slowly) improving, most companies aren’t ready to return to the blow-out celebrations of the past. (It’s possible we’ll never return to those days, but that’s another subject.)  Shrinking event allocations can burden a planner’s list of challenges: how do you bring in fun, novel party entertainment that won’t gobble up the budget?

New ways to use photography offer the perfect solutions to party ennui.  Following are a few ideas to ignite your creative fire and bring much-needed pizzazz to 2010 holiday parties.  These ideas will deliver that “WOW” factor everyone wants for their events.

“Honey, I wanna be in pictures”

You’ll be amazed how even the most camera-shy person warms up to taking his own picture with YouBooth, our modern take on the old-fashioned photo booth.  YouBooth takes the photo booth to new heights, with a streamlined, polished wood casing and simple foot-pedal operation.  Just step on the pedal and *snap* — in seconds, your photo pops out on the side.

Photos can be formatted with a logo or message.  They can print in black and white or in color, with one photo per print, or two, or four per print, a la Andy Warhol.  See samples and more info here:

Add props – bows, Santa beards, elf hats, and mistletoe for the holidays – and the fun really begins.  The YouBooth photo booth from 5th Avenue Digital is an easy, economical, interactive form of entertainment for everyone.  And at the same time, all your party guests will go home with at least one photo as your gift and their memento.

“I wish I were in Paris”

Or at the Taj Mahal, or on a tropical island, or…. And that’s the beauty of green screen photography.  It puts you anywhere!   We can create a green screen background, or a choice of several backgrounds, using whatever image works with your overall theme or message.  You can put your party guests in a picture of a snowy winter scene, or standing next to your corporate mascot.

What makes green screen photography so effective, aside from the fun everyone has with it, is the way the images can be tailored to your event.  We can help you fashion a specific message or image that directly relates to your company or your client.  Click here to see more examples of how much fun your event guests will have with green screen photography.

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“Give it to me NOW!”

Many holiday celebrations are dressy occasions, allowing guests to put on their finest, most glittery outfits and take them away from the ordinary.  This is the perfect time to commemorate the special occasion with a take-away portrait for each guest.  5th Avenue Digital’s onsite printing team makes giving your guests a take-away photo easy and affordable.

Whether you format the portraits formally, with a designated portrait station, or more informally, snapping each person as they arrive, your guests will love going home with a tangible keepsake of your event.   We can add a logo, decorative border or message to the photos as they print, to further customize your photo gift.   And our producer will work with you prior to your event, discussing the options and making sure the photo format addresses your goals and desires.

Something for Everyone

No matter what your event or who your guests are, printed photos are always a welcome party gift.  5th Avenue Digital offers a number of options and price points, and best of all, we take care of all the details before and after we shoot.  So there’s no need to worry about finding something memorable, fun and different from what you’ve done for past holiday events.  One call and you’re done!  It’s never too early to start planning.

Professional event photographers can help you reach these goals by knowing exactly when and where to take those shots that will remind your attendees what a terrific time they had at your company holiday party.

Some companies even use our onsite printing services and send their guests home with a great photo as a gift. You can use the shots on your corporate website, in your printed material, and even send framed photos as gifts to your best clients.

Holiday parties can Help to Achieve your Business Goals

If you think of your holiday party as satisfying some of your business goals, you will have an easier time “selling” it to your management. The Event Marketing Institute has a terrific ROI calculator right on their site. It’s amazing how when you break down the costs and the benefits, you actually see a return on the investment you can make on the party. And, by inviting clients, you can show them that your company is in the enviable position to host a great party as well as thanking them for their business throughout the year.