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. 

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.

The YouBooth photobooth was a huge hit at The Knot gala, the first event I attended in my marathon week of networking events.  We brought in our YouBooth “photobooth” to give everyone there a chance to see it in action.  Carley and her dynamo team at The Knot were lovely to work with and many industry friends stopped by to check out the photobooth.

To give the picture-taking a focus, we decided to pose the question, “What’s Hot in Weddings?” and provided an erasable white board on which everyone could write their answer.  This infused the YouBooth photobooth function with some creativity and gleaned many interesting answers.

Bottom line: everyone found the YouBooth entertaining, and best of all, they had an opportunity to upload their photos directly to Facebook, Twitter or email.  This was the first time we’d offered the image sharing feature for a large group, and it was a huge hit. I was beyond thrilled to hear Xochitl from Always A Bridesmaid declare it was the best photobooth she’s seen.

The next night we made our yearly appearance at the BizBash pre-tradeshow party, and brought along YouBooth photobooth.  The social media mavens were in full blast and the crew enjoyed our new social media feature.  We included props for this event, which reminded me yet again of what a difference adding a few fun props makes.  Everyone seems to smile more when you add props!

The following day was the BizBash Expo, where we did double duty.  Our YouBooth was in the social media lounge, and at the ISES booth we offered headshots with professional make-up, beautifully provided by Filis Foreman Make-Up view images here.  Everyone who signed up with ISES at the Expo received the make-up session and a professional headshot.  The promotion was a huge success for ISES, yielding 15 new memberships in one day – a record number that’s sure to be envied by other ISES chapters.  We’re happy to have been a part of that.

I treasure the relationships I’ve developed in our industry, and these events give me wonderful opportunities to reinforce them.  It was so gratifying to show the newest developments of the YouBooth photobooth to the world and to hear all the valuable feedback from my friends and colleagues.  Working these events takes some finesse – and stamina! – but the payoff is invaluable.

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.

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.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

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

Nikon is a notable exception.  They put on a big bash in Arena, a renowned New York City nightclub, to not just tell, but show their customers how much they’re appreciated.

Smart marketers that they are, in addition to the huge party, everyone there got photos to take home.  And they did this with 5th Avenue Digital’s YouBooth photo booth.  Anyone at the party could stop by the booth and snap a photo of themselves – and just about everyone did!  Of course, the photos were branded with Nikon’s logo, further extending the connection of Nikon with Fun Party.

To maximize the photo booth fun, the YouBooth photos were projected onto a giant wall in the club in real time.  Everyone was able to see the photos as they were printed, which encouraged more people to participate and allowed everyone to share the laughs.

Another smart move for Nikon was including an event photographer, also provided by 5th Avenue Digital, to record the entertainment, crowds on the dance floor, people mingling and everyone having fun.  The photos document the various elements of the event and provide Nikon’s upper management with evidence of its success.

This stellar event was produced by the incomparable team at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design.  They truly infused this party with fun, including entertainment by The Screaming Queens, Nikon-branded cupcakes, glowing necklaces and plenty of libations.  This was a major event with lots of moving parts, so bravo to Shawn, Michael and the entire crew for making it a resounding success.

Finally, kudos to Nikon for investing real effort and significant dollars to say “Thank you” to their customers, demonstrating in more than words how much they value their business.  And to do so with pictures – what could be more perfect?

Together, Iris and Niki created a unique opportunity for teens to learn about fundraising in general, while also supporting a cause they believe in.  The gala evening that Niki and the teens produce helps build awareness and celebrates life.  As the event has progressed over the years, it is now being overseen by The Susan G. Koman Center for a Cure, with the Dankners’ ongoing assistance and support.  

This year, we brought our YouBooth photo booth to the event held at Marquee, the noted nightspot at 289 Tenth Avenue.  We encouraged all the teens to put on a pink boa for the cause.  Music was provided by the fabulous DJ Kiss! The event was emceed again this year by television host and chairman of Deutsch Inc. Donny Deutsch and LX New York co-host Sara Gore.”

In addition to the YouBooth, the guests were entertained by a Diane von Furstenberg fashion show of professional models, who walked the runway along with survivor moms and their children.  This is always a high point of the event.
To view and download your photos from the YouBooth, click on this link :  Tickled Pink

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!

A major benefit of our photo booth that the others don’t have (aside from our lower rate) is that all the workings are inside.  You don’t see the printer or the computer; just a sleek, attractive wooden case.  When the prints pop out at the side, it seems all the more magical!

Another thing that was exclusively ours was the use of props.  I know what you’re thinking: props are cheesy!  While we admit to some cheese-factor, this is truly outweighed by the fun that props lend to photo booth snaps.  Props bring out everyone’s playfulness.  Props make mugging for the photo booth camera more natural and lighthearted.  It’s much easier to strike a pose when you’re wearing a feather boa!  

Props are a simple addition, but they make all the difference in how people interact with the photo booth.  Props add fun, and people having fun make for better pictures.  Rest assured, your guests will keep their photos to remind them how much fun they had at your event.

Props also can make the booth photos more topical.  A holiday party can use mistletoe, elf hats, candy canes, giant snowflake cut-outs.  For birthday parties, add a crown and scepter, pointy party hats, noisemakers.  Wedding photo booths are more fun with a bouquet, veil, top hat.  You get the idea.  Just about any event or theme can be reinforced and played out with the photo booth props.

But you don’t need a theme to have fun with photo booth props.  Any type of party can have more photo booth fun with empty picture frames, goofy hats and glasses, and of course the aforementioned feather boas.  

When you’re hosting the photo booth but you’re out of creative ideas or you just don’t want to bother with the props, allow us to provide them for you.  For a small additional charge, we include a prop tree with your photo booth booking.  All you have to do is stand and smile!