Skip to main content

Photo Booth Fun!

By Anonymous
Photo Booth Style
Photo Booth Style Sessions are now here!
I've been toying with the idea of buying a photo booth.  The issues?  Cost.  Storage.  Maintenance.  Storage.  Transportation. Storage.  Cost. Storage.  Maintenance.  Storage.

You get the idea.

So, I got creative.  No storage necessary, just a simple setup with existing studio equipment: a giant 7' parabolic umbrella mounted to an Alien Bees 1600, triggered by Pocket Wizard flex units, and a white seamless backdrop.

Is the giant umbrella necessary?  No.  The powerful Alien Bees 1600? No.  The Pocket Wizard triggering system? No.  The white seamless backdrop? No.  The dog?  Yes.  We all need a cute dog.

You can totally do this on a budget at your studio.  Grab your speed light(s).  Buy a cheap shoot through, or reflective umbrella (our giant one has a silver reflective inside).  You can get a very decent sized Westcott umbrella for under $50 (even bigger if you go used!)  If you are using Nikon - set up the CLS so the camera triggers the strobe(s).  If you are using another brand, consult your manual...or youtube.

Photo Booth, Coudersport, Wedding PhotographyThe setup:  Big umbrella a touch higher than your subject, and slightly to a side (but mostly straight on).  Camera on tripod just a touch in front of the umbrella.  Frame the backdrop area you want and get as close as you can while still allowing for lots of space for sweet activities.  Do a few tests until you like it.

To make the strip on the left, I simply made a new file in Photoshop CC, 6x20'', created rectangular picture holders, and dropped in the images I wanted.  You can do whatever you like here - get creative!

SPEAKING of creative...  The best part of this setup, is that it allows me to interact with the subjects!  I've made a bunch of ludicrous "action" cards for people to act out, and create hilarious scenes!  So, instead of okay looking images from a photo booth where clients did it all on their own - now I am the director of the shoot!  I just set the camera up on the interval timer, or use the pocketwizard system



to remote trigger, and I don't even have to be behind the camera!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

All comments will be reviewed before being posted. Please keep them clean! Thank you!

Popular posts from this blog

So You Want To Be A Photographer?

By Anonymous
Are you interested in becoming a photographer?  Do you want to turn your passion for creating images into a source of income to support yourself and your family? Tim Walck Photography will soon be offering online courses in photography training, and portrait business training.  Each course will span 4-8 weeks.  Every student who participates in all classes will gain the tools necessary to succeed in the wedding and portrait photography business. ---- I started my photography business with only $2,000, which I had saved from working as a tele-marker, social services provider, and substitute teacher, all while being a full time graduate student at Mansfield University.  That was enough to buy a camera, lens, and flash.  I poured my heart and soul into photography, read everything I could get my hands on, and began to build my business.  After 3 short years of juggling multiple jobs, and being a photographer on the side, I made the leap into phot...
8 comments
Read more

Black and White - Conversion VS Infrared, See the Difference.

By Anonymous
Digital Black and white photography can be created through many techniques.  You could use the Instagram app and click a pre-made filter,  use a more advanced software program like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, convert it directly inside your camera body, screw on an infrared filter to the front of your lens and convert it to black and white post production, or convert a camera to only capture infrared light.  Today I'm just going to explore my two favorite methods: 1) Using an infrared converted camera. 2) Converting images in Adobe Lightroom. So what is the difference between the two methods? A color image that is converted to black and white allows you lots of control over each color channel.  This is handy if you want to make different colors stand out by being brightened or darkened in your final black and white image. An image that is captured from infrared light has much less control over colors as the only colors captured are tones of red.  Ho...
Post a Comment
Read more

Most Important Gear.

By Anonymous
I am often asked, "Tim, what is your favorite piece of gear?" Well - yesterday I got asked a new one!  "Tim, what is your most important piece of gear?"  So, I thought about it for a minute.  I realized that there is no camera, lens, flash, or light modifier that is more important than one thing.  That thing is me .  NOT that I'm implying that I am a tool ;) (Though I do have a ridicules shirt that says "Tim's tools, if you need a tool, grab Tim's!")  I could use a polaroid camera, disposable film camera from the local pharmacy, or even my iPhone, and I know that I could make great meaningful images.  There is just no piece of equipment more important than the artist's vision, and skill for creating it - which comes from lots of hard work, experience, and dedication.  I may pack a bunch of gear, and have many tools at my disposal, but ultimately the image is made by me, not a camera. With all that being said - there are som...
Post a Comment
Read more