E: Photo booths are a relatively new thing for weddings in New Zealand. Can you tell us a little more about them and why you decided to introduce them to the New Zealand wedding scene?
CD: Yes, photo booths are new to New Zealand, but are already an international phenomenon at weddings and events. The photo booth concept has been around for years but the old style booths were very slow and the prints took a long time to dry. Modern technology has sped up the process to a point where most clients have not even left the photo booth before their prints are ready and dry!One thing that hasn’t changed though is the sheer entertainment and excitement of popping behind the curtain and making instant memories. The curtain has a strange way of removing people’s inhibitions. Above all, and we can tell by the laughter, it is just a fun experience for all.
E: How does it work?
CD: I think we’ll keep away from the technical side of things so I don’t bore your readers to death. Basically our clients sit down in the booth (there is seating for four but the record so far is eight), they can then choose between black and white or colour with a simple touch of a button and, using the LCD screen in front of them, start striking poses. There are four poses per shoot with a small gap between, and for those who have had too much champagne, the whole process is text and voice guided. It really is that easy. Oh yeah, for those who are completely technophobic (or tipsy - I’m being polite) our attendant is there to help anyone who may need help.
E: What are the advantages of having a booth at the wedding? Wouldn’t disposable cameras on the table be just as good?
CD: Without being rude, I really think disposable cameras have had their time. The shots aren’t always great, most get taken home by guests and lost forever and even if you manage to hold on to them the printing costs are not cheap (not to mention you have to wait until the next day to see if anything came out!). Little Black Photobooth (LBPB) has five distinct advantages over disposable cameras:
1. The prints are instant.
2. We always print two copies, (one for you, one for your guests)
3. Every LBPB package includes unlimited shots and prints.
4. You can get a copy on DVD of every shot at the end of the night.
5. Every wedding package includes a Keepsake Album to hold the couples’ Funstrips and allow their guests to write comments and wishes.
6. It is just a heck of a lot more fun.
Ok, that was actually six!
One other thing... Not only do the Funstrips (that’s our name for the prints) replace disposable cameras but they are an instant keepsake for you AND your guests. Forget chocolates or sweets as a parting gift, the Funstrips will last a lot longer than the trip home.
Every Funstrip has the couples name and wedding date at the top. By the time you take away the costs of disposable cameras and ‘goodie bags’ you will see LBPB is actually cheaper. You do not need to buy a ‘guest book’ either as our Keepsake Album is already included in every wedding package.
E: And of course, we have to ask about the disadvantages?
CD: You can’t fit the photo booth in your handbag.
E: What quality are the photos?
CD: Great question. And the answer is “we believe the quality of Little Black Photobooth ‘Funstrips’ to be the best available anywhere in the world”. We are not making this statement lightly. When we first decided to look at starting our photo booth company as an extension to our already successful wedding photography studios: Dillon (www.dillon.co.nz) and Simply Photos (www.simplyphotos.co.nz) we trialled almost all of the photo booths currently available overseas and found the quality of print very disappointing. This is the main reason we decided to design, develop and build our own brand of photo booth. Little Black Photobooth was born. We have already had interest from hotel chains in purchasing our booths. It is very exciting.
E: Can you get re-prints? Enlargements?
CD: Yes, the DVD of every shot allows couples to enlarge and reprint the photos. Not only that, if you would prefer more than two copies on the night we can programme the booth to suit your needs.
E: Does the booth also take video?
CD: No, that is what videographers are for. We are going to video a function in the very near future to show clients the booth in action (it will be on the website) but the Funstrips really are enough. There is an old saying by Cesare Pavese, “We do not remember days, only moments”. This is a saying that I have embraced throughout my professional wedding photography career. It is the same for the LBPB.
E: What sort of costs are brides and grooms looking at?
CD: Two hour of unlimited shots and Funstrips, the Keepsake Album, the booth delivered and set up in Auckland (the greater Auckland area does have a small delivery charge), and our photo booth attendant costs $795. Extra hours can be added to any package.
Compare that to ten disposable cameras ($450), 80 goodie bags ($400), and a guestbook ($100) and you can really see the value. Did I mention it is also brilliant fun and a real source of entertainment for all of your guests? Flower girls to Nanas, the Little Black Photo Booth has no age limits.
E: Is this an Auckland-only service?
CD: Absolutely not! We are well aware there is more of New Zealand past the Bombay Hills and even north of the Harbour Bridge. (We’ve been there.) Of course, we are Auckland-based and so we do charge travel costs based on time and distance. Just give us a call and we can give you a quote.
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