Shaping the Photo Booth Industry

Indeed, photo booths are an exciting and impressive way of capturing fun, joyous, and memorable moments on a plethora of occasions like parties, anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, etc. Photo booths eradicate the trouble of capturing pictures yourself, allowing you to fully relish any event.

The market for photo booths expanded primarily due to its simple business model. They’ve become incredibly prevalent owing to their involvement in a series of private and corporate events and government services. By offering rental services on an hourly basis, photo booth companies are majorly contributing to the market expansion.

In 2020, the global photo booth market was valued at $378.25 million. By 2027, it’s projected to reach a whopping $810.41 million, at a CAGR of 11.5% during a forecast period. So, whether you wish to enter the photo booth industry or are simply exploring the idea of how to stand out in the market, you’ve come to the right place.

Are Photo Booths Still A Thing?

In the modern era, people are crazy and obsessed with photos more than ever. Whether a quick selfie or a photograph with someone special to celebrate a special event, more photos are taken and shared across various social media platforms today than at any other point in history.

Thanks to the accessibility and high quality of smartphone photos and the ease of sharing them, everyone has become kind of an amateur photographer on their own. In addition, it has made people used to having their photographs clicked and shared.

Consequently, people chase photo opportunities. So, when they get a chance to have their pictures taken by a photo booth rental on any occasion, they will instantly jump at the first instance to explore a myriad of fun, new, and exciting ways to click their pictures, something they already love and enjoy doing.

Still, knowing that we’re living in the age of social media, where the majority of the photos we take can be found in the form of boomerangs or filters, is it rational to think photo booths are still relevant? The answer might come to you as a surprise.

Photo booths remain one of the most popular attractions at various festivities, including parties, weddings, and many other events. According to Forbes, the search for photo booth rentals continues to exceed the search for DJs when planning your upcoming events.

The demand for photo booths on various occasions is already high and further on the rise. In the majority of cities, especially during peak times, it’s hard to find photo booth operators to fulfill the increased demand.

This only goes to prove that, yes, photo booths are still a thing and very much popular, even to this date.

History of Photo Booths

The history of photo booths goes far back to 1888 when Edward Poole and William Pope filed the first patent for an automatic photo machine. Despite the technological change, the interaction guests experience with a photo booth is timeless.

For several decades, people have used photo booths for wild and happening events, funny mugshots, or to show off their guns. A photo booth is a must-have for just about any occasion.

With multiple choices of props and backdrops, the photo booth experience has drastically evolved and come a long way from the large vintage booths that merely processed four simple and ordinary-looking photos on a single paper strip.

Today, they offer an array of unique experiences and top-quality images.

Why Are Photo Booths So Popular?

Photo booths are incredibly popular for various reasons, such as:

• They are an excellent way to engage your guests and serve as an icebreaker at practically any event.
• They are an amusing and excellent entertainment source for people of all ages, from kids to adults. Everyone can let loose at a photo booth and get creative with all the props.
• They enable the host and guests to create truly wonderful and lasting memories they can even take home as a keepsake from the event.
• They can customize photos to match the event’s theme and be used as a great party favor.

Why Start a Photo Booth Business

The high demand for photo booths has shaped the business in more ways than one. They are so popular that several people are even thinking of starting a photo booth business. Besides having high demand, here are the most common reasons why many people are considering starting their own photo booth:

●    Small startup costs

Even though you will need to pay for the equipment and other upfront costs, you can expect it to be a fraction of what you usually spend on launching a traditional business.

●    High potential for revenue

DSLR-style photo booths usually rent for $250-300 per hour and last for 2-4 hours on average. Multi-day or full-day corporate events aren’t uncommon and will be quoted at a daily rate.

●    Easy to find/train staff 

Since most events take place during the evenings and/or on the weekends, being an attendee for the photo booth can be an excellent part-time job. It requires no special skills or traits other than a fun, lively, and outgoing personality.

●    Work from home

You can store the equipment in a spare bedroom or the garage once the event wraps up. Hence, you do not need an expensive office.

●    Flexible lifestyle

You can shape your photo booth business to match your lifestyle and needs.

●    Scalable business

Typically, once you score your first event, it will eventually be followed by another event and then some more, creating a snowball effect. As you grow your business, you can add more photo booths to cope with the rising demand.

●    Enjoyable

If you prefer being around people at social events, this is the ultimate business for you.

6 Unique Ways to Make Your Photo Booth Business Stand Out Amongst Others

If you enter the photo booth industry now, you must learn what it takes to enhance your photo booth business to stand out against the others.

From adequate backdrops and lighting to special photo booth props, here are a few interesting photo booth ideas, tips, and tricks that can truly differentiate you from the rest.

1.   Customize Photo Booth Setups

There are various photo booths worth choosing from. However, finding one that can work for diverse target markets is vital. Generally, it is recommended to invest in a portable photo booth that can easily be taken to events and customize the setup accordingly.

Besides customizing hashtags according to different events, you can provide various backdrops, props (personalized signs, DIY photo booth props, fun hats and wigs, accessories), etc., to create a one-of-a-kind experience.

2.   Utilize Technology

In this kind of business, technology is bound to be your best friend. The days of guests capturing memorable pictures using a DSLR are long gone. Customers look forward to enjoying a unique and smooth experience, which can be created with the right photo booth software.

3.   Choose the Right Lighting

Lighting is the most crucial aspect of capturing that picture-perfect moment in a photo. Still, many photo booth businesses fail to understand this. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to find everything, from affordable photo booth lighting to more upscale models, such as a photo booth with an all-inclusive ring light.

4.   Target Different Events

An important tip is to expand your target audience. Even though it is okay to find a niche, you can grow your photo booth business by targeting diverse demographics. For example, collaborate with wedding or event planners during the peak seasons to provide an excellent experience.

In other instances, you can also attend other celebrations and occasions. This way, you can develop a diverse portfolio and stand out from other photo booth businesses.

5.   Create Lasting Memories for Customers

The ultimate goal is to create lasting memories for people through tangible photographs. Even though digital photos are good and can be easily shared on social media, the physical copy of the picture possesses significant value to some people.

Providing instant printing of photographs taken in a photo booth is the best way to stand out. All it takes is a photo booth with a camera and a readily available printer.

6.   Get Creative with Backdrops

Backdrops can range from anything trendy like faux flower falls or topiary to branded like company logos for office and corporate events. With a growing business, different customers will be attracted to different backdrops. Hence, your backdrop should be multipurpose, so it can be utilized for various events.

Wrapping Up

With the considerable growth visible from weddings, parties, and social and private events, it is no wonder that photo booths have drastically shaped the photography and entertainment industry. Wherever there are events and weddings, there is bound to be a demand for photo booths.