STEPS FOR SUCCESS IN THE PHOTOBOOTH BUSINESS

1.  The most important thing to remember here is that there is no one thing that will make you a success. You are only as good as your weakest link so you must do your best to be the best in all the following areas, which are covered in detail in different sections of the book. Go through the following list. If you sense you are not the best in any of the following areas take steps to change that today.

Quality Of Pictures

Quality Of Advertising

Quality Of Attendants

Quality Of Props

Quality Of the Photobooth Itself

Quality Of Follow Up

Furthermore, Don't Try To JUST Be Better – Try To Be Different ALSO

Be unique. Be an INNOVATOR. Change the world.

YOUR MISSION

The photobooth is the new form of entertainment. Your job is to make the guests at the parties you entertain “giggle”. As we already know, successful photobooth operators are not selling pictures, but rather the entertainment experience.

Just about anyone can deliver a photobooth to a location but good photobooth operators are those who more than just take pictures. They build a rapport with their customers and effectively motivate the crowd, enticing them to become involved in the activity, just like a good DJ does.

A good photobooth operator should not be modest or shy. They should show plenty of enthusiasm, have an even temperament and pleasant personality as well as the ability to control a crowd. They should also have a customer service attitude and a strong desire to satisfy each customer.

This is perhaps why DJs found photobooths to be a natural fit. I personally think that DJs and photographers have a lot to learn from one another. Disc Jockeys turned photobooth operators need to consistently work on their photographic skills and always strive to make better quality pictures. Of course some photographers can learn from DJs as well in the goal of creating a world class entertainment experience. They are no longer photographers in the traditional sense. They are now entertainers.

Make Your Booth Fun

As with a DJ Service YOUR PERSONALITY will be a key factor in determining your success. Although all aspects of running a photobooth are critical, this is the most important one by far. After all, it was DJs putting the FUN into photography that made photobooths so popular in the first place.

Let your personality shine and enjoy yourself. If you are having fun this will encourage the people at the function to have fun as well. If you do not add entertainment value to the evening then you are not worth the big bucks.

Be Unique

Employ strategies that will make your photobooth stand out. Try to be unique and  find that niche. Do something that will have your guests talking for weeks. If you are just going to copy everyone else I probably wouldn't suggest you get in the business.

Add A Second External Monitor

I offer a second monitor as an upsell, but even when it isn`t booked I use it as I want everyone at my booth to have the best experience possible.

I don`t think I can stress enough what having the monitor is to the whole photobooth experience. I can remember days when I literally had 20-30 people looking at this slideshow of pics that were made that night as if it were some sort of feature film. It attracts people to the booth and people absolutely love looking at the pictures.

I haven`t done this yet, but one of my next business purchases will be a wall projector as a further upsell. I have seen other companies do this and it is a hit.

The wall projector will cost a few hundred dollars, if not closer to a thousand for some of the better ones, but in the mean time, the cost for the second monitor is minimal.

Of course, first you need the software. If you are using Breeze software, Breeze sells a slide show program, Breeze Viewer, for $69 (2014 price). There are also some free options available:

FastStone Image Viewer 4.8 - available at www.faststone.com

Photolive – available at http://www.partytools.net/photolive/

A good second monitor does not need to be expensive. $150 will buy you a nice sized full screen monitor in  2014. Of course there`s no reason you can`t buy one at a pawn shop for half the price.

You absolutely should have a 2^nd monitor.

Smile

If you were considering using a photobooth at your wedding and were shopping around for a photobooth company to use, the smiles of the attendants (or lack therof) would probably be one of the deciding factors you would use to choose.

You are on a stage when you are working as a photobooth attendant or cast member. Put away your cell phone – and make sure your employees do as well.

Nothing says I don't give a rats ass about this job more than constantly looking at the cell phone.

Also, do not look at the clock. Put it on a table so it is not so obvious (don't wear an expensive watch – lol) . Many times you are competing with the DIY (Do It Yourself) photobooth . For this reason it is even more important that you sell your personality. Anyone can take pictures - not everyone can deliver fun. Earn your keep!

PRICING

	In the course of writing this book I did a lot of research on the various DJ, photobooth, wedding and photography forums and blogs that are out there and came across a very interesting story. I won't mention any names or sources but this particular company was having trouble competing with all the new upstart photobooth companies out there.

When price matching wasn't working they decided to do something completely different. They upped their price to almost double that of their nearest competitor while at the same time substantially increasing their quality by upgrading their software and adding red carpets and stanchions among other things.  Surprise, surprise, a funny thing happened. Their business actually increased. It's the old story of “if you can't sell a hamburger for $3, try selling it for $6.”

All Inclusive or A La Carte

What do you include and what do you put on as extras?

Some companies like to offer only one package and promote that. When I think about pricing strategies, I think often of what airlines do. Some charge a premium price with lots of things included while others offer rock bottom prices, but you even get charged for the peanuts.

I have been flying to the Mobile Beat DJ Conventions for years and every year I must select an airline and a flight. There was a time I used to drive the 40 hours each way but time no longer allows that for me. Maybe I will do that again someday but in the mean time there seem to have been two airlines I have used the most and somewhat indirectly have been responsible for some of my own pricing theory.

Southwest brags that they are the only major airline left that allows you to take 2 bags FREE. Spirit Air on the other hand even charges you for a carry on bag. I have flown with both airlines and there are pros and cons to both systems.

In determining my pricing strategy I decided to offer in effect both systems. When someone calls me asking for price I start with the lowest price to keep them talking but then explain all their options. I give them a choice between a-la-carte and all inclusive.

There is nothing underhanded here and it actually works quite well. At wedding shows I offer them a special on the all-inclusive package that is a huge savings over paying for everything a-la-carte.

Everyone has to decide on their own pricing strategy. I just find that this method works well for me.

Groupon?

If you decide to do a groupon to get your business started, make sure that you offer the lowest price package on the groupon and then add the additional. For example you could sell a 2 hour package for $399 and then sell additional hours for $199 after the fact. I hope there are no groupon reps reading this but the secret is that this way you are splitting less money with groupon too.

Don't Sell Yourself Short

You will never be the cheapest photobooth out there, so concentrate on being the best. There will always be someone cheaper than you.

Do a lot of research to come up with the correct pricing then stick with it, at least for a while. Keeping consistent also allows you to get others to sell for you.