Start Your Own Photobooth Business by Rob Savickis Page 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................................................................2 DEDICATIONS, THANKS AND CREDITS.......................................................6 Dedication ..................................................................................................6 Thanks and Credits.....................................................................................6 Disclaimers.................................................................................................6 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................7 Isn't The Photobooth Market Saturated?.....................................................7 REASONS NOT TO GET INTO THE PHOTOBOOTH BUSINESS ...............11 Do Not Do It For The Money.....................................................................11 Be Prepared To Give Up Weekends.........................................................12 Do You Enjoy Photography?.....................................................................12 Do You Enjoy Dealing With People?.........................................................12 THE ABSOLUTE BASICS..............................................................................14 Open Booth Or Closed Booth?.................................................................14 Photo Booth Or Photobooth?....................................................................15 PHOTOBOOTH HISTORY.............................................................................16 Digital vs. Chemical...................................................................................18 Fast Forward To Today.............................................................................19 MARKETS THAT USE PHOTOBOOTHS......................................................20 Weddings..................................................................................................22 Corporate Market......................................................................................23 Holiday Parties..........................................................................................23 School Market...........................................................................................24 Birthdays...................................................................................................24 Bar and Bat Mitzvahs................................................................................24 Trade Shows and Product Promotion.......................................................26 Radio Stations...........................................................................................26 Charity Events and Fund Raisers.............................................................27 STEPS FOR SUCCESS IN THE PHOTOBOOTH BUSINESS .....................30 YOUR MISSION.............................................................................................31 Make Your Booth Fun...............................................................................32 Be Unique ................................................................................................32 Add A Second External Monitor................................................................32 Smile.........................................................................................................33 PRICING........................................................................................................37 All Inclusive or A La Carte.........................................................................38 Groupon?..................................................................................................38 Don't Sell Yourself Short...........................................................................38 UPSELL BABY...............................................................................................39 Service Tiers As Up-sells..........................................................................40 Green Screen............................................................................................40 Red Carpet And Stanchions......................................................................41 Idle Time As An Up-sell.............................................................................41 Frames......................................................................................................41 Photo Book As An Up-sell.........................................................................41 Page 2 Start Your Own Photobooth Business by Rob Savickis Tent...........................................................................................................42 Celebrity Impersonators............................................................................42 And Some More Ideas..............................................................................42 Summary on Up-sells................................................................................43 PROPS..........................................................................................................45 Ideas For Props........................................................................................45 Where To Buy Props.................................................................................46 Sherman Specialty...............................................................................46 Windy City Novelty...............................................................................46 Rhode Island Novelty...........................................................................46 Party City.............................................................................................47 CTS Wholesale Sunglasses.................................................................47 Dollar Stores........................................................................................48 Garage Sales.......................................................................................48 Thrift Shops.........................................................................................48 Re-Used Props Or New Props..................................................................49 Inflatable Props.........................................................................................49 Higher End and Custom / Specialty Prop Websites..................................50 Limbo Sticks..............................................................................................50 What To Do About Stolen Props...............................................................51 Toy Guns and Weapons...........................................................................52 Buy Props Off Season...............................................................................53 THE ART OF SELLING..................................................................................54 Get Them Talking......................................................................................54 Ask Open Ended Questions......................................................................54 Don't Go Cheap On Advertising................................................................55 Use a Graphic Designer If You Can Afford It............................................55 Build It And They Will Come.......NOT.......................................................55 Start Off With A Logo and Mission Statement...........................................55 Use Personalized Appointment Cards......................................................56 Look For A Specialty / Niche.....................................................................56 Build Relationships....................................................................................56 Snail Mail..................................................................................................57 Evaluations...............................................................................................58 Go Above And Beyond..............................................................................58 Competing With The DIY Booth................................................................59 Competing With DIY Booth Photographers...............................................59 START-UP COSTS IF YOU DO IT RIGHT....................................................62 Hardware..................................................................................................62 Software....................................................................................................63 Computer..................................................................................................64 Camera – DSLR, Point and Shoot or Webcam ..................................................................................................................64 Printers......................................................................................................65 Backdrops.................................................................................................66 Tables (Banquet).......................................................................................66 Start Your Own Photobooth Business by Rob Savickis Page 3 Insurance..................................................................................................66 Remote Support........................................................................................68 Paper Suppliers........................................................................................68