3 Ways to Stand Out in the Photo Booth Industry

The photo booth industry is booming! From weddings to anniversary parties, from birthday parties to baby showers, from proms to corporate events – and so much more!; photo booth rentals have become a staple element at all types of events. Photo booths have even become popular fixtures in retail stores, restaurants, bars, hotels, resorts, and theme parks. People have always enjoyed taking photographs with the ones they love to mark special occasions or just to document moments in time spent together.

Today’s photo booths have come a long way from the rudimentary models that were first introduced. They’ve really been updated for the technological age, thanks to addition of the latest technologies, such as 360 rotating cameras, as well as features that allow for immediate printing and instant sharing on social media, it’s easy to see why photo booths are all the rage.

Entrepreneurs who are looking for smart business investments are purchasing photo booth machines and portable photo booths and are starting up businesses and offering their services to the public. With careful planning and by employing the right tactics, owning and operating a photo booth business can prove to be a lucrative venture; however, given the fact that it has become such a competitive industry, you really to need to set yourself apart from the crowd so that you can catch the attention of your targeted audience. So, what can you do to make your business stand out? Read on for three tips that you can implement to attract more attention to your photo booth business and achieve the success that you desire and deserve.

Elevate Your Brand

You know that photo booths have come a long way from the first models that were introduced decades ago; however, a lot of people aren’t aware of the changes. In fact, when many people hear the phrase “photo booth”, images of those old-school, big boxy, cramped booths that are tucked away in corners of shopping malls and video game arcades usually come to mind. They have no idea that the photo booths of today are modern, sleep, sophisticated, and high-tech.

With the above said, if you’re looking to stand out from the crowd, make yourself more than just another photo booth business; turn your company into a fantastic, beloved local brand. In order to do that, you need to break away from the stereotypes and start using more modern verbiage when you’re marketing your services. The following are some suggested terms that are more modern, edgy, and attention grabbing that you can use to elevate your brand and set yourself apart from other photo booth business operators:

Selfie booth
Selfie station
360 selfie booth
3D photo booth

In addition to using these more modern terms to market your business, rather than just dubbing yourself a “photo booth business”, consider getting more creative and calling yourself something a bit more edgy and attention-grabbing. Calling yourself a “photo experience agency”, for example, would be sure to attract way more attention.

Include Props

Don’t just set up your photo booth and that’s that and that’s that. Taking that approach will make your business no different than a stand-alone photo booth at a shopping mall or a movie theater. If you really want to stand apart from the crowd, then you should really offer your customers an experience, and a great way to do that is by offering props.

Props are a great way to spice up the photos that guests take. They’ll add some pizzazz and fun to the images that they capture. They may even help to draw people who would ordinarily be more reserved break out of their shells and show their true colors. There are a number of different props that you could offer your clients. The following are just a few options to consider:

Facial expressions (different smiles, tongues sticking out, etc.), accessories (glasses, hats, etc.), and words or phrases (like “POW!” or “Woo-hoo!”) on wooden dowels
Actual glasses in an assortment of sizes, colors, and styles
Flowers
Chalkboard props, which customers can use to print their own unique messages on
Various types of hats
Ties and bowties
Feather boas, shawls, and scarfs
Picture frames in an assortment of colors, sizes, shapes, and styles
Different background options
An assortment of wigs
Masks, such as animals, cartoon characters, icons, etc.
Costume jewelry, such as necklaces, rings, bracelets, clip-on earrings, tiaras, and crowns
Confetti
Super hero capes and face masks
Sporting gear, such as jerseys, baseball bats and gloves, hockey sticks, etc.

When it comes to props, the sky really is the limit. Put your creativity to work and you’ll be sure to come up with an assortment of super-cool items that customers will love, that will take the images you capture to the next level, and that will be sure to make your business stand out.

One more note on props: To increase revenue, consider offering prop packages. You could offer basic props free-of-charge, as well upgraded props for an additional fee.

Sponsor Events

Another great way to make your photo booth business stand out is by sponsoring local events. This strategy can be an awesome way to generate new leads while providing a great service for the community. To increase your chances of success, however, keep the following “dos” and “don’ts” in mind:

Negotiate and ensure that the sponsorship package is at least equivalent to your photo booth rental price
Ensure that branding and website links are featured on your online gallery with each photo taken
Make use of lead capture tools and send out follow-up communications, such as emails, to all who participate

Don’ts

Get guilted into doing loads of work for free
Agree to be a sponsor for a local event without requesting a sponsorship package

By implementing these tips and strategies, you can really boost your brand recognition and your reputation, which can prove to be highly beneficial for the success of your photo booth business in the long run.