The photo lounge — also called a head shot photo booth — is designed to take great convention headshots at events, and export those images for participant use on social media. Here are the most common questions about integrating a head shot photo booth into your event space:
How much space is required for the Headshot Photo Booth?
The headshot photo booth can fit in a smaller footprint than other photo executions. By definition, headshots are taken of individuals, one participant at a time. That means the background can be smaller, since only one participant poses for the photos. We can use a small, pop-up style background, which takes up about 5′ of background space, or a larger, 8′ scrim style background. It all depends on the space you have available, and how you’d like the photo booth to look. From the back wall, we need less than 10′, which means the entire photo experience can fit in a space 5′ wide by less than 10′ deep. Our studio for convention headshots fits into a small space.
Power Requirements:
Power requirements for the head shot photo lounge is the same as other photo executions. A simple 5 amp, standard wall receptacle is is fine, which is adjacent to the photo area. We’ll bring standard extension cords to run power, and will tape down all power. Keep in mind you don’t want to run power across main aisles or traffic paths.
How long do the photos take? What is the capacity of the booth?
We run our Charlotte headshot photo booths a bit differently than other photo companies. First, we do “mini sessions” of about 6 – 10 photos of each participant. All the photos we take in that few minute period are immediately imported into the system by the photographer, as the participant moves from in front of the camera to the iPad area. The photographer selects a touch-up filter that is customized to the participant, applies that filter to all the photos in the mini-session, and exports all the images to the iPads. The touch-up process takes about 30 seconds. All the touched-up photos are now available on the iPads, and the photo assistant selects all the images, and emails all the photos to the participant. That takes another 30 seconds. While the assistant is helping the participant, the photographer has moved onto the next in line. Participants actually select the photos they like when they receive the email, not on the event floor. That keeps an even line flow.
We can photograph about 50 participants per hour, comfortably, with each head shot photo lounge set. The entire process takes a couple of minutes for each person. Our convention headshots, however, are indistinguishable from traditional headshots captured at a photo studio.
How extensive is the touch-up process?
We customize each touch up based on feed back from the participant. Some people want extensive correction, others just a little. We like to tell people the finished photos will just “look like you got a nice, restful sleep. The touch up process helps refresh you.” Our process is customized to age, sex, skin type, and other factors that are participant specific and are specified by the photographer at the time of processing.
Are the Charlotte convention headshots printed at the Lounge?
Typically, no, the convention headshots aren’t printed on location like at other types of photo executions. If you’d like prints available, let us know, and we can provide that service — but it isn’t typically wanted for head shots.
What resolution are the Charlotte convention headshots sent?
We send large file sizes to the participant — 1800 pixels. There is a link on the email/ text message for the participant to download complimentary full resolution files from our gallery. Sometimes we send the full file sizes out with the email, and eliminate the need for a gallery. However, if internet is slow, that can cause the emails to arrive after the event conclusion (instead of immediately from the event floor).
Are the convention headshots public?
Usually. However, they don’t have to be. They can be password protected. Also, images CAN be tagged with participant names and made searchable (so the participant can bring up just their photos) — however, that does add a few minutes to the work flow on the event floor. Most participants like the link to be private — password protected — but don’t care if other participants see their photos, so tagging with their names is usually not needed.
Can you customize the background for the convention headshots?
Short answer — yes. We do suggest the logo be off to one side of the background, and not across the top. Top placement doesn’t work well. However, we do have a customization service to brand the background. Production takes about two weeks.
Headshot Guidelines: Our Suggestions for Great Headshots (Dropbox Link)