![]() ![]() The button is simple, and built into a metal case. When I saw The AWESOME Button on Make, I knew what I had to do. If you need a space bar, you may need a keyboard… unless you build something that can emulate a space bar. There are some optional features that would require a keyboard-if you prompt people to enter their name, email, a comment, or choose if they want the image uploaded or not-but the main interaction is through pressing the space bar to start the picture-taking process. The Sparkbooth software is great and provides a ton of features, including the ability to upload photos to Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr, Posterous, or a dozen other sites. It worked, but there were just too many moving parts to deal with, like the camera on a tripod behind the MacBook, and a light clamped onto the tripod. (The iSight is a small camera, with a tiny lens, so the video camera ended up providing a better image.) We also put a little sticker on the space bar that said “PRESS HERE TO TAKE PHOTOS” and hoped for the best. We connected a Sony PD-150 video camera via FireWire and selected it in Sparkbooth rather than using the built-in iSight camera. NOTE: Need a button? Now you can buy one! Visit our store or Etsy.įor the first one I set up, I used my MacBook Pro. Since then I’ve been working on building a better photo booth experience. ![]() A few weeks later we were having our annual work party, and I was tasked with making a photo booth a reality. ![]() And, since so many weddings nowadays involve being creative on a budget, they had a photo booth there that they set up themselves using Sparkbooth, a great little Adobe AIR-based application. Last year I was invited to a co-worker’s wedding. (I’ve had my booth in some places that didn’t really allow for a background.)Īs for the get a USB button suggestion, I’m obviously in favor of that one… and hey, you can even get one from my store or from Etsy. As for a background, I don’t always use one myself, but I’d still recommend one if you can do it easily enough. Don’t depend on existing lighting, bring your own. (You be surprised how many people walk away after the first photo.) Lights, you should have them. I also include instructions that tell people to push the button, and then get ready for 4 photos. you never know what might go wrong.)Ī few other things worth mentioning include signage. This way if some update to the system breaks things, I can always revert to the last good working combo. I’ve also partitioned the drive into two halves, and once Sparkbooth was fully operational, I cloned the main partition to the second partition. The idea is that when I turn it on, it’ll be completely ready to go in just a few minutes. I’ve also got just Sparkbooth and Safari in the dock, as well as a shortcut for the folder where the images get saved. It’s set to log into that user automatically, and launch Sparkbooth on startup. ![]() I actually go a few step beyond that, and on the Mac I use I created a completely separate account. You can also get white, or black, or something besides orange if desired.įor you computer… turn off instant messaging, email, and other applications, etc.ĭo everything listed there. Clean is better when it comes to appearance. I bought a new extension cord since most of my old ones are filthy. From the power strip I can then run one extension cord to the nearest (or most out of the way) outlet. I actually have a power strip hidden in the back of my stand, which allows me to plug in the computer and light(s) and also gives me a place to hide the keyboard. When considering location, don’t forget about extension cords! You never know how far you might be from an outlet. The part about a chair or stool is good advice if you want people to sit when they use the booth, which is a good idea because it puts people of different size close to the same height, which doesn’t happen as much when standing. This may not be clear to everyone, so a sign might also be helpful. Don’t forget a chair or stool.įor my photo booth I ended up building a stand that puts the business end up about the height for a “typical adult human being” which happens to be my height! Since I use an iMac you can actually just tilt the monitor (and camera) up or down a bit if needed. Place a computer, webcam, and keyboard on a table in a well-lighted area. I’m going to comment on a few items, as well as add a few things to the list, based on my personal experience. The fine folks over at Sparkbooth have this great Setup Checklist, and if you plan on setting up a photo booth at an event, it’s required reading… ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |