XP- Photobooth as a wedding favor

hgminor

I posted this on the Favors board, but Etiquette gets much more traffic, and this is slightly related. 

My photographer said she offers two types of photobooth shots.  One is the traditional fun trio of photos, but the other is a family portrait photo.  From what I gathered in our first discussion, it is completely free to the guests, both the picture given at the reception and a proof that can be used to print larger pictures or to create something like a christmas card. 

I have never been to a wedding with a photobooth, so when the photographer mentioned it could work as a favor I was surprised, and didn't really know if it worked etiquette-wise, but the post below about favors made me think this is more common than I have seen.

I think that if more photos after the initial one at the reception had to be paid for, then I wouldn't use it as a favor, but assuming I am correct that it is all free to the guests, would you think this a good favor?

photokitty

I had a photobooth and loved it, as did our guests. You are not required to give favors, but I think PB pics are fun favors. (I also gave a table favors bc I wanted to)

I'm confused - will you guests be given the option to purchase the photos afterwards? I think this is tacky. I'm not sure if I misread your post. If you are giving them a free print out of the images than it is a good (great IMHO) favor. If she is giving them a slip of paper with an image number and website to buy the pictures than it is a terrible favor - even if she is giving them one copy at the wedding. Do not let her sell things to your guests.

My photobooth included a dics with all the images. We can email or print them as was wish.

GL!

melbelleup

I'm doing a photobooth as my favors. Ours is completely free. Make sure yours is too as I'm confused a little by your wording. My package includes 2 strips (one for them, one for us) the one for us will go in a book and they can write a message with it. Ours can also do mini videos, comes with props, we get a disc with all the images, and they all go on a website for everyone to access.

hgminor

From what I gathered- I've emailed her to make sure, because my memory doesn't do well with phone conversations- they do get a card for the website to go to but they do NOT have to pay for the pictures they get off the website.

PrettyGirlLost

This is how my package works:

My FI and I pay for he photo booth rental for X number of hours during the evening, and during that time our guests can take as many color and B&W photos as they want.  4 photos are taken per session, and then printed out onto two strips- one for my guests and one for FI and I.  They can also take short videos, and there is an iPad with the photo booth so that they can upload their photos/videos to FB or any other social media sites as soon as they are taken.

Your guests should not have to pay for their photos.

melbelleup

hgminor said:

From what I gathered- I've emailed her to make sure, because my memory doesn't do well with phone conversations- they do get a card for the website to go to but they do NOT have to pay for the pictures they get off the website.

Do they not get print outs at the reception?

ETA: NVM I re-read your original post. I'd go for it if it's something you want and can budget for

itzMS

I answered you on Favors. There's no way guests get unlimited printouts. No way.

daveANDkristen

Favors are not required at all, and are not expected.  I can't even remember if there were favors at the majority of weddings I've been to.  Anything "extra" you have can act as a favor.  If you want to have the photobooth, go right ahead.  As long as your guests don't have to pay for anything, you're in the clear etiquette wise.

hgminor

Thank you for the help so far!  I can now see that photobooths as a favor are more common than I ever knew.

To clarify, if I did the portrait style- it wouldn't be the photo strips, but a more traditional family portrait picture, like the ones where you pay for a session (my mom always makes us get these done at church, and she always complains about the photographer charging so much for packages when all she wants is a nice 8x10 of us to frame)
They would be getting a 4x6 at the wedding itself, then they could go online and get the larger image or a proof to use to make something, and I believe that she said all this would be free to the guests.

They do also offer the more traditional photo booth with props and the two strips, one for us and one for them to take...  Now I'm thinking though, which would be better, the traditional fun one, or the more formal portrait style.  I think, because of the differences in shooting styles and paper needed, I can only pick one option. 

PS--This would definitely work in my budget as a favor, my parents really wanted a nice favor, and the booth is set at $500 for the night, so it might actually be under budget.

itzMS

I hate posed pictures. Casual all the way if you only get one.

I'm still not convinced that your photog would be providing unlimited free 8x10s and whatnot to your guests.

hgminor

itzMS said:

I hate posed pictures. Casual all the way if you only get one. I'm still not convinced that your photog would be providing unlimited free 8x10s and whatnot to your guests.

I replied to you on Favors.  And yeah, I agree that it seems crazy, but that is at least the way it sounded on the phone.  She is a parent of one of my FH's students, so it might be that they are doing this special for us (as they are also giving us a HUGE discount for the photography package, which I am so grateful for!!).

If I find out more I will come back and update.

nmsa

itzMS said:

I hate posed pictures. Casual all the way if you only get one. I'm still not convinced that your photog would be providing unlimited free 8x10s and whatnot to your guests.

I think what she's saying is that guests would be able to go online after the wedding and get the digital file, with which they would be able to do whatever they want with, including order 8x10s at their own cost or using as the photo in something like Christmas cards that they would purchase from another site. It's the one 4x6 print given at the time the photo is taken that is free.

Edit: I maybe stand corrected trying to sort through the package being described in a more recent post. Unlimited free prints does seem a little strange to me. OP, could you ask your contact if you could see a sample gallery/ordering page from another wedding to get a sense of how this actually works?

And to the OP, I think it's a perfectly nice favor, and honestly probably something more likely to be appreciated than anything non-edible (candles with your names on them, paperweights, etc.).

photokitty

My photobooth would print as many as needed in the allotted time - Or unlimited prints. However it would mean the people in line behind them would have to wait for them. But my package included the possibility of the printer spitting out print for the full 5 hours without stopping.

I would def go with the crazy funny style, not the family portrait style.

hgminor

Thanks guys, I am leaning towards the funny pictures, since that way I don't have to have any worry and because it'll be much more fun.  I did have the thought that a family portrait would be very difficult with so much drinking and partying

melbelleup

hgminor said:

Thanks guys, I am leaning towards the funny pictures, since that way I don't have to have any worry and because it'll be much more fun.  I did have the thought that a family portrait would be very difficult with so much drinking and partying

Unless you have a buttload of families, the family portrait seems odd and weird. Go for fun, people will have more fun with the booth

PrettyGirlLost

photokitty said:

My photobooth would print as many as needed in the allotted time - Or unlimited prints. However it would mean the people in line behind them would have to wait for them. But my package included the possibility of the printer spitting out print for the full 5 hours without stopping.

I would def go with the crazy funny style, not the family portrait style.

Ditto.  Guests can have as many sessions (1 session = 4 quick photos) in the photo booth as they want, plus the picture strips printed of each session during the the time period we paid for.  I think we paid for 4 or 5 hours.