«Wow, hiring a photo box is really expensive!» - If this has already crossed your mind, you've probably asked yourself whether buying or building one yourself wouldn't be a better option. Buy, build or hire a photo box: In this article, we try to show you what options you have and what you should consider.
Initial situation: There are 2 main types of photo boxes
Photo boxes can be categorised into two basic types, which differ significantly in terms of cost and complexity:
Simpler systems take photos with a tablet camera or webcam, only have a dimmable LED ring and do not have a second screen for viewing photos. They are also usually operated with a slower photo printer. The photo quality is not ideal, especially in darker lighting conditions. In the following, this type is referred to as Tablet photo box labelled.
However, there are also more technically sophisticated systems, which generally work with a single-lens reflex camera and a studio flash. These systems usually have a second screen on which the photos can be viewed and shared. This has the advantage that the operation of the photo box is not interrupted when guests want to view the snapshots they have taken. A fast, professional photo printer is usually connected to these systems. The photo quality is of a high standard thanks to the SLR camera and optimum lighting. We refer to this type of photo box as a SLR photo boxes.
Tablet photo box with LED ring (Source: ATA Photo Booths)
SLR photo box with studio flash (Source: fexon e.K.)
Of course, there are other forms of photo boxes (such as photo mirrors or 360° photo boxes) and also intermediate forms.
Still not sure what you should look out for in a photo box? In this article you can find out all about it.
Which providers can I buy a photo box from?
There are a large number of suppliers, mainly from overseas. Only a few manufacturers are located in neighbouring countries. Here are a few of the largest suppliers:
What costs should I expect when buying a photo box?
As you can see, manufacturers offer a wide range of different photo boxes. You should therefore be clear in advance exactly what requirements you have for your photo box.
You can get a tablet photo box from around CHF 3,000, but take a close look: there are offers that only include the housing and you have to buy the tablet or printer separately. The price is also heavily dependent on the design and any ambient LEDs. Visually appealing tablet boxes are often a little more expensive. A simple entry-level model, for example, would be the «Helio» iPad photo box from ATA Photo Booths (iPad must be purchased separately).
An SLR photo box usually starts at around CHF 5,000, and again you need to be aware that there are offers that only include the housing. However, many manufacturers also offer complete packages including PC, camera, printer, etc. Depending on the provider and model, a reflex photo box can also cost up to CHF 10,000 or even more. A good offer, but not the cheapest in terms of price, is the «Lumia» reflex photo box from ATA Photo Booths.
- Attention: None of the providers mentioned above have a branch in Switzerland. Therefore, shipping costs and customs clearance fees will be added. Of course, you will also be charged Swiss VAT on import. In our experience, in addition to the exchange rate, you will need to factor in around 10-20% of the purchase price for import.
However, if you buy your photo box externally, you are faced with two major challenges:
- On the one hand, you are dealing with third-party components. It may even be that the manufacturer uses specially designed modules that you cannot customise or change. You will therefore hardly have full control over your photo box. In addition, the procurement of spare parts can be very challenging, as certain components are not available to buy in Switzerland.
- On the other hand, it is very difficult to enforce the warranty provisions. You either have to rely on the goodwill of the provider, risk costly legal disputes or accept the fact that you have no warranty claims, so to speak.
Build your own photo box: Is it cheaper than buying a photo box?
It can be cheaper, but it doesn't have to be. The technical components such as camera, PC, printer, etc. will hardly be cheaper. The big difference is the housing: if you have the necessary skills and tools, you can save money here. However, you also need to bring some time with you, because it will take a few weeks, if not months, from the conception to the completion of your own photo box. And don't forget the bad purchases: you will buy one or two components twice, as you will realise that the overall system does not work as intended.
A self-build photo box is not necessarily cheaper, but offers other advantages: You know the exact components used, you know where you can buy replacements and you can design the photo box exactly as you want it.
Myfotobox.ch
Photo Booth All-In-One
- 24 megapixel SLR camera
- Studio flash with panoramic diffuser
- Photos, GIFs & Boomerangs
- Second screen for viewing photos
- 24/7 emergency number incl. TeamViewer support
- Printer 10 sec/photo (optional)
How a photo box works and what you need for it
As mentioned above, there are two main categories of photoboxes: tablet photoboxes and SLR photoboxes. You can read about what you need in the following sections. Here you will also find a report from Digitec about the construction of a photo box.
Tablet photo box
It is relatively simple to implement and requires little technical knowledge. You need:
- A tablet (usually an iPad) with the best possible front camera
- An LED ring or other light source
- A tripod or other construction to mount your tablet and the light source at head height. Alternatively, you could also use a self-made case.
- An app that gives your camera the photo box functions. We recommend the app «LumaBooth».
- Optional: Photo printer. Often the Canon Selphy CP1300 used for this purpose.
You have two options for connecting the printer to the tablet. Either via a direct connection or via an external network. With the former, the printer creates its own WLAN to which you connect the tablet. The disadvantage is that you won't have internet access on the tablet, which means you won't be able to share your snapshots via email, for example. The second option is to connect both the tablet and the printer to an external network, i.e. either to an existing WLAN at your location or to a Mobile phone hotspot. But this would require a SIM card.
SLR photo box
It is much more complex and can hardly be covered in the brevity of this article. Basically, you need the following articles:
- PC
- SLR camera
- Studio flash
- Housing with or without tripod
- Software
- Optional: Printer and a second screen (usually an iPad) for viewing photos
Again, the question arises as to how you want to connect the printer to the PC. You can connect it via cable or via WLAN. With the latter, you have the advantage that the printer can be located next door independently of your photo box. However, you will need either a WLAN-capable photo printer or a WLAN print server. If you decide to use a second screen for viewing photos (iPad), you would also need to connect this to the PC via Wi-Fi.
This is how much photo box hire costs
Is an investment of CHF 3,000 or more not worth it for you? Then renting is right for you. How you can this article the rental fee ranges from around CHF 400 to CHF 1,000 per use. Another advantage is that you have a contact person on site who you can turn to if you have any problems. If you are interested in buying or building your own photo box in the long term, we recommend that you first hire different models so that you are aware of your exact requirements.
Conclusion: It's simple and yet complicated
- Would you like to organise a photo box for a one-off event? Then hire is probably the best option.
- Would you like to use a photo box several times, have enough time to familiarise yourself with the topic and are technically experienced? Then we recommend buying a ready-made photo box or building your own, whereby building your own requires even more time and technical understanding.
- You can find out what you should look out for when renting, buying or building your own in this article.
