Six Ideas for a Photo-rific Holiday Party
So you’re in the trenches planning a holiday party. Whether it’s for your company or for your family and friends, it’s a big deal. You’re expected to top last year’s event, and the year before, and the year before … and you’re plumb out of ideas. Yeah, you could work on coming up with that one fabulous signature drink, but the memory will fade along with the hangover it creates.
These days, to keep a vibe going you need to have documentation that’s shared and passed around long after the event. Yes, people will bring their cameras to the party and will post their own pictures on their facebook page. But why not take the photography to the next level? If you have some fun with it you can really make some holiday party magic!
Below you’ll find some creative ways to add photography to your event, whether your budget is venti or hanging on a shoestring.
Journalistic-Style Photography
Venti budget ($300 and up):Take a cue from wedding photography trends. People don’t want to be coupled up and posed in front of a glitzy garland, they want stylish images that capture the mood of the event. There are plenty of wedding and journalist photographers that would be happy to make a little extra money during the holiday season. Do a little research on photographers in your area (ask your recently married friends or check local business review sites like kudzu in Atlanta or craigslist) and find a photographer with a style you like (up-and-comers will give you the best deal). The great thing is they already have ways of sharing photography and, for higher-end events, can even help prepare a book that you can send to guests.
Shoestring budget (under $100): You’ll be busy hosting and don’t want to be shooting pictures yourself. The next best thing is to ask your unemployed neighbor, your favorite barista, your little sister … anyone you know who has a creative eye and could use a crisp $50 to do the task for you. Just have them dress all in black, roam the party, and take as many pictures as they can (show them some sample websites to get ideas of what you’re after) and edit them down to the top 100 or so. You can then set up a flickr or picasa account to share the photos online with your guests. Just remember – the better the camera, the better the photos you’ll get. If you need a high-end camera check with your local professional photography store, they may have some for rent at a price you can live with (PPR in Atlanta has rentals for as little as $50 a day).
Fun Photo Booth
Venti budget ($800 and up): There are all sorts of photo booth rental companies emerging and are available in most cities. Vintage photo booths are a fun and easy way to let your guests bring a unique party favor home with them. You can also add some props inside the booth or leave a guestbook for people to add a wacky photo strip and leave a note. The possibilities are endless! To find a photo booth rental in your area, just run a quick google search or you can check shutterbooth to start, they have locations all over the country.
Shoestring budget (free): Don’t have mucho bucks to drop on a rented photo booth? Then set up your own! Take an old digital camera that you don’t mind leaving out during the event, stick it on a tripod, add a bench and a backdrop, and voila – you’ve got your very own photo booth! Preferably, you’d have a remote that guests snap the photo with, but you can also just leave instructions for the camera’s timer function. And hey, sometimes the do-it-yourself way can be a lot more fun!
Giant Photo Collage
Venti budget ($150 and up): Want to generate some pre-party buzz? After you’ve confirmed your guest list, ask them to send you a hi-res image that captures the “spirit of the holidays” for them. Once you’ve collected the pictures, crop them to make an interesting effect and have them printed in a large format (at least 11×14). I’d recommend printing online so you can easily upload your files and receive the prints in the mail (check out bayphoto where each print is individually color-corrected). You can then create a collage wall with the images at your event. It will be a conversation piece that will really make your guests feel special.
Shoestring budget (free): Collect the images from your guests (see above) and instead of printing them, create a slideshow on your computer. Get your hands on a projector, point it at a blank wall, and let it run all evening. Want to take it to the next level? Hang some sheer fabric and project the images from behind. It will make an etherial show that will also unify the images if they end up being very different from each other.
Above all, if you make your guests feel special it doesn’t matter what budget you’re starting from … as we like to say, just “fake it til you make it”.
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