There are plenty of photo booth companies around, but not every booth feels like it belongs at a special event.
Some can look a little basic, while others seem more focused on getting people in and out than creating something guests actually enjoy.
Booth Nineteen, run by Craig Cheber, is a photo booth and event entertainment company primarily covering Devon, Exeter and the wider South West, as well as Bristol.
The business has spent more than five years building a service around good photography, smart design and the little details that can make a big difference on the day.
It works for weddings, birthdays, corporate events, school proms, awards nights and plenty more. There are also different packages, so the service can be shaped around the event rather than forcing every customer into exactly the same setup.
But what makes Booth Nineteen worth considering for your next event? Here are three good reasons to use the business when you want something a little more memorable than a standard photo booth.
1. The booths actually look the part
A photo booth is going to be seen by a lot of people at an event. It sits in the room, guests gather around it and plenty of photographs are taken in front of it. So it makes sense that it should look good.
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This is one of the areas where Booth Nineteen has clearly put a lot of thought into its service. The company offers several different booth designs, each with its own style.
The Gatsby takes inspiration from the 1920s art deco era. It has a classic vintage feel and is designed to bring a little bit of the roaring twenties into the room.
Then there is The No.3, which takes a more modern and minimalist approach. It has a clean look with a touch of vintage charm, making it suitable for events where a traditional photo booth might look a little out of place.
There is also The Classic. It has the familiar feel of a traditional photo booth, but with a much smarter walnut finish rather than a cheap plastic exterior.
That matters because a photo booth does not have to be an eyesore in the corner of a wedding venue or party room. The right design can actually add something to the space.
The same thinking carries across to the backdrops. Customers can choose from options such as Silver Shimmer, Crushed Red Velvet and Gold Sequin, with premium choices including Floral Pattern, Rustic Wood and Rustic Brick.
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Bespoke backdrops are also available for anyone looking for something more specific to their event.
There is a good amount of choice without making the process unnecessarily complicated. Pick a booth, choose a backdrop and create something that fits the occasion.
2. It is much more than standing in front of a camera
The best photo booths are not really about the booth itself. They are about what happens around it.
A good booth gives guests something to do. It gets people talking, brings different groups together and gives everyone a reason to take a break from sitting at a table or standing around with a drink.
Booth Nineteen has built its packages around that idea. Its booths come with an attendant, known as the Dapper Attendant, whose job is to keep things moving and make sure guests actually get involved.
That can make a surprisingly big difference. Nobody wants a photo booth sitting unused in the corner because guests are not quite sure how it works. Having someone there means the booth becomes part of the event rather than simply another piece of equipment that has been delivered.
Then there are the props.
The company is quite particular about what goes into its prop boxes, with a focus on tasteful and slightly eccentric items rather than the usual collection of random plastic accessories.
Fancy dress and themed prop collections are also available with selected packages. So whether it is a wedding, birthday party or corporate event, there is plenty of scope for guests to get involved.
And because the booths can be used without walls, group photographs are easier too. More importantly, the whole thing becomes something other guests can watch. A group climbing into the booth, choosing props and attempting to take the perfect photograph can provide plenty of entertainment in itself.
There is also a practical side to the service. The booths use DSLR cameras to produce high resolution photographs, with the cameras set to manual mode for optimum quality. Printed photographs are included with the packages, while images are also uploaded to a password protected online gallery.
That means guests can enjoy the physical prints on the night, while the happy couple, birthday host or event organiser still has access to the photographs afterwards.
For weddings, the guest book option is another useful touch. Wedding packages include guest books, with options ranging from standard designs to personalised laser engraved versions. Guests can leave photographs and messages behind, creating something that can be looked back on long after the last song has finished.
3. The service can be built around the event
Not every event needs the same thing, and this is another reason Booth Nineteen stands out.
The business offers separate packages for weddings, parties, corporate events and formal occasions. That means a wedding can have a different setup from a company event, while a school prom can have something different again.
The wedding packages, for example, start with the Ruby package and go up to the Platinum option. They include different hire times, backdrop choices, print designs, props and guest book options.
The Platinum package includes four hours of active hire, a bespoke print design designed to match wedding stationery, a large props and fancy dress selection, a personalised laser etched guest book and a guest book service on the night.
For parties, the options can be scaled up depending on the size of the occasion. The Bees Knees package offers up to 10 hours of hire and two attendants, making it suitable for larger events where the booth is likely to be busy for much of the day or evening.
Corporate events get the same level of flexibility. Branded print designs can be created with help from an in house graphic designer, while a dedicated event manager is available before, during and after the event.
That could be particularly useful for product launches, staff parties, awards ceremonies or other events where branding matters. The print design can include a company logo or bespoke message, meaning the photographs become part of the event rather than looking like something completely separate.
There is also a formal photography option, which combines traditional photography with the photo booth experience. The setup can be used for arrival photographs before switching into photo booth mode, giving guests a more relaxed way to continue taking pictures once the formal part of the evening is finished.
It is a simple idea, but it means one service can cover more of the event rather than leaving the organiser to arrange several different suppliers.
And then there is the track record. Booth Nineteen states that it has earned more than 200 five star reviews across Google and Facebook. That is useful reassurance when booking something for an important occasion, particularly when the service needs to work properly without the organiser having to worry about it.
Ultimately, a photo booth should be fun. But it should also be reliable, look good and produce photographs people actually want to keep.
That is what makes Booth Nineteen worth considering. From the vintage inspired booths and carefully chosen props to the personalised prints, guest books, professional photography and on site attendants, the service is designed to be part of the event rather than simply sit in the corner.
For anyone planning a wedding, party, corporate event, school prom or formal celebration across Devon, Exeter, the wider South West or Bristol, Booth Nineteen offers a straightforward way to add photographs, entertainment and a few memorable moments to the occasion.