The big day is approaching and you are looking for unusual ideas for your photo animation ? Or maybe you’ve decided to throw a surprise party for a friend and want to keep some wonderful memories ? Decorating ideas, choice of providers and equipment, setting up a birthday photobooth , practical advice, we give you all the tips for sensational birthday photos !
Photo animation: for fun birthday photos
What is the point of organizing a photo animation for his birthday, at a time when the smartphone is king and when we share the slightest moment of our lives on social networks with our friends and relatives? Indeed, today’s phones have largely equaled or even surpassed our good old cameras of the time, and we no longer risk running out of film by chaining the shots. But a virtual photo gallery will never have as much charm as a pretty box of photographs.
We all remember an old trunk out of a closet or attic, filled with snapshots of life captured forever on paper. These birthday photos of our youth with our school friends, these travel memories that amazed us as children, or even those family celebrations surrounded by the people who are most dear to us.
At a time when we are trying to dematerialize as much as possible, to keep everything on hard disk, usb key or cloud, to share on Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat, we find a real pleasure in owning physical objects again, sometimes vintage such as than a vinyl turntable, a cassette player (the famous Walkman!) or even an old piece of furniture to restore. The old is popular and fashions that come and go always come back!
Photos are not left out, as evidenced by the many companies sharing the online printing market. We like to display some vacation memories on a wall, or evenings with friends in nicely arranged frames on a shelf. So this year it’s decided! We organize an animation for unforgettable birthday photos.
Because yes! You are fantastic and you deserve this 😊
Retro birthday photos with a polaroid
Born in 1948, the Polaroid enjoyed its heyday in the 1970s before gradually disappearing with the advent of digital technology in the 2000s. In 2010, a dozen former Polaroid employees launched a renaissance operation, The Impossible Project, with the crazy bet of resuscitating the brand.
The instant snapshot has not said its last word and ends up becoming trendy again, with a success both among nostalgic followers and among the younger generation, always fond of the “right now”. Its ease of use and the charm of photos on paper won over everyone. A simple press of the shutter button and the photo is instantly released. Successful? Not successful? Suspense… The result appears after a few seconds, revealing the shapes and colors on the paper.
Although it is still possible to get old used Polaroids, new, more sophisticated models have appeared on the market and several brands are doing well. This is the case of Fujifilm and its Instax range which offers several models differing in the available photo formats or shooting modes.
Count an investment of 80 € for the device and packs of films around 15 €. For original birthday photos, plan a dedicated photo space where you will provide your guests with one or more devices, blank films and accessories.
Some companies offer the rental of this type of device, often less expensive than a purchase. Finally, leave a guest book nearby in which people can paste photos and write a little message, with stickers that will decorate the whole.
How about renting a photobooth?
The photobooth has become very trendy in recent years. They are often found at weddings, offering guests the opportunity to have their portrait taken and leave with a souvenir of the evening.
Whether it is called a photobooth, photo booth, photo box, selfie box or even photo kiosk, it is generally the same process. A camera integrated into a terminal, a touch screen to control everything and an instant printer to retrieve the pictures live.
The use is very easy and the guests are sure to be delighted! Many models of photo kiosks are available for hire, with prices ranging from € 300 to over € 1,000 depending on the services chosen.
Some companies allow you to personalize the machine, or create custom frames, for unique birthday photos in your theme colors.
Several parameters must be taken into account when making your choice. How much space will you need for the installation? Are delivery and return included in the price? Does the company handle the transport itself or are these contractors? Does the rental price provide for a limited period of use (example: 24 hours) or can you use the terminal as much as you want? How many prints are included in your package?
By way of example, 200 prints correspond approximately to a continuous use of 4 hours of the device. Can you customize and create multiple frames? Is the machine easy to use? Is a flash provided? How to recover the photos after the event? So many questions to ask yourself to avoid unpleasant surprises when you receive the machine or during the evening.
You hesitate between photo booth, photobooth, polaroid …?
Create your decor and show off
Many ideas of animation are possible, whether it is to provide a Polaroid camera, to call on a professional photographer or to set up a photobooth space. The ideal is to provide a space dedicated to your entertainment, a corner of a room large enough to accommodate the equipment and several people, or a separate room if you have the possibility depending on the configuration of the premises.
Your guests must be able to move around easily and come and take their picture without disturbing each other. Providing a corner a little away is conducive to more crazy photos (it is easier to let go out of sight!) Let the creative genius of your guests express themselves freely, your birthday photos do not. will only be funnier!
However, keep an eye on the equipment (or arrange to have someone do it every now and then) and don’t leave children around unattended. Indeed, they often have a blast (we understand them!) And you may find yourself running out of film sooner than expected.
Another key element for a successful photo animation: provide your guests with an original decor and provide them with a multitude of accessories. Imagine a space decorated in the colors and theme of your evening: 80s or 90s party, beach party, Grease, black and white, Cannes festival, hippies, bohemian chic or super heroes …
With a little imagination and a minimum of investment, it is possible to design a very classy photo corner. Old furniture or an old sofa? Set up a cozy and warm little retro living room. Pallets at your disposal? Make a wood-colored background decorated with flowers and curtains! A simple white sheet big enough can do the trick. You just have to decorate it with balloons or other festive elements to get a nice background for your photobooth .
Take a look on Instagram or Pinterest and you will easily find dozens of decorating ideas that are often easy to make at home, even for a Sunday handyman. Also look for photocall models (the name given to the backgrounds used in this kind of animation), some sites offering a tailor-made realization. At the same time, we find many examples of frames, each more fun than the next, which will undoubtedly amuse your loved ones.
Mustaches, glasses… Think about accessories!
Indispensable to the success of your photo animation, accessories will add a touch of madness and a lot of smiles to your birthday shots! And as much to say that there is the choice!
You will find on the web countless shops offering accessories in all themes: wigs, hats, mustaches, XXL glasses, luscious mouths, superhero kits, packs for exotic evenings … we find everything and from a few euros.
Pay attention to the quality though! The accessories will pass from hand to hand, especially those of children who could be a little abrupt (adults too!). It would be a shame if you ended up with a nice torn beard or a top hat all smashed up when the night is just getting started!
If the motivation takes you, you can of course embark on a homemade manufacture. Children love it, and adults too, and it’s an opportunity to bring out pencils, markers, Canson paper and other sticky glitter.
For equipment, go to bookstores or specialized stores offering manual creation sections. Google will also be your friend there, and will find you models of original and varied photobooth accessories . A search for « diy photobooth accessories » will do the trick.
Let yourself be taken in, you will create tailor-made and unique pieces, perfectly suited to the theme of your event or evening. And for those who doubt their artistic abilities, models to download and print are also available.
A photobooth, funny accessories and your guests get involved!
Sharing photos: the puzzle is over!
Whoever has never run after everyone to retrieve the photos of a party or a birthday raise their hand! Of course, exchanging and sharing has never been so simple and fast, whether on social networks, via a messaging application, by a sharing service like WeTransfer or even the cloud ( Dropbox , Google Drive , Microsoft One Drive …)
But now, think about it, take a few minutes to sort through all the shots, and sometimes shake some to encourage them to share their magnificent achievements with everyone. So it often happens that we do not manage to recover all these memories and it is a shame! However, there are some very practical applications that will allow you to access all your birthday photos without any hassle!
One of these apps is called Wedshoots . Although it is originally created for weddings, it is quite possible to use it for a birthday or any other event that is close to your heart. The principle: you create an event and give access to your guests in the application via a code. They can then download the app to their phone, and start taking photos from the app.
They are accessible to everyone, directly in the gallery, and you can like them and comment on them. You will thus keep a memorable memory of your party, through the lens of your guests, and will be able to download the complete album of all your birthday photos once the evening is over. The app is free and can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
For unforgettable birthday photos
All you have to do is get to work and let your imagination run wild. Don’t panic if you run out of inspiration and ideas! Surround yourself with creative people with good manual skills, stroll on social networks and on specialized DIY blogs (Do It Yourself), take a tour of decoration and even furniture stores …
Be inspired by different trends and above all do not be afraid of the ridiculous! Your guests will surely have a great time thanks to your photo animation and will leave with memories in their eyes and in their pockets!
Any other ideas and tips for successful birthday photos? Feel free to leave a comment !
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