bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Hi all,

Our last 2 events (wedding and 50th birthday party) were a huge success with the "photo booth"

We had it set up where I took the photos while tethered to lightroom 4, and it did some minor adjustments automatically on import. My wife handled the printing and money (as usual, she ends up with it anyway)

The problem is, when I shot a photo, it would pop up on the screen, and interrupt her with the clients viewing their photos.

Do most of you shoot tethered, or do you import in batches? I hate to stop and keep removing the SD cards, so I figured maybe I could shoot with the cable attached to the computer, but not "tethered" shooting as defined by lightroom. That way, she could control when she needed another group of photos.

I have to figure out how to be quicker, as at both events, we still had lines of people waiting to get their pictures taken, and/or, buy their prints. It was unbelievable.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

If your camera position is close to the computer, consider using Eye-Fi cards that use wireless to send photos to the computer. No cords involved.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

What was the actual constriction point?
The shooting?
Downloading the pics?
The previews/sales?
The printing?

A careful analysis will show you WHERE you need to get faster, and only THEN can you work on speeding that part up.

Don't rule out bringing in some assistance.
1 person to shoot, 1 to sell, 1 to print/deliver.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Consider using several SD cards. Shoot one person, pass the card onto the computer person, put in another card and shoot the next person. Remember to reformat the cards each time you put them in the camera.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

The OP specifically said " I hate to stop and keep removing the SD cards"

fred meyers Loc: San Diego, Cal.

Stop trying to re-invent the wheel! i first worked as a flunky for a prom/birthday ball pro fotogr. all have their own system that works eliminating mistakes others made before. every town has event/prom shooters..pick their brains. i learned a flawless system that worked at over 80 USMC BIRTHDAY BALLS. others have their own systems to keep customer lines flowing, picking packages, shooting quickly and being able to identify who is who. work first from someone who knows more than u, not from some amateur who knows less than u. learn paperwork and their systems.

billybob40

Look in to www.noveltyphotostudio.com it cost but I would say it would be fast. Look at youtube event photography there's a lot on there.
With the way it do it is cards in and out. It takes 10 mins per shoot, in costume and I charge $15. for and 8 x 10.
I used Canon ESO tethered shooting its to slow for me, but I use green screen and put the backdrop they want.
Also look in to www.breezesys.com
Theses a booth in Brownstown,IN you might check it out for help (Little Nashville, IN)
I been playing ago with this for 3 years and $10,000 in the hole, its something to do. I set up 400 sq ft that's 20' x 20', set up cost it you biggie. Like KY and IN state fairs or $5. a sq ft.
IN has a event or fair every weekend starting in April to Nov. If your going to do this set up a 10 x 10 EZ up.
I set up a 20 x 20' but I have 200+ costumes, 2 PCs, 1 laptop, 3 printers. If your going to do this pick up a IN festival guide at a welcome center. Get out there and get your feet wet, good luck, see you. O photo is my store front.

billybob40

STORE FRONT

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Probably didn't explain it well enough? (or too wordy for people to want to read the whole thing)

Not green screen, doing more along the line of prom pics, in front of a backdrop, usually family formal shots. I guess you could call me "new" at this. I've been shooting events for only 30 years. what is new is printing at the event.

I screwed up my first D-70 by trying to keep popping cards in and out, that's why I want to shoot with a wire hooked to my computer. Eye-Fi sounds interesting, but I've heard about issues with interference, etc. I'm old and set in my ways, that's why I want to use good old fashioned wire to transfer. The question is, do any of you have a reason why shooting using the actual "begin shooting tethered" through lightroom is better/worse, than just downloading from the camera when more photos are needed?

The hold up is at the point when someone is looking at the screen to order a print, and I shoot a new photo, it pops in the window they are looking at. Then they have to go back into the library and get back to the photo they want to look at... if I don't shoot another one.

I do appreciate those that answered, and any insights on what you may or may not do. Ultimately, I'll end up experimenting, but didn't want to reinvent the wheel if someone had experience with the same set up.

Thanks a lot
Bob

billybob40

Bob I'm in Marengo,IN email at otxjcom@aol.com I may be able to help.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

What if you had 2 computers networked together?
The first doing the tethered capture, and the second looking at the files on the first one. No interruption of the previewing/sales by the image capture. Just shared folders.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Certainly have enough computers to try such a set up, only one thing missing. The knowhow.... Unfortunately, I'm expericenced in the photography and business sides, and have even gotten fairly adept at PP, but when it comes to doing anything "techy" with the computers like networking, I'm completely lost.

Any quick tips on how 2 laptops could be linked (especially if there is no wifi available?)

Thanks
bk

billybob40

Try netzero.com for wifi.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

That is for wifi HOTSPOTS running on wireless broadband.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

It's called 'peer networking'. A local computer geek can set it up. At most it would require a cheap router ($20).