Operator Spotlight: Evan from Flashback Photobooths

This week we speak with one of the very first photo booth operators in Australia, Evan Kirby, from Flashback Photobooths. Flashback Photobooths started in Sydney way back in 2007 with just one booth and a dream. The brand quickly grew with the main Sydney branch now operating a staggering 10 booths in addition to franchisees in Melbourne and Canberra (who each have their albeit smaller hoard of booths). As one of, if not the, original photo booth hire companies, Flashback paved the way for the thousands that have since followed. As you can imagine after nearly 10 years as a photo boother Evan has a bit to say...

Describe what you believe it is about photo booths which makes them so popular?

The number one thing that makes photo booths so popular is the fact that when you draw those curtains no one else is watching you – this creates a unique environment and extraordinarily funny photos.
The second thing would have to be the instant gratification of having the photo strip in your hands so quickly – it is an instant memory of that moment and is what keeps people coming back for more!
The last thing that I think is important to note is that the photo booth acts as an unofficial entertainer for your guests. It’s something that runs throughout the night without fail and provides your guests with a consistent outcome – the printed proof of the fun you are having! When you organise a function, people having fun is a key element to its success – so when your guests are having fun you know you’ve done your job!

How long have your been a "photo boother" and what made you decide to become one?

Flashback Photobooths was established in 2007 nearly 8 years ago and it has been a fantastic journey filled with highs and lows, but mostly highs. My idea to start the business spawned from my own wedding in 2005. We loved the photo booths you find in the malls and thought that the photo strips added to a guest book would make a great addition to the reception. I was right and I was amazed at the energy and excitement that it created amongst all the guests and thought that it was a great business idea. When I returned home from my honeymoon I researched and found that there was no one doing it seriously here in Sydney yet, even Australia (apart from the old arcade hirer we found for the wedding) so I jumped on it immediately. At the time I was working as a Civil Engineer, working on such jobs as the Cross City Tunnel and Northwest Transitway, so as soon as the business was up and running, I was working during the week and hiring out photo booths on the weekend. I found that my experiences in Engineering helped me strategically plan and execute my company start–up and operation and I’m very thankful for where it has gotten me to this very day. I fast became a popular service provider and run the business full time now servicing over 2500 events Sydney wide and have franchised the business throughout Australia.

What do you believe it is about your photo booth hire business that sets it apart from your local competition?

I guess the one thing I wasn’t prepared for when starting the business was the amount of competition it produced, not only for me here in Sydney, but for all my franchisees in VIC, QLD, ACT and Regional NSW. People would tell me that when people copy your business model it should be seen as the highest form of flattery, but it really didn’t feel that way at all. I was finding new companies copying parts of my website, using my slogans, copying my T&Cs word for word and it infuriated me after I spent so much time and money planning this all from scratch. I guess the only real advantage I had that set me apart from my competition is that I forged many strong relationships with many of Sydney’s finest wedding and function venues and they still to this very day recommend my services to all their clients. This is without doubt the most valuable part of my business and keeps my 10 photo booths very busy! Some of the busy weeks in November-December see us cover up to 20 bookings a week particularly when company XMAS parties book throughout the week…so I guess being able to supply the demand helps me be flexible with pricing and what I can offer to new and existing clients.

What are some of the challenges of running a photo booth hire business?

There are many challenges of running a Photo Booth business as discussed above with the competition being the biggest one, but I find the ever changing technology and concept of photo booth hire a massive challenge. There is a misconception now that the more people you can fit into a photo booth the better. This has led to the humble “enclosed” photo booth being transformed into more like a photo shoot set up sometimes with a draped curtain around it to enclosed it. I guess people think its better value for money if you can fit 12 people in a single shot so my greatest challenge is trying to convince potential customers otherwise without saturating them with an information overload. For me I know that the intimacy of that small space when you draw the curtains on my style booth produces more expressive and unique photo strips…because I can see the difference just looking at the end product..but in the end it is always the customers choice and I can only inform them the best I can.

If you weren't a photo booth operator what would you be doing?

If I wasn’t a Photo Booth operator I would probably be a Project Engineer on one of the major infrastructure projects in Sydney. The money is great but the hours are not favourable, and Im afraid my love for surfing would disappear. So giving my business up is not an option!!

What's your the best tip you can give someone who is considering hiring a photo booth for their important event?

If you are considering having a photo booth at your event think about these useful tips:
Firstly it is important to know the size of the photo booth set-up to see if it will fit into your floor plan. The feedback that I am getting from many venues is that some photo booth hire companies take up to 4-6 square metres of space and even heard stories about blow-up types blocking harbour views etc so it is very important to know your space requirements and this can be achieved through your venue function coordinators. Flashback Photobooths take up a 3 x 1 m space against a wall when you include a trestle table next to it with the photo strip album and props. Its neat and compact and will blend in to your venue space nicely.

Secondly don’t make the service complicated for your guests by adding video messaging and social media uploading. This is a guaranteed way to reduce the amount of photo-strips guests can take in the paid time-frame by having additional menus to navigate through. Video messaging is a gimmick, particularly when loud music and people talking can drown out the audio content of this. The whole concept particularly at a birthday party or wedding is to have as many of your guests fill out the photo strip guest book, it really is the most memorable keepsake you can get out of the experience other than knowing your guests are being entertained throughout the night.

Thirdly keep in mind that you will need to pay for an attendant at a sit down function. This generally costs roughly $60-75 per head for service dinners. Our booths are fully automated and do not require an attendant. Touch screen, voice instructions and an internal LCD screen make the photo strip taking process SIMPLE and EFFICIENT! If it is people adding their photos to the album that you are worried about without an attendant..a simple announcement from the MC outlining the concept of the photo strip guest book and the importance of everyone leaving a mark, is a proven way to achieve this with or without an attendant!

Finally a good way to ensure you are choosing a reliable company is their reviews from past clients. See what other people have to say about their service and this will be a safe way to ensure you get the very best for your event. There are many companies out there claiming to be the best in their state or region but when you dig a bit deeper you find they are only recent start ups and have a low number or no reviews at all and can be a disaster in the making.

Massive thank you to Evan from taking time out from his busy schedule of running around booths, surfing and being a hands on dad. If you're in Sydney (or Melbourne or Canberra) and are after a reliable and experienced photo booth hire business contact Flashback Photobooths for a quote.

CLICK HERE to enquire with Flashback Photobooths Now!

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(Photo Booth Blogger: Justin Jowett)