Operator Spotlight : Kevin from Photobooths Australia

Operator Spotlight: Kevin O'Brien from Photobooths Australia

Welcome to our second installment of the "Operator Spotlight" blog series where we interview the owners of local photo booth companies around Australia and get to know the people behind the booth.

We recently caught up with one of the very first operators to join Photobooth Finder within days of our launch way back in January 2015. Kevin O'Brien is the owner of Photobooths Australia a Queensland photo booth operator based on the Sunshine Coast whose business services Central Coast, Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Lismore, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Gympie, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg.

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

We were one of the first Photobooth companies to start up in South east Queensland. We’re now in our 6^th year of operation. I remember seeing my first Photobooth in operation at a wedding I was attending and I was amazed at how much fun everyone was having and how the entertainment factor only seemed to increase as the night went on. I was immediately hooked.

Is there one photo booth hire you have done that has stood out above all the rest and why?

The most memorable event we’ve attended was a family fun day organised by ‘DEBRA’ for ‘Butterfly children’ as they’re known, who suffer from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) (a rare disease whereby the skin blisters and peels at the slightest touch). Putting smiles on the faces of those brave kids & their families was a very humbling & rewarding experience.

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

We combine the best features of all photobooths on the market into one complete package. We offer a third print colour option (Old school sepia) as apposed to the standard B&W & Colour options. That feature alone makes our booths 33% more fun. We offer onscreen viewing so the guests can actually see themselves onscreen ‘before’ the shots are taken. We offer a huge variety of the best quality props in Australia. Our booths also offer video messaging and because we use the same high end DSLR cameras as professional wedding photographers, the quality our photos are second to none.

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

I’d have to say that public enemy number one for photobooth operators would be ..drinks.

Even though we politely ask the guests to be careful with their drinks near our clients photo albums, there was one occasion when a teenager at her friend’s birthday party leaned over the album to write a message, but while she was leaning forward she casually poured her full drink all over the album. With a look of total horror on her face she stared at the mess she’d made, swore and ran away. Luckily a quick reaction saved most of the album and luckily the birthday girl saw the funny side of it.

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

That one’s easy. The number one tip would be, please don’t just look for the cheapest photobooth rate out there. With photobooths you really do get what you pay for. Look for a very experienced company with the best & most varied features. And if you can find those qualities in a company with reasonable rates, then you should be on a winner. It’s important to remember that the event your planning is probably one of the most important events in your life, so it really pays to weigh up all components to find the perfect company for you to guarantee that your special event will be memorable for your family & friends. So, bottom line..don’t just look for the cheapest rate.

Who in your opinion has the most fun in a photo booth kids or adults, boys or girls, men or women?  

That’s the thing with photoboothing, it appeals to all ages, so there’s no particular age group that has the more fun. From toddlers to grandma & granddad, everyone loves dress ups. That’s why we love our job so much, everyone walks away happy.

Thanks to Kevin for giving up some time over the Anzac day long weekend to speak to us. So if you are in and around the Sunshine Coast and are considering having a photo booth at your next Wedding, Party or Corporate Event be sure to get in contact with Photobooths Australia for a quote.

CLICK HERE to enquire with Photobooths Australia today!

Want to be featured on the next Operator Spotlight blog? CLICK HERE to find out how.

 
(Photo Booth Blogger: Justin Jowett)