A photo booth is a fun addition to any party.
Photo booths are a popular extra service for wedding receptions, birthday parties and other events. Guests enjoy offering their visual best wishes to the bride and groom or birthday honoree, or just clowning in front of the camera. The resulting pictures or videos are priceless. You can set up a photo booth in a separate room or simply in the corner away from the main party. Professional photographers use specialized photo lights with lightbox diffusers and stands to hold the lights and backdrop but a simple, inexpensive alternative comes with using PVC piping, a white or solid-colored sheet and some work lights with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Instructions
Backdrop Stand
1. Cut eight pieces of the 3/4-inch pipe into 1 ½ feet pieces with a hacksaw or PVC pipe cutter. Cut two pieces to about 2 inches long. Lightly smooth the ends with medium-grit sandpaper. Put an end cap on one end of each of the 1 ½-foot pieces but not on the 2-inch pieces.
2. Insert the uncapped end of each 1 ½-foot pipe sections into three of the arms of the two cross connectors. Insert one end of each of the 2-inch pieces into the remaining open arm of each of the cross connectors. Insert each of the 2-inch pieces into a T-connector. Insert one of the remaining 1 ½-foot lengths of pipe into the other end of the T-connector. You now have a base for your backdrop stand which is a large "+" (plus) sign with one slightly longer arm that has a T-connector.
3. Cut two of the remaining 10-foot pipe pieces into a suitable length for the uprights. The length should be slightly longer than the tallest expected guest but less than ceiling height if the booth will be used indoors. A reasonable estimate for most guest lists would be 6 1/2 feet.
4. Cut each upright in half. Re-connect each with a coupling. Cutting it into two pieces, approximately 3 ¼ feet each will make it easier to transport in a bag. Cut the remaining 10 foot piece in half and re-connect with a coupling. This is the crossbar that will hold the backdrop.
5. Insert the open end of each of the uprights into one arm of an elbow connector. Insert the ends of the crossbar into the other arm of each elbow connector.
Light Stands
6. Create two more bases with two cross connectors, eight 1 ½- foot PVC pieces, two 2-inch pieces and two T-connectors.
7. Cut two 5-foot lengths of pipe and insert one end of each into the T-connectors on the bases. Put an end cap on the other end of the pipe.
8. Stand the light stands up and clamp a work light onto each upright. Adjust the tightness of the wing nut that holds the reflector on the light socket so that it will hold the light assembly firmly.
Booth Set-Up
9. Break down the booth parts at home and transport them to the site. Transport the backdrop cloth rolled up on the cross bar pieces. That will help minimize wrinkling. The bags that hold cloth camping or sports chairs are suitable carriers for the booth parts.
10. Reassemble the PVC stands at the site. Drape the sheet or purchased backdrop cloth over the cross bar and secure it to the crossbar with two or more plastic clamps. Smooth out any wrinkles and pull the cloth taut. Secure it to each upright with clamps.
11. Clamp a work light onto the upright of each light stand. Install a CFL bulb in each work light. Plug the lights in, turn them on and adjust their pointing direction to suit the subjects in the booth. Cover each work light reflector with a very sheer cloth secured with a large rubber band or length of elastic to diffuse the light. Use a very light color such as sheer white, soft peach or soft gold to cast a warm and flattering glow on the scene.
12. For a neater appearance, run 2 to 3 yards of one end of the backdrop out on the ground or floor in front. Keep it very flat on the ground so no one trips over it and that there is enough "slack" so that the floor section doesn't pull on the back section. Place any props like a stool, funny hats or toys on the floor section of the cloth.
Tags: 2-inch pieces, work light, cross connectors, each upright, pieces into