On site 'photobooth' printing

[IanLegge]

Hi there

I hope you don't mind me asking this question?

I was wondering of anyone has any experience, knowledge or advice they would be willing to give about creating an on-site photo printing set up?

I do a lot of photography for a local charity to me, and I am considering the idea of setting up a 'booth' at one of their events and shooting portraits of people for a fixed sum (to go to the charity). The ideal would be to print these on-site so they can take them away on the day.

I guess what I am after is a place where I can hire a printer that will connect to my laptop (to which my camera is connected, so I can have a simple and fairly efficient workflow: shoot, edit and print. I have done a number of searches but I am not sure I am being accurate enough, so wondered if someone has done a similar thing and might be able to say: 'go to this site' or 'contact these people'.

Obviously ink issues will be important as I may be looking at several hundred prints in the day.

I am thinking of one image (a nice portrait) - not the photobooth strips - but am not discounting that idea entirely as I have been asked to cover a birthday at the charity, and that may be a good approach for that.

Any pointers would be helpful, but no worries if not.

Many thanks

Ian

[hssutton]

Canon make several battery powered printers

http://www.canon-europe.com/For_Home..._with_battery/

[wavemachine]

I would probably get something like this and e-mail them the image so they can if they wish get a bigger print done commercially (for additional cost of course)

With the paper and ink bundle here it works out at about .28p a print (not including the original printer outlay).

Proper lab solutions would be very pricey I am sure!

[Carolpgh]

I regularly run a mobile portrait studio in my local town - I bought a Canon Selphy printer and can do 6x4 on the spot, with images then being uploaded to a private Photobox gallery so that people can order more (not many do, unfortunately!)

I went on an event photography training course last weekend - absolutely fascinating (everything was covered from karting, horsy events to black tie) but I really can't afford the kit involved - yet. Apparently the best printers around for full time event photography are the Mitsubishi dye-subs.

The good thing about any dye sub (whether Canon, DNP or Mitsi) is that you're able to work out your print costs.

The event photography course also suggested offering images instantly on coasters, mouse mats, blocks and in glass frames as well as struts.

[skilsaw]

In the beginning Keep It Simple. And be well practiced.
I have no time for first timers who keep people waiting while they figure out technical problems.
Then grow your business with the demand for photos at the events and your new insight and experience.