Disposable Cameras? - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

Wonderland449 · #1 04-03-2008, 07:54 PM

Hey guys,

Here is one idea that we are thinking about doing for our Guest Book.
We could not find any guest books that we truly liked and that were not overpriced. So I decided to browse our local Target and stumbled upon a GREAT find of a beautiful black leader bound photo album with writing lines next to each photoslot. We are having a very small wedding- 75 guest or so- and so what we want to do is......
Ask everyone to individually sign next to a photo slot and then, using disposable camera's we have provided, take a few photos of themselves!
Later, we will get them developed and go through and put the photos in the slot next to peoples signature.
We think this will be fun because instead of just having a boring signature (no offense) we get to have cute photos to remember Uncle Steve etc.

SO what do ya'll think about that idea?

And then MOST IMPORTANTLY....
We are on a VERY VERY VERY VERY tight budget and while we are getting my old highschool Art teacher to do our videography and we are using trusted "art experienced" friends to use digital camera's to do all the "offical" wedding photographs....like the ceremony, posed pictures, etc...but we were thinking about putting a good-quality disposable camera in baskets or something around the room and allowing our guest to photograph the reception! I think this will get a lot more cute, candid shots. Again we would have a specific digital camera person to take the cake cutting shot and toast shots but it would not be a professional photographer. However many of our friends are the type who go in to art shows and have always been painters, photogs, etc. and I have a lot of faith that whoever we pick will take great photos.
I think that using disposable cameras will get the guest interactive and give a fun atmosphere. I've heard the concern that children will take random pictures but there will not be a lot of children at our wedding.

What do you guys think? Is it okay, since we trust our art-friends and think it will get good candid shots? Or are we risking too much?

Also I think Walmart does not make you pay for prints you do not want to keep...I'm not sure. I'm aware it would be expensive but no where near what a professional photographer would cost.

OPINIONS PLEASE?????

Marci Curtis · #2 04-07-2008, 02:42 AM

As a pro, of course I'm going to say you're taking a huge risk by not having a pro cover the reception, but I do admire your creativity. One thing to keep in mind is that reception halls are like mammoth caves and are extremely hard to light properly. Your art friends may get really cool shots, but lighting is not typically high on the artsy group's priorities (I was one, so I feel pretty secure in saying that). The benefit with digital is that if they're really botching it, at least they'll know it!
Try to think of your experiment like this: how are you going to feel if you end up with zero % of good photos? That's pretty unlikely since they'll be shooting digital (which you'll want to make sure they are shooting digital). So more than likely they're going to end up with around 15 - 25% of their shots being good, so can you live with that?
Also, make sure your DJ announces the full intent for the disposable cameras several times and reminds guests to turn the flashes on (usually these cameras get 1 to 2 useable images per roll, so definitely take them to a place that won't charge you for all the photos since so few will be any good). Best of luck and I'll be curious what the other brides think about this one!

Wonderland449 · #3 04-07-2008, 02:57 AM

Any help guys?

KaileK · #4 04-07-2008, 04:23 AM

I think your ideas sound great! The guest book idea is definately unique and I think the pictures will make you browse it more often than you would just a regular guest book KWIM?

We are having some random disposable cameras at our reception too! Not all the shots turn out because of bad lighting, etc, but there are always some good ones that you get and that makes the cost of the disposables worth it!

Heather · #5 04-07-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wonderland449

Any help guys?

We're supposed to have a professional photographer that answers questions in this area, but I haven't seen her on lately...

Marci Curtis · #6 04-07-2008, 04:44 PM

Hi Ladies! You crack me up! There were no new postings for something like three or four months, then I go on vacation for two weeks and there are four new postings when I'm gone!!!
I'm personally a fan of dividing all your groups up (his college friends, her relatives, her work buddies, etc) and asking someone from that group to represent that group as their unofficial photographer. Pick someone who you know will be taking photos anyway and honor their skills (and persistence) by designating them as the photographer. This is a great idea even if you do have a pro so that all your bases will get covered. Have someone, a maid of honor works well for this one, give each of those designated people a blank CD in a self addressed stamped CD envelope so that they can easily copy and send their images to you. It's a great gesture and you're making the process a no brainer for them (and eliminating 99% of their excuses!). That way you'll have a hard copy of the images. Any money, you'll return from your honeymoon to a mailbox full of images which should help tide you over until the pro gets around to processing your official images (unless they're like me, who has them to the couple within the week, but since I don't know any other completely insane photographers who do that, we'll assume yours won't!). Give it a try. It's a touch of preplanning that will pay off really, really well.

Heather · #7 04-07-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marci Curtis

Hi Ladies! You crack me up! There were no new postings for something like three or four months, then I go on vacation for two weeks and there are four new postings when I'm gone!!!.

That's weird - there are posts from early January and some from early March that weren't answered. Are you getting notices of new posts?

Marci Curtis · #8 04-07-2008, 05:53 PM

I just started getting notice of new posts this past week... beforehand I'd just check to see if any of the questions had new dates or if a new thread had started and didn't see any. I see one from January now that I didn't see until a few days ago when all these others starting popping into my email. Hopefully we're all on track now as wedding season is starting to wind up to full throttle and I'm sure lots of brides have lots of new questions!

Wonderland449 · #9 04-07-2008, 09:33 PM

Hey ladies,

thanks so much for your advice! Marci I love the idea of splitting it up. Like I mentioned were very into art and we have some professional photographers, graphic designers, and graffiti artist in our group so I'm sure we will get some GREAT shots I'm just really glad to be reassured that I'm not completely insane to try this.

bluocean · #10 04-08-2008, 12:11 PM

Hey!! I really really like your idea. This is what personalized really ought to mean!! Good for you. I really like the disposible camera idea of yours though I'm kind of apprehensive about the costs of the camera and the cost of all the printing. I also think that the best service will come from those who really love you like your friends and families so I am sure the whole documentation of your wedding will be fine. But in any other way, your ideas rock and I'm sure the wedding will, too.

Wonderland449 · #11 04-08-2008, 06:25 PM

Thanks! I had the same worries, but even at $4 a camera, thats 24 prints or so...70*24 = 1,680 prints....$4 * 70 people = $280 for the cameras, 70*$6 for print= $420....$420+280= $700......

so thats $700.00 for 1,680 prints!

Granted not all of them will come out well and we will have to make our own album, but we will also have all the negitives, can get the put on a disk, and have control to make as many copies as we want.

^_^ I'm so excited!

jc22 · #12 10-23-2008, 10:10 PM

My sister just got married and did something similar. She borrowed a friend's Polaroid camera then had everyone take pictures of themselves at the guest sign in table. Then each person (or group of people) took the immediately printed Polaroid photo and pasted it onto a colored piece of paper, decorated it with stickers and signed it. Then they put the paper into a guest book. Pretty creative way of "signing" the guest book.