Austin, Texas-based portrait and event photographer Bert McLendon was initially anti-print. He couldn’t see the value in the 2 x 4-inch photo strip souvenirs he received from events. Initially a video game artist, he used his creative eye for taking event photography to a new level, and within that, creatively designing the photo booth experience he always wanted.

Equipping his photo booth with four DS620A and three DS820A printers, McLendon has positioned himself in a niche market: as a high-end corporate portrait and event photographer. McLendon talked to us about how adding these printers has allowed his photo booth business to flourish.

Go Large | The problem with the photo strip most event photo booths provide is that the images themselves aren’t great and they are so small that you can’t see them. When I started my business, I was digital-only, and it was my perception that my clients would be mostly interested in sharing their images to social media. But when I began designing the photo booth that I personally wanted to experience, I realized I could give my clients fine-art quality prints. With DNP printers, I began to offer prints at 4 x 6 inches, 5 x 7 inches and 8 x 12 inches. The positive reactions from my clients quickly followed.

Fine-Art Quality

Not only are the photos my clients walk away with large enough to hang on their walls, but they are vibrant, fine-art quality dye-sublimation prints. We positioned ourselves to be a high-end photo booth experience by providing add-ons at events such as digital tintypes printed on aluminum and DNP Luxury Media black-and-white images. The Luxury Media is so elegant—it just blows people away. We used the Silver Pearl media at a Google holiday party and it was a huge success. The way the light reacts to it just can’t be replicated. It’s beyond anything else on the market.

Panoramic Option

Both the DS620A and DS820A give me the option of printing panoramic images. On the 620A I can print at 6 x 14 inches and 6 x 20 inches; on the 820A I can print at 8 x 18 inches, 8 x 22 inches, 8 x 26 inches and 8 x 32 inches. This is a huge bonus, especially when photographing large groups. I can photograph up to 200 people with this print ratio.

Reliability

This is the top-of-the-line device in the field. All the professionals use DNP—and there’s a reason for it: the printers are reliable. As an event photographer, you only have one job, and you can’t mess it up. I’m loyal to brands that perform well and these printers have been nothing but perfect over the five-plus years I’ve used them. And if you ever have to call customer service, they’re great. You can talk to a live person who’s available to troubleshoot any challenge you might come across.

Personal Take-Away

A personal take away from a photo-booth experience is special these days. Since most people don’t print out photos on their own today, having a tangible photo print with your significant other, friends or coworkers can be such a treasure. At the end of the day, guests have amazing photos to share that will help me gain more exposure in turn. 

Expanded Offerings

My business has expanded dramatically since I’ve incorporated the printers into my repertoire. I now have high-quality options for post-event add-ons that have greatly increased my profit margin. And by providing such a professional service, I continuously receive new client referrals. 

Find out more at dnpphoto.com.

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