All our packages include unlimited photos taken and printed during the hire period. We set up the photo booth in advance of your event and our booth dragon ensures your guests have loads of fun!

Call Dragon Photobooth on 02920 860 100 to check availability for your Wedding Reception, Party, Social or Corporate event.

Along with the unlimited visits and prints Dragon Photobooth provides you with a DVD Rom of all the photos taken, Live facebook uploads – as long as there is Wi Fi in the venue, and also a Big Screen Slideshow of all the photos!

Check out the Dragon Photobooth Site here

And here’s our special Launch offers – valid for all bookings made in March 2013 for any future date booked!

Our on site printing studio photography means you can take away photos and more to make those memories last a lifetime!

We cover across South Wales for Prom Nights. We are based in Caerphilly and regularly travel to Cardiff, Newport, Rhondda, Pontypridd, Bridgend, Porthcawl and Swansea.

Check out the options in the video below and call us on 02920 860 100 to discuss how we can add a wow factor to your Prom Night.

A brisk drive up the M1 to Ossett and to a lovely venue. Dimple Well Lodge Hotel in Ossett brought some spice to A Wedding Reception!

Authentic indian food at the buffet along with regular fayre was a welcome treat!

We travel across the UK to bring you our Wedding Reception studio. Here’s some photo’s from the evening. The rest are online in our gallery at

A selection of photographs from Bryn Meadows Golf Hotel and Spa.

We love this venue. It has such great opportunities for your photographs and our evening photo studio. The staff here have never failed to perform and offer excellent service from start to finish.

Wedding Photographer Bryn Meadows

A selection of album pages from a Wedding we shot at The New House Country Hotel Cardiff.

Wedding Photographer New House Country Hotel Cardiff

In my last article I looked at 6 questions to ask your Event photographer too. The questions were based around specifics which as customers may not be obviously apparent when searching for a photographer to cover your party or event. They were to do with “behind the scenes”. Things that the event photographer should have taken care of long before they arrive at your venue to undertake a booking.

In this post I’d like to consider issues that can make or break your experience of an event photographer and that directly impact on you and your guests at your event.

Shout at kids and you certainly won't get a smile!

1. How do you manage large groups of people. What’s your “Personality”.

When you’re dealing with a large group of people at an event it’s important your photographer has the experience and personality to be able to communicate and interact with them to get the job done. Sounds simple but get it wrong and you’ll have annoyed guests.  I see many different personalities – “The Mouse” is the photographer who struggles to speak to a group, and as such each photo takes longer and people become more and more irritated. “The Sargeant Major” barks orders at your guests and may upset one or two along the way. Try smiling for the camera when the person behind it has just annoyed you!

Somewhere in-between the two is an assertive photographer who is not shy but not over-bearing who is able to deal with people on their own level whether they are sober or after they’ve “had a few” (you will be having drinks at your party right?). That’s the kind of photographer you’re after. They won’t take nonsense but also won’t upset your guests. And you know what? The photo’s will be better because of it. Being able to relax people and put them at ease is key to a good photo.

2. How do you pose people?

I’ve seen some disastrous attempts at posing a group of people. It’s odd, but achieving the “natural” look takes a little direction to pull it off. Leave people to their own devices and they’ll usually stand straight on at the camera and that’s the most unflattering angle for any lady!

So this simple question answered with “I just leave them to look natural” should ring some alarm bells. The most fun photo’s come from a little direction, a lot of experience, and having fun with the clients.

When was the last time you saw two children stand back to back? Yet this pose often gets the remark – “it’s so natural”. It’s knowing when to press the shutter that creates the photo!

Gosh, it's so natural.

3. What’s your photo style?

Just like in any other form of photography an Event photographer will have their own style. Are you looking for arty, high key, saturated or signature black and white?

Some Event Photographers specialise in producing a black background black and white photograph that is their signature style. Some produce colour with options for standard Black and White. As ever, ask the question and see what answer you get. If you get a “er…I can work with any style” then be suspicious. Some photographers have worked for years to produce a style which is unique to them and not easily copied!!

Posing is making small changes to get the best

4. What’s “White balance”

Ok, an odd question. And one which is designed purely to “throw” the johnny come lately’s. I saw rcently the photo’s from one so called event photographer who used an overhead projector and table lamps to light their “backdrop” of a white sheet. At special occasions they would even sellotape items to the sheet for a special effect and to personalise it for your event.

They would have no idea what white balance was. It doesn’t matter if as the client you don’t have any idea what it is. But if your photographer doesn’t know then alarm bells should ring.

If the response to the question doesn’t sound right run away…. fast!

So there we have it. 4 more questions to ask your Print on Site Event Photographer!

Even just a few of them should be enough to sort the wheat from the chaff and ensure you have someone who will add to your event in a positive way rather being a talking point for all the wrong reasons!

Press the shutter at the right time!

Richard Hobson Photography – Print on Site Photo Studio for Events in Cardiff, Caerphilly, Newport, Rhondda.

Six Questions to ask your Event Photographer.

For the sake of this article I’m defining an “event” photographer as a Print on Site mobile studio set-up. The definition of an event usually stretches far wider than this but on this occasion I’m going to limit it so we can stay on track!

The reason I’m writing this list is that I’ve recently started to see a number of operators spring up and advertise on site printing and mobile studio set-ups for birthdays, wedding receptions and kids parties. I realise that competition is a good thing, but I fear that some of the operators may simply see it as a way to “print money” and  there may be corners being cut which at the least will mean the quality of the product a customer receives is sub standard and at the very worst could actually be dangerous, even fatal.

So here we go – 6 questions you should ask before you book your Event Photographer!

1. What sort of prints do you produce?

We’re not talking about size here. We’re talking about the technology used to produce the print. There are two technologies which I’ve seen in use. The first is Ink-Jet and the second is Dye-Sublimation.

If your event photographer prints Ink Jet photo’s then you’ll need to consider the drawbacks of that format. Ink Jets are great for producing a few prints at home but for full on events they just can’t handle the speed and quality needed. The prints will be wet when produced and the quality can vary print on print.

Dye sublimation printers on the other hand produce dry prints in seconds with a determinable quality time after time after time. Dye sub prints are also more fade resistant and durable in the long term.

The main difference between the two types is price. An Ink Jet printer can be bought for under £50. A dye sub printer which is the right piece of kit for the job comes in at about £1000.  The time it takes to print an ink jet print at high quality can be minutes. With Dye sub it’s seconds. That doesn’t seem a major issue does it? But imagine a queue of 10 people. The last one could be waiting over half an hour for their ink jet print. The last one would wait a minute or two for their dye sub print.

2. Is your equipment PAT tested?

Electrical equipment, especially equipment that is carried from place to place carries a risk. At one end of the scale it could just breakdown. At the other end of the scale it could cause fires or electrocution. A PAT test whilst not guaranteeing a piece of equipment will never fail at least goes some way to check the gear and prove it’s safety at the point in time it was tested.

I look at it this way – if an operator cuts corners on this then how careful and diligent will they be in this area at an event and in other areas too?

If your event photographer says “Yes”, then ask them to produce their certificate!

3. Do you carry a backup printer?

Ok, so you’ve hired an event photographer who will print photo’s for your guests to take away on the night. So what happens if the main piece of kit to do this fails?

One customer when making a booking with me said just the other day “The guy last year was so busy his printer packed up”. My reply was “well, if that happens when I’m doing it I’ll fetch the spare from the van”.

A printer (and the right printer for the job) is essential to do the job. I wonder how many startups don’t even carry a spare printer that allows them to keep doing the job in case of failure?

4. Do you carry a backup camera?

I didn’t know whether to put this above or below a backup printer because let’s face it, if you can’t take a photo, you can’t print it. Simples. There is simply no excuse for not having backup gear. Stuff breaks, fails, gets stolen etc.

5. Do you carry public liability insurance?

Some venues insist on it and without it your event photographer may simply be turned away. Accidents happen. Is your event photographer professional enough to realise this and protect you as the hirer from claims in the event of a guest being hit by a falling light stand or tripping over a mis-placed cable. Add in a few drinks into the mix and guests are not always as safety away as they could be. Is your event photographer aware of the risks?

And of course when they say yes, they will have a copy of their insurance to show you – won’t they!

6. Ask to see samples of work.

This is simple really, but I see event photographers advertising who don’t even have a website to show their work. Compare their facebook photo’s to another event photographer and play spot the difference.

A pro event photographer will be quite happy to post you samples of their work in print and mounted how a guests would receive it.

So there we have it. Six questions that start to sort out the Pro Event Photographers from the not so Pro Event Photographers.
I hope this little guide is of use to you and helps you source an event photographer who will add a great deal of fun, excitement and value to your event.

Richard Hobson Photography provides Event Photography across South Wales and beyond.

Hand Painted Wedding Cakes. Inspirational!

onefabday.com/painted-wedding-cakes/

Colour inspiration and how to match shades for the complete look.

www.aphroditesweddingblog.com/blog/2012/04/04/wedding-inspiration-colour-inspiration-pantone-rose-smoke/

A very special offer for mid-week Wedding Photography at Cardiff City Hall.

£150 for coverage of arrivals through to group and individual photographs after the Wedding.

Special Mid-Week Offer

Call us on 02920 860 100 to check availability for this offer which is also available at Caerphilly Registry Office too.

Cardiff Registry Office Wedding Photographer