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Yvonne Ncube, Showbiz Correspondent
TALK about the hottest thing in town these days, and you won’t be able to avoid mentioning the 360-degree photo booth.

In fact, snapping photos from all sides is a “common” new phenomenon. Not only is it new to Bulawayo or Zimbabwe, but this innovative technology is also still being embraced by the rest of the world.

Whether for a personal occasion such as a wedding, birthday, anniversaries, baby showers, graduations, or even a commercial trade fair or product launch, the 360 degree photo booths have made events in recent days look spectacular with a refined touch and current taste.

The photo booth has been accepted by all corners of society since it highlights companies brands’ presence from all angles, whether it is a marketing event, a corporate party, or an interactive trade fair exhibit.

The booth experience is one that everyone should have. We have seen social media humming, from

Instagram reels to Facebook stories, not to mention Twitter, where individuals have recently been posting their drool-worthy booth experiences. In this type of situation, even laggards are seen upfront.

Nothing matches a 360 degree camera booth for capturing all of the fun and excitement of a party. In contrast to standard picture booths, which can only catch a limited number of individuals and viewpoints, the camera booth provides a complete 360-degree view of all the action. This means you won’t miss a single moment of your party, no matter where you’re standing.

If you are into business, you might want to consider this new technological device which will give your clients a chance to come back for the experience. They will walk away with amazing memories to share.

You can personalise all the 360-video content of a 360-camera booth with your brand’s logo or event theme, and your guests are sure to want to share their funny and unique 360-video footage of the camera booth on various social media.

The booth, according to musician Mzoe 7 who runs one, is a brand-new phenomenon, not just in Zimbabwe, but also around the world.

“I first got to know about the 360 photo booth when I was in the United States of America. I loved every experience of it and I just said to myself, I should get one to bring home. It’s a fascinating experience.

You see even on television that people are having fun with this thing.

“But for me when I got one, the plan was not just to make money, but to give my people experience. You know some of the things we just see on television and wish we could at least one day experience. And that’s painful. I bought one so that people in Bulawayo don’t just wish but can get to experience locally.

“One might think that this is new in Zimbabwe but no, it’s new everywhere as people are still adapting to it, welcoming it with great zeal. So, as a way of making sure everyone gets an experience, I’d love that one day, we take it to schools so that school children also get to have the feeling and no one is left behind,” said Mzoe 7.

He said he rents out the booth to local artistes to promote their videos.

“As artistes, we aim to entertain so we want our audiences to get the best of what we offer. As a result,

I’m open to renting out the booth to local artistes so as to promote their videos. I mean, everyone wants to get this experience one way or the other.

“One thing about the booth is that it’s expensive and also expensive to maintain so when you’re handling it, it has to be handled with care, one mistake might spoil everything. And when you are transporting it, you must also make sure that it is in a safe space.”

Mzoe 7 said he purchased his for £2 300 (about US$2 800) and he charges from US$3.

Ndumiso Dube, an entrepreneur who also possesses the new sought technology, shared how he uses it to bring the best results for his clients.

“The most paramount thing to do is to set up the camera booth in a well-lit area. This ensures that my videos and photos come out clear and sharp. This also gives my clients a bit of editing, giving them a spectacular look.

“The background should be interesting too because usually if the background is not nice, the whole picture is spoiled. A boring background can make the photos less memorable or unusable.

“I also encourage my clients to be free and be the best of themselves. I encourage people to pose for the camera, get them to strike a pose, or do something fun and silly. Silly poses are usually the best for a video. I also take advantage of the 360 camera booth’s features as many of them allow you to add filters or graphics to the photos,” Dube said.

He said the booth has received a great welcome from the public such that he is usually called for events such as weddings and parties.

“Many people don’t know the booth yet so once they learn what it does, many have stood up for the experience and they’ve loved it. I’m usually recommended by my clients to other potential clients,” said Dube.

If you have not tried the booth experience I encourage you to go out there and make memories. Have fun with it and experiment! – @SeehYvonne