Instaprint markets itself as photo booth remade, capturing “the entire event, not just the people.” Developed by Brooklyn-based BREAKFAST, which recently expanded into Minneapolis, the device links up with Instagram, printing images under a specific hashtag or location.
“Let’s take advantage of the fact that everyone has a camera on them,” says Michael Lipton, BREAKFAST and Instaprint co-founder and COO. “It’s all driven by Instagram. People can get the app on their phone, hashtag a photo, and then we print the photo—there’s no extra step, no computers, no passwords. It all happens automatically.”
An Instaprint technician can set everything up in under an hour. All that’s needed is a smooth wall to hang the devices, a stable Internet connection and a power outlet. As an added bonus, Instaprint’s software generates an after-event report, which includes the number of people who viewed the photos. Another cool option: Instaprint Mosaics—a physical mosaic created in real time using the printed images.
“It’s not just the novelty of the device that’s attractive,” says Lipton. “It’s the features of the platform that make it more than just a party favor.”
