For years, a theme park visit wasn't complete without making the cover of a magazine. Along with the roller coaster rides and funnel cakes, a photo shoot at the Fotozines studio was part of the fun.
Now striking a pose for a popular magazine might be the highlight of a trip to a mall, movie theater or one of several other outlets as Fotozines has retooled the studio into an interactive self-service experience.
Visitors now can step into a fully automated photo booth to have their photo placed on their favorite magazine or taken with their favorite super hero or Looney Tunes character, said Gregg Dobbs, Fotozines chief executive operator.
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Fotozines produced more than 10 million magazine covers at 80 theme park studios between 1980 and 1993. The covers grew to be one of the most popular products ever sold at America's theme parks, according to company literature. As digital technology developed, the original Fotozine process became obsolete. Yet, advancements in software and photo quality have made the concept more viable than ever, company officials said.
As Fotozines developed the new concept, Dobbs said, he was concerned about losing the studio experience, which, with costumes and props, added value for the customer. To keep Fotozines fun, it had to be interactive. A live monitor lets friends watch the action from outside the booth. The camera clicks two photos so customers can try out different expressions. Customers also can size and position their photo.
"That was all designed to be part of the show," Dobbs said.
The technology also benefits franchisees, who can monitor the self-service machines continuously through a wireless Internet connection. They can track transactions in real time, allowing them to identify customer tastes. In addition, the photo kiosks send instant notification if problems arise, whether the machine is out of paper or someone clogged the change dispenser with gum.
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| At a DC Superheroes Photo Station and Compact Photo Booth, guests choose their favorite superhero, such as Superman, and can opt to pose on the cover of a comic book or trading card with that character. |
"You like to take advantage of that while those movies are at their peak," Dobbs said.
The booths will be modified on a long-term basis, too. The company always is watching for applicable trends and seeking new characters and covers for customers.
"Imagine Hannah Montana two years ago. No one had heard of it," Dobbs said.
The concept gives franchisees flexibility and lends itself to a variety of growth opportunities the company will be developing over time, he said.
"As long as you can maintain and keep up with what's going on, I think it gives them a great advantage."
In addition to printing magazine covers, the Fotozines Digital Photo Station prints from any digital media or Bluetooth mobile telephone and burns CDs.
The booths and photo station offer more than 100 of the most popular magazine covers including TV Guide, Golf Digest, Field & Stream, Thrasher, Penthouse, Car & Driver, Women's Day and Parenting.
At a Marvel Superheroes Photo Station and Compact Photo Booth, guests choose their favorite superhero, such as Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four and Iron Man. Visitors can opt to pose on the cover of a comic book, a trading card or Marvel Magazine.
The model reminds Dobbs of the juke box business in the 1940s and 1950s. The machines were stationed in a number of entertainment venues and routinely reloaded with the latest hit tunes. Though the product changed continuously, many of those machines are still in service today. That will be the case with Fotozines.
"It's up to us to keep the picture current, to keep it interesting," he said.
Still, some timeless images, such as the Marvel Superheroes, will always be a hit. Franchisee David Bloodgood operates a Marvel Superheroes photo station, which has been attracting the comics' newest young fans as well as adults who grew up with the heroes.
"We're getting kids, we're getting teenagers, we're getting adults," he said. "We were pleasantly surprised to find it has universal appeal."
Franchises are preparing to deploy in several areas including Philadelphia, Miami, southern California and Chicago. Dobbs expects the booths to available by late March. He expects the product eventually to be available across the country and in Europe, South America and Asia.
Dobbs said he looks forward to bringing the concept to local markets after being limited to major theme parks for so long. While operating the theme park studios, Fotozines received almost 60,000 requests to purchase a franchise. However, the labor-intensive process was too expensive to work as a franchise.
