With less than a month left before Super Bowl Sunday, we know what you are all thinking: what are my plans for the big game?! Superbowl Sunday is the ideal day to relax, drink, and enjoy the game so let us help get you in the spirit with some great photo booth pics from past Superbowl Parties! Plus, we’d love to make YOUR Superbowl Party extra fun this year with a photo booth, so keep reading to find out more about our Special Superbowl Offer this year.

Preparing for your Superbowl Sunday game takes a lot of effort. Many families spend hundreds of dollars at the grocery store, hours preparing all of the food, and a ton of energy entertaining. There will be approximately 28 million pounds of potato chips consumed on Superbowl Sunday…crazy! At Foto Cabina we love football and we have been hosting Superbowl parties with our booths for years. Its even more entertaining than the commercials! 

So don’t blow all your money on potato chips! With our booth at your party you and your guests can capture the moment your team wins the big game. And anyone to book their Superbowl Sunday party with us receives a COMPLIMENTARY HOUR (valued at $300)! You can’t beat that! Hurry up and book fast… the time is ticking!

* you must mention this Superbowl Blog and the code: FotoCabinaSuperBowl*

CALL 888-9 CABINA

May the best team win!

This week we had the luxury of celebrating the new year with the individuals of The St. Regis Monarch Beach. Their annual employee celebration honored those responsible for giving the hotel its pristine reputation as one of best hotels not only in SoCal, but in the world. Who can top that? These people deserve to be congratulated for all their hard work, and we just have to show off how amazing this venue really is!

Although many of us just came back from a vacation, the luxuries you’re about to read about will make you fight the urge to stay at home. Keep reading and I guarantee you’ll be begging your significant other to embark on a journey to the St. Regis! Not only do the holidays fill up our vacation time but they also empty our pockets, and at Foto Cabina we are always thinking of our clients. That is why this blog will unveil the amazing deals and packages that the St. Regis has to offer!

Valentines Day at St. Regis

Plan a little get away for you and your hubby this Valentine’s day at the St. Regis. Your residency at the St. Regis is coupled with a complimentary breakfast for two each morning of your stay. You can both enjoy a five star breakfast in bed by only having to answer the doorbell. Upon arrival you are showered with a freshly cut bouquet of flowers, setting the mood for your Valentine’s day escape to this decadent locale on the beach. Lastly, you can indulge in a celebratory bottle of champagne.

You can also get some alone time during the day for detox as the hotel provides unlimited golf at their Monarch Beach Golf Links. You must reserve your golf time three days prior to your stay but playing along the sandy shores will make most men run to their phones! On the other hand, if you don’t want that alone time the reservation is conveniently made for two!

St. Regis planned your stay perfectly by always providing for two. For example ladies, if only your hubby wants to play some holes YOU are awarded $185 in daily credit to the Spa Gaucin. Their massages and offers are modeled around a mediterranean touch with a soothing atmosphere. They provide everything from stone massages, diamond exfoliation, sugar scrubs and oxygen facials. I know I’m already hooked!

At Foto Cabina, we are given the opportunity to visit so many breathtaking venues, and we occasionally have to share them with you!

Of all our donations this year, our event with the Easter Seals Disability Services at Knott’s Berry Farm helped to raise an astounding $340, 895.52! We kept spirits high by encouraging laughter and smiles with our photo booths at their 11th Annual Walk With Me event held in November. There were over 700 attendees from walkers to volunteers and Partners Plaza participants!

With help from you and I, the Easter Seals Disability Services will continue to support over 2,500 people who battle disabilities such as autism each day. By maintaining over 50 sites in Southern California alone they are doing wonders to change lives. We both want to make 2012 bigger and better but we can’t do it alone. Lets make some resolutions of civic engagement this year from volunteering to donating, the options are endless.

We wish you a happy New Year from Foto Cabina!

I am originally from New York, and I’m about to enter my last semester at Chapman University which means I officially will be a college grad in May 2012! My major is history with an emphasis in the good old USA, and I also have a minor focused in Educational Studies. Previously I wanted to become a teacher, hence my love of working with others, and this past semester I dedicated a small portion of my time to tutoring precious little fourth graders. At Chapman, I am a Delta Gamma girl and love to catch a movie, shop, and do crossword puzzles in my spare time. Pretty well-rounded, I’d say!

Recently, I became incredibly interested in the field of marketing, so naturally I jumped at this wonderful opportunity with Foto Cabina. Here, I will have the opportunity to combine my knowledge of Facebook and Twitter with some incredible new marketing techniques…which is why you’re reading this right now! My day-to-day activities here are sure to be enthralling and my New York personality makes me a perfect fit for this upbeat job. What I love about this place already is that Foto Cabina is all about the clients, celebrating your happy and candid moments!

All you really need to know about me is that I’m a little person with a big personality and I look forward to interacting with you soon! I can be easily reached at CSimonetti@FotoCabina.com or 714.683.1885. I’d absolutely love to get to know you better and learn about your story, passions, experiences with Foto Cabina, and everything in between! Hope to hear from you!

Just this past weekend, Foto Cabina had the opportunity to bring in the holiday season by reveling with the Fountain Valley Costco … and what a blast! The high energy staff at Costco joined together to celebrate all things merry and capture these moments with our premium photo booths! Take a look at some of these smiling faces!

As the holiday season intensifies, we could all use a helping hand. And we all agree that Costco has just about everything to offer! From seasonal toys to hundreds of cooking amenities, Costco helps with everything from presents to preparation. After spending some time with such a personable staff, the party motivated us to get you guys in the store to check out Costco’s best kept secrets of the season!

Here are some of my personal favorites, enjoy!

1. A digital camera is one of the most popular gifts this holiday season and the Panasonic FH27 Digital Camera is on the top of my Christmas list! Shop on the Costco website and receive $50 off the original price. The camera also comes with a case and memory card, which you’d have to buy separately at most other places. Check it out!
   
2. Eating is one of my favorite things to do during the holidays, and I’m sure most of you would agree that we tend to overindulge. That’s why one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight and get in shape. Costco can help achieve this goal by offering $200 off their EPIC® Elliptical with delivery included! See for yourself!
   
3.  New Year’s Eve is a romantic time for a proposal but can be a tough time for the bank account. Why not bring in the New Year with a loved one and get a steal on the engagement rings at Costco which are high quality and priced well below the appraised value? I Do!
4. If you’re planning on being a guest this winter don’t forget to contribute to the party. Costco has a number of gift baskets in their bakery section that would be perfect for this! My personal favorite is the Mrs. Fields® cookie basket with $15 off. (You’ll want that elliptical after these treats!) Click for deliciousness
5. For those of you who love to save, Black Friday options are still conveniently available online! This page has tons of promotions and sales to browse through without the hassle of having to tediously flip through a catalog.

Thanks to Costco for helping us get through the holidays…and for being so photogenic in our photo booths!

Last Saturday was iSanctuary’s 9/10 event at the Sawdust Festival raising awareness for one of the fastest growing pandemics of our time: human trafficking. In total, there were over 500 people in attendance including vendors, partnered organizations, volunteers, supporters, and even a couple of local bands. Below is the follow up interview we had with cofounder Windy Hicks.

Was there a big turnout for your event?

We were thrilled with how many people came out from different organizations, which was exactly our goal. Our strategy is to build a more collaborative way in which we tackle the issue of human trafficking. We passionately believe that the best hope for defeating human trafficking is through the cooperative efforts of anti-trafficking entities, organizations, and individuals.

In what way do you think the 9/10 event has made an impact on this issue?

I would say it was definitely a venue purposed to foster a collaborative effort in the fight against trafficking. It was the first step in paving the way to develop future partnerships in anti-trafficking efforts from both the private and the public sectors. We wanted to make clear that there are tangible things the public can do to stop human trafficking. This ranges from purchasing products that meet ethical standards to reporting suspicions of trafficking on the national hotline [1-888-3737-888].

Can you explain a little more in depth iSanctuary’s strategy with respect to the supply and demand of human trafficking?

Where there is demand, there will be supply. Human trafficking is only supplied to the point at which it is demanded. There is virtually no one who actually wants to support the trafficking and slavery of other people, but by purchasing services and goods that are produced by trafficking, demand for it is an unintended consequence. Our goal is to educate the average consumer about the kinds of products and companies that utilize trafficking. By creating awareness, it is our hope that demand for such products will decrease resulting in a decrease of the supply of slavery and forced labor.

What kind of positive feedback have you received from the 9/10 event?

People just loved the bands, the food, and the Foto Cabina Photo Booth! Personally, the most rewarding compliment that was shared was how this event wasn’t a clichéd fundraiser. We were very intentional with the other nonprofits to create an atmosphere of social enterprise. In other words, instead of asking for donations, we were purposeful about providing competing products to sell in the place of products produced through forced labor. That way, we weren’t just receiving donations, but participating in a mutually beneficial exchange.

What was the most important thing that you personally took away from the event? Was there anything in specific that was inspiring or hopeful?

The most inspiring aspect of the entire event was the opportunity for local survivors of trafficking to take part in an event that advocates fighting for the cause without being labeled, victimized, or pitied. We were intentional on what materials were used from the documentaries presented to the informational awareness pieces displayed. We were looking at it from the eyes of survivors and keenly aware that there would be women in attendance who have been trafficked.

Did you hear any of the feedback from the Foto Cabina Photo Booth?

Yes! What we appreciated most about the photo booth was that it provided a silly and fun outlet to the sobering education of human trafficking. Thank you so much for all that Foto Cabina has done to help make the iSanctuary 9/10 event such a success!

Thank you to iSanctuary for all of the inspiring work that you have done on this issue. For more information visit Fair Trade USA for slavery free products as well as iSanctuary.org to find out how you can get more involved. With your help, we can ensure a sense of freedom and hope for millions of women around the globe!

Foto Cabina is privileged and excited to partner with iSancutuary at their annual event this coming Saturday, September 10th! Human trafficking is one of the world’s fastest growing pandemics and iSanctuary is addressing this issue head on. They have been a source of strength and hope for hundreds of young women. We asked iSanctuary cofounder Wendy Hicks some questions about it’s mission and how we can be a part of the solution.

What is iSanctuary and what is it’s mission?

Our mission is to advocate for the exploited people of the world, to educate and empower the public, and to reintegrate the survivors of human trafficking back into society.

Why is this cause so important to iSanctuary and why is it important to you personally? 

There are a lot of anti-trafficking efforts that are coming to the surface right now, but as far as iSanctuary’s focus on reintegration, there’s a huge need and a huge gap between the rescue of these women and reintegrating them back into society. Reintegration is a complete transformation for a survivor of trafficking to be able to continue on with their lives and with their future. Time and time again, we have heard from the anti-trafficking community that employment is the missing piece, which is what makes iSancutary unique. There are other rescue and rehabilitation efforts, but none exist that have tangible opportunities. This integration happens both in India and the United States, as well as some other countries.

What are some of your success stories? 

We have had an influence in the lives of over 130 girls and young women between the ages of 12 to 25. One of our youngest girls named Salini, who has been with us from day one when she was 16, has gotten married and is now pregnant with her first child. She is now educated and has a high school diploma, something only 15% of Indians ever obtain.

What is the reason that iSanctuary has been so successful when it comes to transforming and reintegrating these women into confident, healthy, and productive members of society?

We create an incredibly safe and warm atmosphere that is not focused on them being a victim. They are treated as normal people and anyone that has interacted with them has been highly trained. No one is asking them about their past or what has happened. We’re focusing on them as an individual and as a human being and affirming them and building those positive experiences to show that they are more than just one unfortunate circumstance.

In your opinion, what is the best solution to the problem of human trafficking and how can Foto Cabina fans best get involved?

It takes a collaborative effort. The 9/10/11 event is about that collaboration. For the general public, we need donations, and financial contributions to help supplement the survivor’s salaries. They should be keeping a keen eye and using the anttrafficking hotline when they’re suspicious of trafficking situations, do their research, talk about it with members in their community, invite us to talk at high schools to educate the youth, and practice consumer conscience purchasing of non-slave made products.

What are some other resources that you can give our readers who want to be involved?

The hotline to contact for suspicions of human trafficking is (888)3737-888. Also, Fair Trade USA  is an organization that aims to educate the consumer on slavery-free products and companies.

This Saturday is iSanctuary’s 9/10 Event at Sawdust. Visit iSanctuary.org to find out what you can do to bring hope and inspiration to women around the globe. With your help we can put a stop to human trafficking!

Celebrating your event is what we’re all about and that’s why we were so thrilled to offer a valuable package at an unbeatable price this last weekend through Living Social via Amazon.com! We are so thankful for the 100+ people who contacted us, hoping to add a Foto Cabina premium photo booth to their upcoming event, while saving a little green.

Parul and Damon, two of our most excited fans, are getting married August 12th of next year and this is what they had to say:

“Yay! We can’t wait to take advantage of this great deal from a fabulous company. I was informed worlds WILL be rocked.”

It’s because of people like Parul and Damon, and followers like you, that we love doing what we do! Thank you for allowing us to share in your special day, capturing those beautifully candid moments!

1. Guest Book – This one is a bit of a cheat since it’s a creative perk at the event itself, but it made its valid appearance on our creative list nonetheless. When you reserve your Foto Cabina Premium Photo Booth, make sure to ask for our signature guest book. This elegant leather album is placed next to your booth where your guests can place their photos and write a personal message next to each snapshot. We recommend ordering the double prints addition so your guests can keep one copy as an event keepsake and leave another copy for you with their yearbook-like note. In true service fashion, we’ll bring all supplies needed for the Guest Book Station but feel free to bring your own fun scrapbook additions for extra customization! Ask for more details when you call us at 1-888-9-CABINA.
2. Thank You Cards – Now we get into the post-event fun. We all know the importance of sending a Thank you Card to your guest to share your appreciation. We’ve found that hands down, personalized cards are the best, and what better way to thank them but to include some of your favorite booth photos? Simply log on to TinyPrints.com, design a card with your favorite booth photos and include a personal message. TinyPrints.com allows you to easily upload your photos from the Foto Cabina CD for fast and easy thank you cards that you can design yourself. Since all the images from the event CD are high-resolution, they’re perfect for print. Most card styles range from $1-$3/card, depending on how many you order with a minimum of 10. Not creative enough? Stay tuned to our blog for more photo editing tips to get extra creative! Visit them online at Tinyprints.com. 
3. Slideshow – Long gone are the days where slideshows are only reserved for the family trip to the Grand Canyon. Now with all the digital tricks, music, and sound effects they have to offer, today’s slideshows are hip, cool, and classy. Did you forgo the wedding video? Not a problem – after you’re done creating your slideshow, you can burn your work of art to DVD! Not so surprising, you can upload it to Facebook for all your friends to see who weren’t able to attend. For a free and easy way to stay hip without the headache, check out Kizoa.com. 
4. Photo Book – For events with professional photographers, you know that they can make some gorgeous photo books for your coffee table. Consider a photo album book for your candid shots as well! Gift them, show them off, or share them with your friends. Apple.com offers some high-end options for the more modern feel. Hardcover books start at $30 for 20 pages and goes down as low at $4 for a small softcover book three-pack, which could be fabulous for gifts. If free is more your budget, check out HotPrints where you can get a free photo book and only pay the $3 shipping cost.

Happy creating!