At ZipZone, Ohio, guides use smart- phones to snap photos, which are shared with guests via Fotaflo software.
In lieu of using a photo service, Out- door Ventures hangs branded banners at its parks to use as “selfie stations.”
Unlike amusement parks, where automatic camera systems are often in- stalled at specific points on roller coast - ers and log flumes, aerial adventure operations don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. Many would-be photo sites are remote, with minimal infrastructure available. Harsh weather, staffing is - sues, and the complexities of capturing people at the right moment also play a role in how photos are captured. When aerial adventures began gaining traction in North America in the 2010s, many experimented with stationing dedicated photographers around the park, photographing groups posing in harnesses and making their way through courses. These photographers could move around, shooting in remote areas where zip lines are located, and interacting with guests to capture the best photos possible. At the end of the day, guests would receive an SD card with unedited images that would often end up in a junk drawer. Additional struggles with staffing, reliability, and consistency drove many operators to implement self-triggering cameras, or software-based systems that allow park guides to shoot guest photos. Today, operators have found success with different iterations of camera tech - nology, depending on their needs and priorities. Two common technologies are automated self-triggering camera sys- tems and software that relies on guides to shoot photos with smartphones. Automated camera systems. For Pfef- ferkorn, benefits of automated systems include that they don’t require addi- tional staff nor that existing staff take on additional tasks, that there are few ongoing costs, and that they produce consistent high-quality images.
equipment installation, and others pay a monthly fee to use the software and technology without revenue sharing. Aside from the initial investment, a rec- ommended annual maintenance visit, and either the monthly fee or percent- age of photo sales, ongoing costs are minimal, says Pfefferkorn. But for some aerial adventures, imple- menting one of these systems can be a challenge. Not only does each camera location need power, which can be achieved through solar generators or battery banks in remote locations, but there can be struggles with cameras that are mounted permanently in harsh climates, despite often being contained in weatherproof containers. Periodic maintenance and clearing of the cam- eras can be a solution, but operators must weigh this depending on their location and available resources. And then, of course, is the issue of connec- tivity, which is required for transferring and delivering photos. Software solutions. Some operators have found that self-triggering cameras installed on zip lines can yield less-de- sirable images than those achieved by manual shooting. “It’s like my eyes are closed in every picture on every tour I’ve ever been on that uses a stationary camera,” says Treeosix CEO Jori Kirk. After Kirk had Treeosix guides take photos with their smartphones and up- load them onto jump drives during the park’s first year, the park has now found
them riding the zip line and a group selfie with their family or friends,” says Pfefferkorn. “So, we typically [install] an action camera on a zip line that’s triggered as they go by and then we do a selfie station that either the guide or guest trigger on a suspension bridge, platform, or somewhere scenic.” Still, there are considerations before implementing an automated camera system, including where to install, infra- structure, and upfront costs. The cost to install an automated camera system, for example, varies depend- ing on the configuration, number of cameras, number of sales kiosks, and infrastructure required, but generally ranges from $25,000 to $100,000. With Action Photo Systems, some operators opt to revenue share from photo sales in exchange for a minimal markup on Filming with a Viewpoint Videos cam- era, which will be plugged into a dock- ing station to create a branded video. ^
“The two shots that guests want are
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