Fotokisten

Fotokisten rents out a small photo booth, the "Fotokiste", handmade from native ash wood, for weddings, birthdays and company events, and its page title names the cantons of Schwyz and Zug. It is run from two locations, Muotathal SZ and Neuägeri ZG, which the site lists under the names of two photographers: Elena Gwerder Fotografie in Muotathal and Janine Verdura Fotografie in Neuägeri. The site is in German and publishes two fixed-price packages, the transport rate and the payment terms, which makes it easy to cost from a distance.

The booth

The site describes the Fotokiste as small, sustainable and stylish: custom-made, "aus wunderschönem heimischem Eschenholz handgemacht" (handmade from beautiful native ash wood), and built to the highest standards of design and technology. It is extremely small, light and easy to handle, and the site says it fits anywhere, even in small rooms. Inside are a professional DSLR camera, a high-quality tablet with a touchscreen and a studio flash, so the small size does not mean giving up picture quality.

Guests can load each picture straight to their phone with a QR code, print it if printing is booked, or both. Every picture is saved in a gallery that the couple can download from after the event, and the number of photos is unlimited. The site promises that operation is very simple and needs no supervision by the team on site; the operators are available for questions and can be reached by phone in an emergency.

Space, power and WiFi

The FAQ covers the practical questions. The booth needs about 3x3m of space and a neutral or home-made wall as a background; wood, concrete or a plain white wall always work. To protect the equipment and materials, the Fotokiste must stand indoors, so a garden wedding needs a covered room or hall for it. It needs a power socket nearby; the team always brings an extension cable and covers the cable on the floor. The booth has its own WiFi built in, so the venue's network does not matter.

Prints and design

Prints come either as a classic set of four pictures or as a single picture, both in 10x15cm format, in color or black and white. The text on the print can be changed or left off entirely, and a logo can be added. With no text, the photo is printed larger. The site gives a piece of honest advice: experience shows the single picture is perfect, because with four pictures each photo comes out rather small. After each session, guests choose whether to print the picture or download it to their phone.

Props are part of both packages: a small box with lips on sticks, hats and glasses, explicitly "keine Fasnachtsartikel" (no carnival costumes). The site promises you will laugh at the photos more in years to come than you do today.

Packages

• Angebot 1, booth without prints, CHF 500.00: rental of the Fotokiste for one evening or day, setup and dismantling by the team, the four-picture or single-picture layout, the small props box, the online gallery, direct download by QR code and unlimited photos to download.
• Angebot 2, booth with prints, CHF 650.00: the same, plus printing of up to 150 prints. A further roll of paper with 150 prints can be booked for CHF 70.00.

For multi-day company events or trade fairs the team makes an individual quote.

Transport

Setup, dismantling and the return transport are normally done by the team, and the booth is delivered from one of the two locations. Transport is charged separately: travel costs from the location and back are CHF 1.50/km. By arrangement the booth can also be collected. Any extra costs, such as additional prints or travel, are invoiced by email right after the event.

Payment and booking

Payment is by advance payment only, and paying also reserves the date. The invoice is sent by email after final confirmation and must be paid within 10 days; once payment arrives the date is definitely booked, and paying means accepting the general terms. The enquiry form asks for name, email, address, date and place of the event, print or no print, one or four photos, color or black and white, the text for the print, and a message about the type of event, its length and the number of guests. Replies come within 3-4 days from Monday to Friday; after four working days without an answer, the site asks you to check your spam folder or write to info@fotokisten.ch.

Who is behind it

Both locations carry a photographer's name, and the footer credits the site's own design to Elena Gwerder, Fotografie & Webdesign, so this is a small operation run by people who photograph for a living. The pitch on the homepage is light-hearted: a good-mood guarantee for the party, a booth that is up for any fun and gets even the most camera-shy guest beaming, and guests who go home with a lasting memory. A gallery page shows pictures taken in the booth, and a design page explains the print options with examples. After the enquiry form is sent, the confirmation message asks you to email if there is no answer within 5 days and to check the spam folder, which repeats the point made on the contact page: replies are personal, not instant.

What the site leaves open

The site does not say how long the online gallery remains available, how long setup takes, or when on the day the team arrives. It says nothing about working in English. A reply can take 3-4 days, so couples planning from abroad should allow for that in their timetable. There is no published cancellation rule on the homepage; the AGB (general terms) are linked.

Who it suits

Fotokisten suits couples marrying in Schwyz, Zug or nearby who like the look of a handmade wooden booth and a small footprint, and who are happy to run it themselves once it is set up. The single-picture print advice, the built-in WiFi and the clear per-kilometer charge make it straightforward to plan. It needs an indoor spot, and couples from abroad should write early, in English, and pay promptly, since the date is only held once the advance payment arrives.