This One Trick Saved Me 100+ Hours Hiring Photo Booth Staff

This One Trick Saved Me 100+ Hours Hiring Photo Booth Staff

Hiring people is one of the most frustrating things about running a photo booth business. Not because it’s hard to post a job—that part’s easy. Write it once and repost it when needed. The problem is the part that comes after: sorting through a sea of resumes, wasting hours trying to figure out who’s actually worth interviewing.

I’ve used job platforms like Indeed. I’ve added screener questions. I’ve rewritten job descriptions to be ultra-clear. But none of that stopped random people (and their cousins) from applying. I’ve easily spent 100+ hours over the years doing this. And I finally found a way out.

The Breakthrough: Use Video to Filter Applicants

One day I asked myself: what would actually make this process easier? The answer was obvious—video. I don’t want to read four pages of text for every applicant. I want to see their personality, hear how they talk, and know if I can trust them to represent my business at an event.

I needed a way to "interview" people without scheduling a bunch of interviews. Some kind of pre-screening that would do the heavy lifting. That’s when I found VideoAsk, a tool made by the people behind Typeform. It wasn’t even designed for hiring—it was built to collect video testimonials. But the flexibility of the platform made it perfect for what I needed.

How I Set It Up (And Why It Works So Well)

Here’s what I do now:

1. Post my job on Indeed.
2. Set up an auto-reply that says:

   1. "Thanks for applying to our photo booth attendant position. Since we receive a high volume of applications, we use a quick video questionnaire to get to know you better. It only takes a few minutes. Click here to complete it."

   2. Inside VideoAsk, I upload a short intro video of me explaining the role and encouraging them to answer a few questions.

3. The questions are a mix of:

• • Multiple choice (just to warm them up)

  • Simple video responses (30 seconds each)

That’s it.

And you know what? About 50% of people never even click the link. Perfect. Those are likely the same people who wouldn’t show up on time or follow instructions anyway.

Why This Filters the Right People

There are a few things I love about this process:

• No more bias. I don’t even read names first. I just hit play. I get to judge based on personality, not assumptions.

• Cuts the lazy ones. If you can’t figure out how to record a 30-second video, you're probably not the problem-solver I need running an event.

• Comfort on camera. This is a customer-facing role. If you're too shy to record yourself talking, you probably won’t be comfortable leading a group at a wedding.

I even added a little disclaimer in my intro video: "Don’t worry about lighting or camera quality. This isn’t about looking perfect. I just want to get to know you."

Bonus: It Helps Me Spot Quick Thinkers

I ask real-world questions like, "What would you do if the printer stopped working during an event?" There’s no right or wrong answer. I just want to see how they think. Are they resourceful? Will they escalate the issue or try to fix it first? It tells me a lot in under 30 seconds.

The Cost? $25 for a Month

VideoAsk isn’t free, but it’s affordable. I pay $25 for a month, cancel right after, and I get 100 minutes of video storage - plenty for dozens of applicants.

And the ROI? Insane. Watching each person's responses takes me about 3 minutes. I can screen 10 applicants in half an hour. Then I go back on Indeed, grab the names of the best ones, and send a message: "I liked your video. When are you free for a quick interview?"

Hiring Doesn’t Have to Be a Nightmare

This new process saves me time, reduces stress, and actually makes hiring enjoyable again. If you run a photo booth business (or really any service business), give this method a try.

Trust me - you’ll never want to read another resume again.