Your New Year's Eve Handbook

How to Make Sure Guests Have Fun

Actually enjoy killing time in the hours between guests' arrival and the ball dropping by setting up a photo booth—and send them home with fun souvenirs of the night. Photographer Marko Metzinger says a light (or white), solid-color background works best; you can use a bedsheet, piece of poster board, curtain or tablecloth. Place a camera such as the Polaroid PIC-300R Instant Analog Camera or Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 Instant Film Camera nearby; they take instant color photos about the size of a business card. Fresh batteries are key, and to guarantee the best shots, take the flash off auto and set it so it fires every time. The finishing touch to your photo station: props like fake mustaches, funny hats, glasses and boas.