So you want to send your own cameramail...
-Make it obvious that it is a camera. My next time through I actually plan to simply glue the camera, in all it's yellow-Kodak-packaged-glory, right onto the card. Enough of this re-wrapping of an already decently packaged item. No sense in creating a suspicious looking item. A little extra glue squeezed between the camera and it's wrapping might help though. -Also, it may not be apparent, but I cut a hole through the cardboard to allow the shooter to access the thumb-advance and use the viewfinder. I'm not sure if the viewfinder option is that important, but the thumb-advance sure is. I think this project would work fine without the cardboard backing, but it sure makes the package stand out that much more. -Bringing us to: Make the object stand out. I'm finding that hand-written notes seem to do better than computer-printed. I think the red tape also helped. -Make it neat. Again, the more suspicious it seems, the worse off you are. -Be sure your return address is on there. -Take it in person to the post office. Get a metered-mail stamp. This is the funny barcode kind that you pay for at the counter. This is basically insurance that it will make it through. With a metered-mail stamp, someone official has approved the package. You're in. -Be cheerful when you take it to the post office. I usually either take a picture of the person at the desk, or have them take one of me as the first shot on the roll. Make sure they understand what it is about, and that without their support the project is a failure. Offer to bring them back photos when the project is done. I've met with a lot of enthusiasm for the project. -I've included e-mail addresses on contacting me to see their photos, instructions on using the flash, reminders to save some shots for the end of the trip, and so on, and I'm not sure any did much to help. It's been consistently that either nothing is shot, or one person goes crazy on their break and shoots them all. My favorite shot thus far is taken of my friend Geoff's mailbox as it arrived at his house. Gold-mine! -Finally expect the worst and hope for the best. If you plan on having an empty piece of cardboard or worse yet, nothing-at-all arrive at your friend's house, you'll probably be pleased with any results. I've done this 5 times now, and only a couple have been really successful. And, of course, if you have any sort of success with this
project, please e-mail
me. I'd be happy to spread the word of successful cameramail on my
page. A little before/after documentation seems to help the project. |
