Patent ID: 7177537

Claim:
An apparatus for taking photographs in a studio comprising: (a) a subject sensor that detects whether the subject to be photographed is in a predetermined position; (b) a camera having an actuator for initiating the capture of an image from a predetermined area; (c) a controller coupled to the sensor and said camera which locks the camera from initiating the capture of an image even when said activator is activated if the sensor fails to detect a subject to be photographed in the predetermined position and enables the camera so that an image can be captured when a subject to be photographed is in the predetermined position; (d) a track for carrying any of a plurality of backgrounds; (e) at least one sensor for detecting (i) whether a background is in position and, if so, (ii) which of said plurality of backgrounds is in position; and (f) a background light coupled to the controller, the intensity of which is controlled by the controller based upon whether any background is in position and, if so, which of said plurality of background is in position.