The magic mirror vs photo booth question comes up in plenty of enquiries, and there isn't a single winner. They do the same basic job, taking photos and printing them, but they feel quite different on the night.
So here's an honest look at both, with no hard sell either way.
What a magic mirror actually is
A magic mirror is a full-length mirror with a camera and touchscreen hidden behind the glass. Guests walk up and the mirror talks to them, with animations and on-screen prompts telling them when to pose, then a countdown. Some let guests sign their photo on the glass before it prints.
It's a selfie mirror, really, with a bit of showbiz added. People can see themselves the whole time, which suits groups who like checking their hair before the flash.
What a traditional photo booth looks like
Photo booths come in two main styles. An enclosed booth has walls or a curtain, so guests step inside, shut the curtain and pull faces in private. An open-air booth is a camera and screen on a stand facing a backdrop, so bigger groups can pile in while everyone else watches.
Both usually take a quick burst of shots and print a strip or a single photo in seconds. Our enclosed photo booth hire page has more on the curtained kind.
The enclosed type is the one most people picture from shopping centres and train stations years ago. Modern versions are far better looking, with proper lighting and a decent camera, but the idea of hiding behind a curtain to pull faces hasn't changed one bit.
Magic mirror vs photo booth, side by side
Here's how they compare on the things people usually ask about.
- Look: a mirror is tall and sleek, often in a gold or white frame, and works as a feature in a smart room. A booth is more of a fun piece of kit.
- Group size: open-air booths and mirrors both handle big groups well. Enclosed booths suit smaller groups, a handful of people at a time.
- Privacy: only the enclosed booth gives it, and that's often where the daftest photos come from.
- Interaction: the mirror wins here, with prompts, animations and signing on screen.
- Space: a mirror is slim but needs room in front for the group. An enclosed booth has its own footprint. An open-air setup needs the most depth.
- Prints and sharing: much the same. Most of either type can print and share digitally, and we'll confirm exactly what's included with your quote.
A word on cost
Mirrors usually cost a bit more than a standard booth, partly because the kit itself is pricier and partly because they're often booked for smarter events. The price guide has typical ranges and what pushes them up or down.
Don't let that alone decide it, though. A mirror that nobody uses because the crowd's too shy is worse value than a cheaper booth with a queue all night.
When a magic mirror makes more sense
Mirrors shine at events where looks matter: black tie weddings, glam birthdays, awards dinners and brand launches. They sit neatly against a wall and look like part of the decor.
They're also great with a crowd that likes a performance, as the on-screen bits get people laughing before the photo's even taken. More on our magic mirror hire page.
When a classic booth is the better choice
If your crowd is on the shy side, an enclosed booth is hard to beat. Once the curtain's shut, people loosen up. It's also good in busy rooms where you don't want a performance happening in the middle of the dancefloor.
Open-air booths are better for big, loud groups and for showing off a backdrop. They're often the pick for 18ths, 21sts and work parties where whole teams want to squeeze into one shot.
Enclosed booths also cope well with awkward lighting, because they bring their own. In a dim barn or a disco-lit function room, that keeps faces bright and clear.
Settling it
If you're still torn, a few things usually decide it. A smart room or a styled wedding tends to point to the mirror. A shy crowd points to an enclosed booth. And a tight spot next to a packed dancefloor suits something slim, which again is often the mirror.
Tell us about your event when you get a quote and we'll come back with what's free on your date, mirrors and booths both.
