Knowing how to choose a photo booth mostly comes down to asking the right questions before you pay a deposit. Booths can look much the same in pictures, but the details behind them vary a lot.
These are the questions we ask on your behalf when we find a booth, and the ones worth asking if you're booking with anyone direct.
Does the supplier have public liability insurance?
Start here. Public liability insurance (PLI) covers the supplier if a guest trips over a cable or the booth damages the venue. Plenty of venues won't let a supplier through the door without seeing a certificate.
Ask for a copy, check it's in date for your event, and send it to the venue's events team early. Some venues want paperwork a few weeks before.
Is the equipment PAT tested?
PAT stands for portable appliance testing, a safety check on electrical kit. Hotels and wedding venues often ask for proof, especially for something plugged in all evening near guests. A decent supplier will have the certificate ready to send.
How long does setup take, and when do they arrive?
Setup time varies by booth. A simple open-air setup can be quick, while a booth with a big backdrop, lighting and a guest book table takes longer. A 360 platform needs time to put together and test.
The key thing is that the booth is ready before guests reach it. At a wedding, that usually means setting up during the meal. Check the venue's access times too, as some only let suppliers in at set hours.
How much space and power does it need?
Ask for the footprint including room for the queue and the props table, not just the booth itself. Measure the spot at your venue if you can, or ask the venue for a floor plan.
Most booths need a standard plug socket close by. Extension leads trailing across a dancefloor are a hazard, so find out where the sockets are before the day.
Will there be an attendant?
An attendant runs the booth, sorts out paper jams, keeps the props tidy and coaxes shy guests in. For weddings and busy parties, it's well worth having one.
Some booths are designed to run on their own, which can suit a quieter event. But you'll want to know who to call if it stops working at nine o'clock on a Saturday.
It's also worth asking what the attendant wears and whether they'll take a break. A smart, friendly person in black fits most events, and you'll want to know if the booth closes for half an hour mid-evening.
What do the prints look like?
Ask about print size and layout (strips, single photos or both), how many prints guests get per go, and whether there's a cap for the night. Ask to see real prints from real events rather than polished marketing shots.
Custom templates are common, but check who designs yours and when you'll see a proof.
Print quality is worth a close look. A good print has sharp faces, even lighting and no colour cast, and it shouldn't smudge when someone grabs it straight out of the tray.
How are photos shared, and what happens to the data?
Most modern booths can send photos to guests by QR code, text or email, and many put everything into an online gallery. That's great, but it means the supplier is handling people's personal details.
Ask how long they keep the photos and contact details, whether they'll use any images in their own marketing, and how to get them deleted. At events with children or at work events, this matters more than people tend to realise.
How to choose a photo booth: the final checks
A few last things are worth having in writing before you sign.
- What happens if the booth breaks down on the night
- Whether travel, parking or a late finish cost extra
- The deposit and cancellation terms
- Any limit on the number of prints
- How soon the online gallery will be ready
Letting us do the legwork
For a feel of typical costs, see our price guide, and our FAQ answers the questions we get most often. If you'd rather not chase all this yourself, get a quote and we'll go through the details with the supplier for you.
