The Photo Booth Business Landscape
Photo booths have evolved far beyond the mall kiosks of the 1990s. Today's photo booth businesses offer everything from classic enclosed booths to open-air setups, 360-degree video platforms, mirror booths, and roaming iPad photographers. The industry is competitive, creative, and growing — which means your booking process needs to be as polished as your photo experiences.
This guide covers the specific challenges photo booth operators face and how to build a booking system that works for your unique business model.
Photo Booth Booking Challenges
Photo booth businesses have booking needs that differ from other event vendors:
- Multiple booth types and setups. You might offer a classic booth, a mirror booth, and a 360 platform — each with different pricing, space requirements, and staffing needs.
- Complex add-ons. Props, backdrops, custom templates, guest books, digital galleries, social sharing stations — the options multiply quickly.
- Template customization. Clients want their event branding on every photo strip, which requires collecting logos, colors, and design preferences before the event.
- Setup and breakdown time. A 4-hour event might require 6 hours of your time when you factor in load-in and load-out.
Structuring Your Photo Booth Packages
Lead with Booth Type
If you offer multiple booth styles, make booth selection the first step. Clients often come in knowing they want "a photo booth" but haven't decided between your open-air setup and your 360 platform. Show them the options with photos and descriptions of each experience.
For each booth type, include:
- What the guest experience looks like
- Space requirements (the 360 platform needs more room than a classic booth)
- Sample output — show them what their guests will take home
Time-Based Pricing That Makes Sense
Most photo booth packages are priced by hours of operation. Common structures:
- 2-hour minimum with hourly add-ons — works well for cocktail hours and shorter receptions
- 3-hour standard with a 4-hour premium option — covers most wedding receptions
- Unlimited/all-night packages — premium offering for clients who want the booth available throughout their entire event
Remember to account for your setup and breakdown time in your pricing. If you quote 3 hours but spend 5 hours on-site, your hourly rate isn't what you think it is.
Add-Ons That Actually Sell
Photo booth add-ons can significantly increase your average booking value. The key is offering add-ons that genuinely enhance the experience:
- Premium backdrop upgrades — sequin walls, flower walls, custom printed backdrops
- Enhanced prop collections — beyond the basic mustaches and glasses
- Guest book assembly — a duplicate print goes into a scrapbook with space for guest messages
- Digital gallery with social sharing — guests can download and share their photos instantly
- Custom photo template design — beyond your standard templates
- Second attendant — for high-volume events or when you want someone managing the guest book while another keeps the line moving
Present add-ons during booking, not as afterthoughts. When clients are already committing to your service, they're more likely to upgrade.
Collecting the Right Information
At Booking
Keep initial booking simple — you need enough to confirm the event and collect the deposit:
- Event date, time, and location
- Booth type and hours selected
- Contact information
- Add-ons selected
After Booking: The Planning Questionnaire
This is where photo booth businesses need more detail than most vendors. Send a planning questionnaire 2-4 weeks before the event to collect:
- Event details — names of the couple or guest of honor, event theme, color scheme
- Template preferences — do they want their names on the photo strip? A hashtag? Their wedding date?
- Logo or artwork — for corporate events or branded templates
- Backdrop selection — if you're bringing options, which do they prefer?
- Venue specifics — load-in location, power access, booth placement preferences
- Day-of contact — who should your attendant find when they arrive?
Automated reminders ensure clients complete questionnaires on time. Nothing's worse than scrambling to design a template the night before an event because the client forgot to send their details.
Managing Multiple Booths and Crews
As your business grows, you'll likely run multiple events on the same night. Your booking system needs to handle:
- Equipment tracking — which booth is going where?
- Staff assignments — who's working which event?
- Availability by booth type — you might have the 360 available but the mirror booth booked
If a client wants to book your mirror booth and it's already committed, your system should show alternatives — not just say "unavailable."
Deposits and Payment Schedules
Photo booth bookings typically follow this payment pattern:
- Deposit at booking: 25-50% to hold the date (retainer)
- Balance due: 1-2 weeks before the event or day-of
Some operators collect full payment upfront for bookings under a certain amount — it's simpler and eliminates collection hassles. For larger bookings or those made far in advance, a deposit structure makes sense.
Be clear about your refund and rescheduling policies in your contract. Photo booth gigs are often tied to weddings, which sometimes get postponed. Having clear terms protects both you and your clients.
Showcasing Your Work
Photo booths are visual businesses. Your booking pages should feature:
- Gallery of past events — show the variety of setups you've done
- Sample photo strips and GIFs — let clients see the quality of your output
- Behind-the-scenes shots — guests having fun at the booth builds excitement
- Backdrop options — visual selection is better than text descriptions
Video can be particularly effective. A 30-second clip of guests using your 360 booth sells the experience better than any description.
Corporate vs. Social Events
Your booking flow might need to differ for corporate clients:
- Corporate clients often need invoicing (not just credit card payment), W-9 forms, and certificate of insurance documentation
- Lead times are different — corporate events are often planned further ahead but finalized later
- Branding requirements are more complex — logo placement, brand colors, legal disclaimers
- Decision makers aren't always the day-of contacts
Consider creating separate corporate packages or at minimum, a "corporate inquiry" path that collects different information than your wedding and party bookings.
Integration with Your Workflow
Your booking system should feed into the rest of your operations:
- Calendar sync — bookings appear on your personal and team calendars automatically
- Template preparation — event details collected help you prepare custom designs
- Day-of documentation — contracts, venue details, and client preferences accessible on your phone
- Post-event follow-up — automated review requests and thank-you messages
Getting Started with Check Cherry
Check Cherry is used by photo booth operators across the country. Here's how to set up your account for photo booth success:
- Create packages for each booth type — separate pricing and availability for each setup you offer
- Build your add-on menu — backdrops, props, premium templates, digital galleries
- Set up your planning questionnaire — collect template details, logos, and event specifics
- Upload sample work — showcase your booth experiences
- Configure your contract — include equipment care clauses, rescheduling policies, and liability terms
Most photo booth operators complete setup in a single session and start accepting bookings immediately. See Check Cherry pricing or learn more about photo booth features.