Photo booths at events are a high-demand, high-margin service that pairs naturally with event photography. Here is how to start and price a photo booth business.
Photo booth rentals pair naturally with event photography — you are already there, the client already trusts you, and the add-on revenue requires minimal additional travel. For photographers doing weddings, corporate events, or galas, a photo booth business can add $800-$3,500 per event on top of existing bookings.
1. Open-air setup — a camera on a stand with a ring light or softbox, a printed backdrop, and photo booth software. The most flexible format, lowest cost to start, and easy to transport. Best for photographers who want to test the market before a larger investment.
2. Enclosed booth — a physical cabinet-style booth with more novelty appeal. Requires more transport and storage space. Generally less popular than open-air at modern events, where guests prefer the social, visible nature of open-air setups.
3. Mirror booth — a full-length interactive mirror with animations and touchscreen interaction. Premium aesthetic, popular at weddings and upscale corporate events. Higher equipment cost ($3,000-$8,000) but commands higher rental rates.
4. 360 spin booth — video-based; guests stand on a platform while an arm rotates a camera 360 degrees around them, producing a slow-motion video clip. Extremely popular at weddings and social events because the output is immediately shareable on social media. Equipment cost: $2,000-$6,000 for a quality setup.
An entry-level open-air setup costs $1,500-$4,000 and includes a camera (a mirrorless or DSLR with a fast autofocus), a dye-sublimation printer (DNP DS620A or HiTi are popular choices), lighting, a backdrop stand, and photo booth software. Popular software options include HootBooth, Darkroom Booth, and Simple Booth — all support digital sharing, GIF creation, and custom branding for the client.
A complete 360 spin booth setup with a quality carbon fiber arm and a GoPro or mirrorless camera runs $2,500-$6,000. The higher entry cost is offset by higher rental rates and the current demand for this format.
Weddings and social events: $800-$2,500 for 4-hour coverage, depending on your market and booth type. A standard open-air booth runs $800-$1,500; a 360 booth commands $1,500-$2,500. Corporate events: $1,000-$3,500, and often more for multi-day events or large conference setups. Print packages (additional prints for guests), custom branded strips, and digital galleries are common add-ons that increase the average booking value.
If you are already booked for a wedding or corporate event, adding a photo booth to the package means additional revenue with no additional travel cost. The pitch to the client is simple: guests love having a dedicated, fun photo experience, and you deliver it seamlessly as part of the overall coverage. Many photographers find that offering photo booths as an add-on increases their average booking value by 30-50% on event work.
Most photo booth events require a booth attendant to manage the equipment, reset props, clear paper jams, assist guests with the interface, and ensure the output quality is consistent throughout the event. Plan to staff yourself or hire an assistant at $15-$25/hour. If you are simultaneously photographing the event, you cannot also run the photo booth — either hire an attendant or price the combined package to reflect the additional labor cost.
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