20 Essential Questions to Ask Your Photo Booth Provider for a Successful Event

pinkgiraffepb
Jan 10
8 min read

When planning an event, a photo booth can add fun, excitement, and lasting memories for your guests. But not all photo booth providers offer the same level of service, quality, or features. Asking the right questions before booking can save you from surprises and ensure your event runs smoothly. This guide covers 20 essential questions to ask your photo booth provider so you can make an informed decision and create a memorable experience.

Eye-level view of a modern photo booth setup with props and backdrop — Photo booth setup ready for an event

1. What Photo Booth Types Do You Offer?

When looking at photobooth styles it is important to recognise the differences. Where once upon a time a ‘Booth’ meant an enclosed space the industry now recognised a booth to include enclosed booths, open air setups, Magic selfie mirrors and selfie stations (known in our industry as photo pods). Ask your chosen provider what options they can give you and which may suit your event best (in example open air booths such as our Bellows booth or Magic Mirror Collection are best for large group shots while our enclosed booth is best for couples and offers the most privacy - check out ours here: https://www.magicmirrorbooth.co.uk/the-booths

2. Can We Customise the Photo Layout and Branding?

Many photo booth companies local to you should offer the ability to choose basic customisation to your photo print design - this should include a company logo, wording, dates or even just a personal message that gives a personal touch and gives guests a keepsake they will treasure for years to come. When you choose us we have an added bonus we have created all our designs from scratch meaning we can offer complete customisation of all our designs. We can also work with designs you have created or go completely bespoke and we do the work for you (although going bespoke normally means an additional cost) check out our designs here: https://www.magicmirrorbooth.co.uk/templates

3. What Props and Backdrops Are Available?

Normally when hiring a booth you would expect to find some fun, silly props which are at least in themed, close or relevant to your event on top of this you find with open air booths they can be faced towards a solid non reflective surface or come with a backdrop to enhance the photos. We offer our clients every option from placing these styles of booth in a great area, to providing a simple free backdrop or offering our premium flower walls. If you wish to create your own backdrop that works too! check our flower wall backdrops here https://www.magicmirrorbooth.co.uk/flowerwalls

4. How Long Is the Rental/Hire Period?

It's important to understand how long the photo booth will be available to use at your event. Some providers offer run-time and others offer hire-time. Run-time gives you a guaranteed time of the photo booth being operational in a chosen time slot. Hire-time is used from when they arrive to when they leave. This can lead to assumptions which is why it is important to keep in mind how long you want the booth operational from and to make sure the hire period matches your event schedule. Check our terms and conditions here: https://www.magicmirrorbooth.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

5. What Is Included in the Package Price?

Clarify what the package covers. Does it include setup, teardown, unlimited visits, digital copies, or an attendant? Knowing exactly what you pay for helps avoid hidden fees. There's no such thing as a silly question which is why we offer immediate ways to contact us such as phone, text, social media or whatsapp (https://wa.link/22jia4)!

6. Is There an Attendant Present During the Event?

An attendant can assist guests, encourage guests to use the booth, troubleshoot issues, and keep the booth running smoothly and keep the area tidy. Ask if an attendant is included or available or if this is extra cost. With us you will always have an fun, friendly, human (we won't let AI run our booths!) attendant with any of our printing booths or 360 video booths.

7. How Many Prints Can Guests Take?

Some providers offer unlimited prints, while others limit the number per guest or per hour. It's important to see beyond this question and ask yourself what is more important the amount the booth will be used? or the amount the booth will print. Unlimited prints people see as it satisfies everyone but usually comes at a premium cost and reduces further participation and repeat use. The more photos a printer is asked to print the longer it is between sessions and the less photos of the same people you will find. We offer unlimited use and a minimum of 2 photos per session and a maximum of 4 photos per session, this balances quick printing times and encouragement to return to use the booth.

8. Do You Provide Digital Copies of Photos?

Digital copies allow guests to share their photos online or keep them for themselves. Ask if digital files are included and how guests can access them, such as via email, text, or a download link. We do provide digital copies through all of the above ways for every event we do this does vary from booth to booth and we keep the digital copies for 12 months after your event (after this recovery of event files can be limited but we still have some events from 10 years ago which can be accessed!)

9. What Is the Photo Quality Like?

Photo quality varies depending on the camera, lighting, and printer used. Request sample photos or visit a live event to see the quality firsthand. We use Mitsubishi dye-sublimation printing (the same style of printers you find at thorpe park or other theme parks and even at shops like Boots) ensuring we give the best quality possible! We attend so many wedding fayres every year and a lot of corporate events where you can find us and see the quality for yourself!

10. How Much Space Does the Photo Booth Require?

Make sure the booth fits comfortably in your event space. Ask about the dimensions and any clearance needed for props or guests. We have booths which take up 3m x 3m to 30cm x 30cm. Just let us know what space you are working with and what venue you are with so we can give you the best options available.

11. What Are Your Power and Setup Requirements?

Most photo booths need a power outlet nearby. Confirm if your venue can provide this and if the provider needs extra time for setup. All our booths only require access to one standard UK plug socket.

12. Can the Photo Booth Accommodate Large Groups?

If you expect big groups or want group photos, check if the booth can fit multiple people comfortably. Our open air collection like the Bellows Booth, Beauty Mirror & Classic Magic Mirror booth can fit 20+ people in front of it however this is limited to the space you give the booth so let us know if this is something you are requiring before we set up.

13. What Happens If the Equipment Breaks Down?

Ask about backup plans in case of technical issues. Reliable providers have spare equipment or quick repair options to minimise downtime. With our company we always carry spares or have a plan in place - From bringing a array of spares with us to fixing on the job or even getting a replacement booth delivered. as of writing this in the last 1500 events only 1 we were unable to provide a solution to fix a problem (the event was cancelled due to adverse weather however we were still there set up and ready to go!) - Check our terms and conditions here: https://www.magicmirrorbooth.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

14. Are There Any Restrictions on Photo Content?

Some providers limit certain types of props or photo content for safety or appropriateness. Clarify any rules to avoid surprises. We are led by you on this - if you don't want something there let us know! If there is anything we don't wish to see we will let you know as soon as possible.

15. How Far in Advance Should We Book?

Popular providers can book up quickly, especially during peak seasons. Find out how early you need to reserve to secure your date. We have taken bookings up to 4 years in advance and have no limit on this.

16. What Is Your Cancellation and Refund Policy?

Understand the terms if you need to cancel or reschedule. Some providers offer partial refunds or credit toward future events. We hate to rinse and repeat our comments on this but this is why it is really important no matter who you hire to read their terms and conditions of service and hire - Check our terms and conditions here: https://www.magicmirrorbooth.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

17. Do You Offer Social Media Sharing Options?

Many guests enjoy sharing photos instantly. Ask if the booth supports direct sharing to social media platforms or if guests receive digital copies to post later. Before you ask -- Yes we do! If you would like us to. If you don't let us know - this is completely in your control and part of any service we provide.

18. Can You Accommodate Special Requests?

If you want unique features like GIFs, green screen backgrounds, or video messages, check if the provider can deliver these extras. We can provide this with most of our equipment sometimes these can be a bit of an extra cost depending on the requirements but we keep this as low as possible and include it in our quote when we can - Just click here fill out the form and ask away!

19. How Experienced Is Your Team?

Experience matters for smooth operation and guest interaction. Ask how long the provider has been in business and if their staff is trained. We will always provide an experienced team member with any event some of our team have been with us from our beginning back in 2013. Others have joined with our newest member being with us for 2 years. In short - We provide an intensive training course which includes everything from set-up to onsite repair and maintenance to all attendants we also provide online support 24/7 on all our printing booths which allows our tech guys to dial in and sort out any software issues whilst the booth is away from our warehouse. We do not discriminate and have hired people from all backgrounds all we ask is for them to be Polite, Punctual, Fun with a willingness to learn with no past or present criminal convictions - Want to be a part of our team? Email us at info@pinkgiraffephotobooth.co.uk and submit your CV and Letter of application.

20. Can You Provide References or Reviews?

Request references or read online reviews to learn about other clients’ experiences. Positive feedback indicates reliability and quality. We can provide lots of reviews of us on Facebook and Google .

Summary

A photo booth can greatly enhance an event, but providers vary widely in quality and service. This guide outlines 20 key questions to ask before booking to avoid surprises and ensure a smooth, memorable experience. It covers essential areas such as:

Types of booths available (open air, enclosed, mirrors, selfie pods) and suitability for different events

Customisation options for prints, branding, layouts, and bespoke designs

Props, backdrops, and space requirements

Hire duration, what’s included in the price, and whether an attendant is provided

Print limits vs unlimited use, and access to digital copies

Photo quality, equipment reliability, and backup plans

Power needs, group capacity, and content restrictions

Booking timelines, cancellation policies, and social media sharing

Special features like GIFs, video, or green screen

Team experience, training, and customer reviews

Overall, the guide helps event planners and the public make an informed decision by understanding exactly what they’re paying for and choosing a reliable provider that fits their event needs. Tags:

#PhotoBoothHire #PhotoBooth #EventPlanning #EventInspo #EventEntertainment #EventIdeas #PartyPlanning