Choosing a photo booth company can be overwhelming. There are so many companies, features, and booths to choose from! How can you possibly narrow them down?
Before you decide to just hire the cheapest one, read through this question list. Even more important than price is finding a great company to work with. How a photo booth company does business, how they treat you, and the attention they put into the experience will speak volumes more than a number on a quote form.
1. Are you licensed and insured?
If you're taking the time to hire a photo booth company, you should be careful not to hire someone who's just doing this as a hobby.
A lot can go wrong at a formal event and you want to make sure your photo booth company is prepared to handle it.
2. What type of booths do you have?
Some companies offer an upgraded tablet as their only photo booth. While there's nothing wrong with that, there's a big difference between someone who just buys a bunch of iPads and someone who takes the time to invest in high-quality, professional photo booths.
A truly professional photo booth vendor will have a variety of different photo booth types for every kind of client and event.
3. What's included?
With photo booths, as with most things, you get what you pay for.
A photo booth company with a rock-bottom deal might charge extra for stuff you'd expect to be included, like props, a backdrop, or prints. With every company you interview, make sure they are clear about what their price includes.
- How many hours of service?
- Is setup/tear down included?
- Will you bring props? a prop table?
- Does it include a backdrop?
- Will you get copies of all the photos taken?
The last thing you want is any unpleasant surprises on the big day.
4. What features do the photo booths have?
Photo booths are not the same as they were in the '80s.
Modern day photo booths offer different size prints, digital images, social sharing, even video messaging!
If you are dead set on a model that makes animated gifs, for example, this is something you'll want to ask each photo booth company as you interview them. If having 4x6 prints instead of the typical 2x6 strips is important to you, ask about that as well.
5. What do the photos look like?
If you decide to go with physical prints for your photo booth (good choice!), quality of the photos is extremely important.
Ask what type of printer they use, how fast it prints, what different layouts are available, and whether custom graphics or logos can be added. A professional photo booth company should offer lab-quality prints in less than 10 seconds.
6. What does the setup look like?
Ask if you can see pictures of the photo booth setup. Some companies put up cheap pipe-and-drape to conceal a hideous booth. Others strew the area with cords and leave props thrown willy-nilly on the table.
It's also important to ask when setup and break down take place. Are they going to sneak in right before the reception and set up while you're saying your vows? Or will they drop the equipment off in the morning and leave plenty of time for testing and troubleshooting?
A photo booth that doesn't work when you need it is the same as having no photo booth at all.
7. Does the booth come with an attendant?
Of course, even if a photo booth works perfectly, it won't be any good to your guests if they can't figure out how to use it.
Don't hire any photo booth company if they don't include an attendant with every single rental. Photo booth equipment is sensitive and expensive; you don't want them accusing you if something goes wrong. Besides that, you want to make sure every guest gets a top-notch experience.
Make sure the attendants are dressed professionally and what their scope of work actually includes. Will they clean up the prop table and organize the queue or will they just stand off to the side and play Sudoku?
8. How many prints/sessions are my guests entitled to?
Personally, we think the answer to this should always be: UNLIMITED!
No one wants to be told that they've reached their limit and have to sulk by the dessert table. Offering unlimited prints is such a small thing for the photo booth company that makes a HUGE difference to you!
9. Can you accommodate my venue?
A small historic venue with narrow doorways and staircases will eliminate any photo booth company that only deals in behemoth booths. An outdoor venue with no covering might not be friendly to any booth at all.
Before you hire any photo booth company, make sure they're familiar with your venue. Any experienced wedding vendor should be familiar with most of the wedding venues in your area: how to access them, what the floor plan is, and the event manager's name.
10. What are your reviews?
Honest, unbiased reviews from a third-party source are one of the best ways to judge a photo booth company's quality.
Ask friends and family members for recommendations, but also read the company's reviews on their social media pages and sites like Google and Yelp. Any company who isn't forthcoming about their reviews is probably one you don't want to work with.
We Can't Wait to Meet You!
If you're looking for an Orlando photo booth company that ROCKS, look no further.
At Photobooth Rocks, our top priority is creating a beautiful, memorable event that blows the socks off you and every single one of your guests. With unlimited sessions and prints, the fastest lab-quality prints, customization options, professional attendants, fun props, and gorgeous backdrops, you can't find a better photo booth company anywhere!
Contact us today to reserve your date and find out which booth is right for you!
