Types of photo booths, explained
"Photo booth" now covers about fifteen genuinely different experiences, from a curtained strip booth your grandparents would recognize to an AI portrait generator that didn’t exist five years ago. Here’s every style, what it’s actually best for, and roughly what it costs — so you book the one that fits your party instead of the one that ran the ad. Counts are live from our directory; prices are median package figures from the cost guide.
Open-air booth
A camera and backdrop with no enclosure, so it fits big groups and photographs the whole room. The versatile modern default.
Best for: Weddings, most parties, group shots, showing off a backdrop
Pros: Fits large groups; flexible; great with props and backdrops
Cons: Less private than an enclosed booth; needs a decent backdrop
Enclosed / classic booth
The curtained booth you step inside for private, candid photo strips — the original arcade experience, modernized.
Best for: Guests who ham it up in private; retro strip nostalgia
Pros: Private and uninhibited; classic printed strips
Cons: Tight on space and group size; larger footprint to house
360 booth
A platform with a spinning camera arm that captures a shareable slow-motion video circling the guests.
Best for: Dance floors, social crowds, video-and-share events
Pros: Huge wow factor; instant shareable video
Cons: Needs space, power, level floor, and an attendant. See the 360 guide
Glam (black & white) booth
The skin-smoothing, high-key black-and-white booth popularized by celebrity events — think a Vanity Fair after-party.
Best for: Weddings, upscale and fashion events, flattering portraits
Pros: Elegant, flattering, timeless images
Cons: Pricier; the B&W-only look isn’t for every event
Magic mirror booth
A full-length touchscreen mirror that guides guests with animations and prints on the spot.
Best for: Interactive fun; elegant weddings and galas
Pros: Interactive and eye-catching; full-length photos
Cons: One group at a time; premium price
Selfie station / iPad booth
A compact tablet booth guests operate themselves — the smallest, most budget-friendly setup.
Best for: Small spaces, tight budgets, casual and corporate events
Pros: Cheapest option; tiny footprint; self-serve
Cons: No printed strips by default; simplest experience
Roaming / roving booth
A handheld or robot camera that comes to guests around the room instead of making them line up.
Best for: Cocktail-style events, mingling crowds, no-line coverage
Pros: No line; captures candid moments everywhere
Cons: Fewer prints; depends on a great operator
GIF & boomerang booth
Captures short looping GIFs and boomerangs built for instant social sharing rather than prints.
Best for: Social-media-forward crowds, brand activations
Pros: Fun, shareable, modern; often bundled with open-air
Cons: Digital-first; may not print
Green screen booth
A chroma-key backdrop that drops guests into any custom scene — a theme, a skyline, your brand world.
Best for: Themed parties, kids’ events, branded backdrops
Pros: Endless custom backgrounds
Cons: Can look gimmicky if done cheaply; needs even lighting
Slow-motion booth
A stationary slow-motion video booth for dramatic, share-ready clips (confetti, bubbles, hair flips).
Best for: Video lovers who don’t want a spinning 360 arm
Pros: Cinematic video without a rotating platform
Cons: Video-only; props do a lot of the work
AI photo booth
Generates AI portraits and themed images from a quick capture — the newest booth on the scene.
Best for: Tech-forward crowds, novelty, brand experiences
Pros: Novel, memorable, endlessly themeable
Cons: Newest and priciest; results vary by operator
Audio guest book
A vintage phone guests pick up to leave a recorded voice message instead of signing a book.
Best for: Weddings, paired with a photo booth
Pros: Captures voices, not just faces; sentimental keepsake
Cons: Not a photo booth on its own; best as an add-on
Vintage / retro booth
A retro-styled booth — or a real restored analog booth — for genuine film-strip character.
Best for: Vintage-themed weddings and events; purists
Pros: Authentic charm; true analog on real units
Cons: Rare and pricier; analog booths are finicky
Inflatable booth
A lit, inflatable enclosure that makes a bold, glowing centerpiece — popular for a party look.
Best for: Kids’ parties, casual celebrations, budget statements
Pros: Eye-catching and affordable
Cons: Needs blower power and floor space; casual look
Photo bus / trailer
A converted VW bus, camper, or trailer booth for a statement, Instagram-built setup.
Best for: Outdoor weddings, festivals, brand events with room
Pros: Unmatched centerpiece and photo op
Cons: Expensive; needs outdoor access and books out first
How to choose among them
Three questions settle most decisions. Prints or video? If guests should walk away with a strip, look at open-air, enclosed, or glam; if they’d rather share a clip, look at 360, slow-motion, or GIF. How much space and power does your venue have? A selfie station fits a hallway; a 360 or a photo bus needs a real footprint, level flooring, and an outlet — the 360 guide spells out those requirements. What’s the vibe? Glam and mirror read upscale, inflatable and green screen read playful, vintage and photo bus read statement.
For weddings specifically, our wedding photo booth guide matches styles to the reception timeline, and plenty of couples book two — an open-air for prints and a 360 for the dance floor.
Next steps
Pick a style and browse it near you: every type above links to its own hub, like 360 booths, glam booths, and magic mirrors, or see them all on the booth types page. Then compare prices in the cost guide, run the questions-to-ask checklist on your shortlist, or jump straight to the best-rated companies by state.