5 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Photo Booth

People LOVE  photo booths, like, really love photo booths! So it goes without saying that finding room in your party budget should be a priority! And, since there are so many different photo booth styles and set-ups these days, we believe that there’s a photo booth for everyone, and every party! This statement holds true, whether you happen to be planning a Wedding, Birthday Party, Anniversary Party, Corporate Party or Product launch event! Seriously, every party can benefit from hiring a professional photo booth company! So, now that that’s cleared up, where do you start?! What exactly are the most important questions to ask before signing a contract?! Well… since you asked, keep reading to find out!

What is the quality of the photo booth?

We know that your event – and every event –  is important  in its own regard, and one of the last things you want when you hire a photo booth company is to see a silly looking, homemade, camera on a tripod style photo booth set-up for your event! Speaking from experience, we’ve seen a lot of different kinds of set-ups, including some that hardly qualify as “booths”! We’ve seen photo booths of all - literally, all -  different shapes, sizes, and quality… and, while we understand that most businesses have to start somewhere, we believe that you shouldn't be branding yourself as a professional company without offering a professional looking set-up! Ideally, what you’re looking for is a booth that is professionally constructed, arrives at your event clean and in full working order, and a photo booth that doesn’t detract from the décor you’ve invested in!

What are the quality of the photos?

To an outside observer, an actual photo booth might not seem very involved, just a quick on-site set-up and BAM, you have a photo booth! But there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that goes into capturing high-quality images with a photo booth. So, we believe that it’s a good idea to ask the company you’re thinking of hiring to show you sample images, so  know what is to be expected from their photo booth. You might also want to inquire if the booth has professional photo shoot style lighting! This type of lighting ensures that the photos turn out bright, sharp and clean looking. Proper lighting is even more crucial when it comes to digital booths, meaning any photo booth utilizing a tablet, instead of an SLR camera. Don’t get me wrong, social booths still take great pictures if the lighting is on point!Lastly, ask what kind of printer they use for their printouts! The professional industry standard is a dye sublimation printer that can print beautiful black & white and color photos, and can do so in about 7 seconds. After all, you want memories that stand the test of time!

Does your company have liability insurance?

This is a big one! Don’t worry, nothing is likely to happen, but this question helps to separate the unprepared, fly by night, photo booth companies from the professional ones. Generally those who run a photo booth business as a side hustle or a new start-up will not be willing or able to pay the costs of having insurance and licensing. In our experience, the more a company has on the line, the more invested they are in the outcome of the events they’re a part of!

Can I see some of your references or reviews?

As they say, the best indicator of future performance is past performance, so it’s a good idea to take a solid interest in their references and reviews! Reputable professional companies will be happy to direct you to their online reviews!

What are your fees, and what do they include?

In life in general, and party planning in particular, you can be sure that if a deal seems way too good to be true, it probably is! You really do tend to get what you pay for! That doesn’t mean you should necessarily go with the most expensive, but a low-low price is often indicative of sub-par performance and investment. And, beware of hidden fees! Sometimes companies have a low initial price, but once you receive a quote you see that there are all sorts of additional fees that you weren’t counting on! So, before signing a contract, sort out if the company you’re planning to hire is charging a bunch additional fees for mileage, delivery, setup/take down, props, USB drives, prints or an attendant. Sometimes a ‘cheap’ photo booth doesn’t end up being a great deal!