Questions to Ask When Renting a Photobooth
1. Quality of the Photo booth Construction
After spending thousands of dollars on your special extravaganza, the last thing you want to see is an eye sore in the middle of your reception hall. Ask to see pictures of the photo booth that will be at your event.
2. Size Matters
Find out the dimensions of the photo booth. Some photo booths can only fit 2 people snugly while other photo booths are able to accommodate 8 or 10 people. (Tip: More People = More Fun). The height and width is important because you want to make sure it clears the entrance and any narrow hallways.
Portability is an important factor. If your event isn’t on the main level of a building, it might be impossible to bring the photo booth upstairs. For example, a vintage model photo booth weighs upwards of 700 lbs! CI Photobooth offers photobooths that can be partially disassembled and are completely portable. Our booths can be carried up and down stairs, maneuvered through narrow doorways or delivered onto a riverboat or yacht.
3. Quality Prints: Dye-sublimation AKA Thermal Printers vs Inkjet Printers
Another important question to ask is “What type of printer is used in the photo booth?” Dye-sublimation printers are better than Inkjet printers. Here’s why:
- Special UV coating – delays fading from sunlight
- Water and fingerprint resistant – fingerprints and smudges can be wiped off with ease and pictures are estimated to last up to 50 years
- Prints faster – less wait time for your guests & more photos taken per hour (Our dye-sublimation printers produce 4 x 6 prints in as few as 8 to 11 seconds.)
- Photo-Lab quality prints – these types of printers are used in photo departments at large retail stores such as Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreens
CI Photobooth uses professional Kodak 6850 thermal dye-sublimation printers.
4. Consider Possible Extra Charges & Extra Options
Be sure to read the contract and ask about any additional charges. Photo booth rental packages vary from company to company and it’s easy to overlook or confuse which features are free and which aren’t.
- Extra Hours – The average photo booth rental is usually 4 hours. The rate for additional rental time is usually ranges between $150 and $200 per hour.
- Early Set-up Time – Photo booth rental companies usually begin setting up an hour before the scheduled start time. If you want them to come earlier, there could be a charge of $50 or more per hour for idle time. (CI Photobooth does not charge extra for early set-up, if the set-up arrival time is within 2 hours of the photobooth start time).
- Copy of Files on DVD – Some companies offer this as part of their package, other companies charge upwards of $75 for a CD or DVD. CI Photobooth includes a DVD of all files in all of our packages, at no additional charge.
- Custom Artwork, Logos or Text - This is an important feature to ask about. This should be included as part of your package. However, some companies may charge a design fee to add logos, artwork or text to your prints.
- Delivery Charge – Is there an added fee for delivery? CI Photobooth offers free delivery in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. If your event is beyond our service area, a per mile delivery fee applies.
- Double Prints – This should not to be confused with double strips (4 x 6 print with 2 duplicate photo strips). However, there is usually an extra fee for two duplicate 4 x 6 prints, as there is an increased cost in printing supplies. This is typically offered in a higher priced rental package or as an optional upgrade. CI Photobooth offers duplicate prints as an optional upgrade for a fee of $40 per hour.
- Mulitple Print Layouts - Among the popular print styles, you’ll find a horizontal style 4 x 6 print with 4 photos and a 4 x 6 vertical print, with 2 identical strips of 4 photos. This second layout is perfect if you are planning to place prints in a photo guestbook. The print is cut straight down the middle. Guests will keep one strip as a party favor and the other strip is adhered into the photo guestbook. Some companies may add on an extra fee for this format, so be sure to ask which print format you comes with their packages and ask what other formats are available. CI Photobooth offers single 4 x 6 prints in our packages, including both horizontal and vertical print formats.
- Online Photo Gallery Hosting -Availability of this option varies from company to company. Ask if this option is included in the package or if there is an extra fee for gallery hosting. You’ll also want to find out if the gallery is secured with a password to protect the privacy of your guests and if the images can be downloaded for free or not. CI Photobooth includes an Online Photo Gallery, with password protection and FREE photo downloads in all of our rental packages.
- Choice of Color or Black & White Prints – CI Photobooth offers the unique option to either let you choose between color or black & white prints ahead of time, or you may opt to let your guests make the decision on site for each photo session.
- Inside Live Preview Monitor - You will want to make sure you get an idea of how the photo booth actually operates. Find out how guests will start the photo booth. Will guests know when their photo has been taken? Do they have enough time to pose? Will they see what their poses look like before the photo is taken? Can the screen be customized specifically for my event? CI Photobooth offers a touch screen application or a button to start the photo sequence. Guests will be able to see themselves on screen via a live video feed, and they will receive on-screen prompts with a countdown to the next photo. After each photo has been taken, guests will see an on-screen preview of their finished photo. The screen will walk your guests through the entire photobooth experience. In addition, we customize the screen to match your event theme with custom colors and text. Click here to view the CI Photobooth experience.
- Props - Props can add another dimension of fun to your photo booth rental. Guests can adorn themselves with novelties such as over sized sun glasses, feathered boas, wigs and silly hats. This option is usually extra or in a higher priced package. Props are included in all of our packages at no additional charge.
- Photo Guestbook or Scrapbook – This is definitely the best part of having a photo booth at your event. At the end of the night you get an instant photo album filled with candid pictures, heartfelt messages, and beautiful memories. Sometimes this is offered as part of the package, while other photo booth companies charge separately for it. Ideally you should purchase your own, since it’s something you will look at for years. You want it to be sturdy and one that you can decorate and customize to your own liking. Tip: Craft stores like Micheal’s and Archiverss have great scrapbooks. Get one in your favorite colors or one that matches your wedding colors. However, CI Photobooth offers Photo Guestbooks as an additional option. We use Kolo Newport Albums in black. You can view our album options here.
If you have any questions or comments on this article feel free to message us below. We would love to hear what you want in a photo booth rental.
CI Photobooth is a family owned company offering photo booth rental services throughout St. Louis and surrounding areas.
