The four types side by side
| Type | What it is | Group size | What guests get | Room needed | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-air | Camera, studio lighting and a backdrop, no enclosure | Large groups | Photos, printed strips, digital copies | Backdrop width plus room to step back | Weddings, corporate evenings, mixed crowds |
| Enclosed | A booth or curtained box with the camera inside | A few people | Classic strips, a private moment | Small | Smaller rooms, guests who prefer privacy |
| 360 | A platform with a camera on a rotating arm | Small groups on the platform | Short slow-motion videos | Large, clear space all around the arm | Activations built around social video |
| Mirror | A full-length mirror with a touchscreen and on-screen prompts | Small groups, full length | Full-body photos and prints | Moderate | Glam and fashion-led events |
Open-air photobooths
With no box around the camera, groups of any size fit in the frame and the light is controlled like a studio. The booth stays part of the party instead of hiding guests in a cabinet.
Enclosed photobooths
The classic format. It feels private, which some guests prefer, and it takes little floor space. The trade-off is group size: a large group will not fit, and the moment happens out of sight of the room.
360 photobooths
Built for social video, it works well at brand activations where shareable clips are the goal. It films one group at a time, and guests leave with a video rather than a print.
Mirror photobooths
On-screen prompts and animations guide guests, and the full-length framing suits events where outfits are the point.
Why softhours runs open-air only
An open-air booth keeps the photo in the room. Groups fit, the lighting is set like a studio, and the setup looks like part of a considered event rather than equipment in the corner. See how it works at a wedding or at a corporate event.
Photobooth, photographer or disposable cameras?
They do different jobs. A photographer documents the day; a photobooth gives guests a moment they take part in and a print they keep. Disposable cameras put cameras on the tables, but results vary, film runs out, and developing can take weeks.
Many weddings have both a photographer and a booth. For cost, see what a photobooth costs in Kitchener-Waterloo.