Ask ten planners which booth guests love most and you’ll hear two answers: the 360 video booth and the open-air photo booth. They’re both crowd-pleasers, but they’re built for different jobs. Rather than list every feature, this guide works through five practical questions. Answer them honestly and the right choice for your event becomes clear.
The two booths in one paragraph each
360 video booth. Guests step onto a lit platform while a camera arm circles them, recording a slow-motion clip with music and a custom overlay. It’s shared instantly by QR code, text or email. Our 360 Video Booth includes a host who runs every spin.
Open-air photo booth. A camera, screen and lighting in front of a backdrop, with no walls around it. Groups pile in, onlookers join the fun, and guests usually walk away with a print. Our Mirror Photobooth, Classic Photobooth and AI Photobooth all fall into this family.
What guests actually experience
At a 360, a host invites a small group onto the platform, cues the music and counts down. The arm sweeps around for a few seconds while guests dance, twirl or throw confetti. Moments later, the slow-motion video appears on a sharing screen and lands on their phones. It’s a short, high-energy moment, and a crowd usually gathers to watch.
At an open-air booth, guests walk up, grab a few props and strike a pose in front of the backdrop. A countdown on the screen takes a set of photos, and prints slide out within seconds. Because there’s no enclosure, groups of friends or whole tables can squeeze into the same frame.
Question 1: Do your guests want something to hold or something to post?
If the answer is “hold”, choose open-air. Printed strips and 4×6 photos end up on fridges and in guest books for years. If the answer is “post”, the 360 wins, because each clip is ready-made for Instagram Reels and TikTok. If you hear both, keep reading; question 5 is for you.
Question 2: Who is on the guest list?
Multi-generation crowds, such as weddings, anniversaries and family reunions, tend to love open-air booths because everyone knows what to do. Younger crowds at Sweet 16s, graduations, brand launches and nightlife events tend to gravitate to the 360’s spectacle.
Question 3: How much floor space do you really have?
Measure before you decide. An open-air booth fits in about 8 x 10 ft, which works in restaurant private rooms and condo party rooms. A 360 platform needs about 10 x 10 ft for the smaller platform and up to 15 x 15 ft for the larger one, with clear space around the arm. Both need one standard outlet.
Question 4: When is the booth’s big moment?
Open-air booths work from the first drink to the last song, so they’re great from cocktail hour onward. The 360 shines when energy peaks, typically after dinner and once the dance floor fills. That timing matters if you’re booking a shorter window.
Question 5: Could you run both?
For events of roughly 100 guests or more, two stations often make sense. Guests get a print and a video, lines stay short, and the room has two focal points instead of one. A popular plan is an open-air booth from the start and the 360 opening after the first dance or the keynote.
Quick decision table
| If your event is… | We’d suggest |
|---|---|
| A wedding with lots of family | Open-air (Mirror or Classic), plus a 360 for the dance floor if space allows |
| A brand launch or activation | 360 Video Booth with branded overlays |
| A conference or networking night | AI Photobooth for polished portraits |
| A birthday or Sweet 16 | 360 Video Booth, or both for bigger parties |
| A small venue or private dining room | Open-air booth |
Branding works on both
For corporate events and brand activations, both booths can carry your identity. The 360 uses custom overlays, intro and outro screens and your choice of music. Open-air booths use branded print templates, start screens and a logo backdrop. If your goal is reach, the 360’s videos travel further online; if your goal is a lasting impression, a branded print stays on desks and fridges for months.
Outdoor and venue notes
Both booth types can run outdoors under a tent or canopy that keeps out rain and direct sun. We arrive early so the 45 to 60 minute setup is done before guests arrive. We regularly work in Brampton, Oakville, Hamilton and Richmond Hill, among many other cities.
FAQ
Is a 360 booth better than a regular photo booth?
Neither is better in every case. A 360 creates shareable slow-motion videos, while an open-air booth creates photos and prints that guests keep. Many events book both.
How many people can use the 360 at once?
Our smaller platform fits up to 4 people per spin and our larger platform fits up to 7.
Do open-air booths include prints?
Most do. Our Mirror and Classic booths include unlimited instant prints along with digital copies.
Can the booths be set up outside?
Yes, as long as they’re under a tent or canopy that protects them from rain and direct sun.
Is someone there to run the booth?
Yes. Every booking includes an attendant or host for the full booking.
When will we receive the photos and videos?
You’ll receive an online gallery of everything captured, usually within 24–48 hours of your event.
Still deciding? Ask us
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