360, Mirror, Glambot or Classic Photo Booth: Which to Choose for Your Event
The difference between a 360 photo booth, a mirror booth, a glambot and a classic booth is what the guest does and what they take home: the classic is a group photo in front of a backdrop, the mirror is an elegant touchscreen experience, the 360 is a slow-motion video that spins around the person and the glambot is a fast pass from a robotic arm, also in slow motion.
This guide compares them in a table, explains how much ceiling each needs and when each format fits. The price data is from the US and in dollars, and we describe the glambot as the robotic-arm format with a camera.
At a Glance
- Classic open-air: group photos, the simplest and cheapest of the four.
- Mirror: a touchscreen and animations, the elegant format for weddings and galas.
- 360: slow-motion video, built for high-energy parties and for sharing on social media.
- Glambot: a robotic arm with a camera, the red-carpet pass.
- Ceiling: the 360 asks for the highest of the three formats with a published figure: 10 feet, about 3 meters.
The Four Formats in One Table
This table sums up what each format is. The minimum ceiling is the one published by the Reservety setup calculator, and the glambot depends on the arm you use:
| Format | What the guest does | Best for | Minimum ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic open-air | Stands in front of a backdrop, with a fixed camera and lights | Large groups and parties | 8 feet (about 2.4 m) |
| Mirror | Sees themselves in a full-length mirror with a touchscreen and follows the prompts | Elegant weddings and galas | 9 feet or more (about 2.7 m) |
| 360 | Steps onto a platform and the camera spins around them in slow motion | High-energy parties and social video | 10 feet or more (about 3 m) |
| Glambot | A robotic arm with a camera makes a fast pass around them | Galas and red carpets | Depends on the arm |
What Each One Is
- Classic open-air: a camera and lights facing a backdrop, with no closed cabin. Guests walk in and out and take group photos. It is the simplest format to set up, though it offers less privacy and the lighting is affected by the surroundings.
- Mirror: a full-length mirror with a touchscreen behind it. The guest sees themselves while posing and the screen itself guides them. It is usually offered as the most elegant option.
- 360: a format built for video, with a platform the guest stands on while the camera spins around them. It tends to be the most expensive of the video formats and often needs an attendant.
- Glambot: a robotic arm with a camera on the end that makes a fast pass around the guest, recording at a high frame rate. Slowed down, you get the red-carpet shot you see at galas: the hair, the confetti and the glasses in the air. It is the same kind of capture as the 360, but with the movement of the arm instead of the spin of the platform.
What Each Format Costs
Check Cherry, photo booth rental management software, publishes the earnings per booking for each format: $635 for the classic open-air booth, $830 for the 360, $950 for the glam booth and $950 for the mirror. It does not say whether these are averages or medians, and they are not comparable with the percentiles in our guide to the cost of a 360 photo booth rental, which measure something else. What is useful is the order: the classic is the cheapest and the premium formats cost $200 to $315 more per booking.
Treat these figures as one provider's data, from the US and in dollars, not as market rates.
How to Choose for Your Event
- Lots of people and a tight budget: the classic open-air booth, which lets large groups in.
- A wedding or gala where everything should look elegant: the mirror or the glambot.
- A party with dancing and a wish to share on social media: the 360, because the slow-motion video is what gets posted.
- A venue with a low ceiling or no space: rule out the 360, which needs a 10-foot ceiling and a clear area.
If You Run the Booth: Which to Offer
If you are building your own business, you do not have to pick just one. The 360 and the glambot are the same type of capture, and on Snap360App they run on the same plan. To organize your offer, see how to build packages that sell and what a 360 photo booth is and how it works.
You can see the Snap360App plans and start with the Free Plan, with no card and no time limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Glambot?
A robotic arm with a camera on the end that makes a fast pass around the guest, recording at a high frame rate. Slowed down, it gives the red-carpet shot you see at galas.
Which Photo Booth Is the Cheapest?
The classic open-air booth. According to Check Cherry, it has the lowest earnings per booking ($635), ahead of the 360 ($830) and the glam and mirror ($950), in the US.
Which Photo Booth Is Best for a Wedding?
There is no single answer. The mirror and glam are usually offered as the most elegant, and the 360 is loved for its slow-motion video. Decide by the style of the wedding, the space and how much guests will want to share.
Does a 360 Photo Booth Need a High Ceiling?
Yes: the Reservety setup calculator asks for a 10-foot ceiling (about 3 meters) for the arm, versus 8 feet for the classic open-air booth and 9 or more for the mirror.
Can I Offer 360 and Glambot with the Same App?
Yes. On Snap360App the 360 booth and the glambot run on the same plan, because the app picks up the capture, processes it and delivers it, with any brand of arm.
