Most photo booth bookings go perfectly. But when one goes wrong, it usually goes wrong the same few ways. Read enough wedding reviews and forum threads and the same stories repeat: the booth that never showed up, the vendor who went quiet after the deposit, the printer that died an hour in, the strips printed with someone else’s ad, the gallery that arrived months later. Almost all of them are preventable by asking the right questions before you sign.
Here are the 15 questions we would ask if we were booking a photo booth ourselves, why each one matters, and how we answer them at LA Glam Booth.
The agreement and the money
1. Will I get a signed agreement that lists everything?
Why it matters: A written agreement is your protection if anything changes. It should list the date, hours, booth, prints, add-ons, travel, tax, payment schedule and cancellation policy.
Our answer: Yes. Every booking has a formal service agreement with an itemized invoice, signed electronically before anything is due.
2. How much is the deposit, and is it refundable?
Why it matters: Deposit disputes are one of the most common complaints. Know exactly when a deposit becomes non-refundable.
Our answer: A 50% retainer holds your date. Cancel more than 30 days before the event for a full refund, retainer included; within 30 days, the retainer is non-refundable.
3. What is the full price, including travel, tax and fees?
Why it matters: A low headline price can grow with travel, overtime, customization, tax and card fees added later.
Our answer: Our rate card is public, travel is a flat $150 within LA, Orange County and the Inland Empire, sales tax is itemized, and the only card fee is 3% on credit cards.
4. When is the balance due, and how can I pay?
Why it matters: Paying everything months ahead leaves you with no leverage if the vendor goes quiet.
Our answer: The balance is due 7 days before the event, by Zelle, ACH, Venmo or card.
The day of the event
5. Is an attendant on site for the whole booking?
Why it matters: Drop-off booths save the vendor money, but nobody is there when the printer jams or the line gets long.
Our answer: Yes. An attendant runs the booth for every minute you booked.
6. Does setup time count against my hours?
Why it matters: Some vendors start the clock when they arrive. You should pay for hours guests can use the booth.
Our answer: No. We set up before guests arrive; your hours are booth time.
7. What happens if something breaks?
Why it matters: Equipment can fail. Ask what the vendor does about it, and what you are owed if the booth goes down.
Our answer: We bring backup equipment to every event, and an attendant who knows it is on site the whole time to swap parts and troubleshoot on the spot. If prints still can’t be made on the night, we print every photo afterward and mail them to you, if you’re happy with that.
8. How much space and power do you need, and where should the booth go?
Why it matters: A booth hidden in a hallway gets ignored; a booth without nearby power can’t run.
Our answer: About 8 by 8 feet and one standard outlet per booth. We recommend a spot near the bar or dance floor and confirm placement with your venue.
9. Can you send a certificate of insurance to my venue?
Why it matters: Many hotels and venues require one from every vendor, and a vendor who cannot provide it may be turned away at load-in.
Our answer: Yes. We carry liability insurance and send the certificate of insurance directly to your venue.
The photos
10. Are prints really unlimited, and what printer and paper do you use?
Why it matters: 'Unlimited' means nothing if the printer is slow or fails. Pro dye-sublimation printers are fast and the prints last.
Our answer: Unlimited prints, on 300 DPI dye-sublimation photo paper, printed in seconds.
11. Will there be ads or the vendor’s logo on our prints?
Why it matters: Some vendors print their own branding, or even third-party ads, on your guests’ strips.
Our answer: Your print template is designed for your event, with your names, date or logo.
12. When and how do we get the digital photos?
Why it matters: Undelivered or late galleries are a common complaint, and the photos are half of what you are paying for.
Our answer: Guests get their photos instantly by text, email or QR code, and every photo goes into an online gallery for you and your guests, delivered within 48 hours of the event.
13. Can we see real photos from real events, not stock images?
Why it matters: Stock or 3D-rendered booth photos say nothing about the vendor’s actual work.
Our answer: Every photo on our site is from our own events, from UNIQLO at Dodger Stadium to the weddings on our blog.
The company
14. How long have you been in business, and who have you worked with?
Why it matters: Experience shows up in the details: venue logistics, timing, what to do when something goes wrong.
Our answer: We were founded in 2022 and have produced 1,000+ events and 250,000+ photos, for couples and for brands including UNIQLO, Netflix, Peacock and Life360.
15. Can I read reviews from couples and clients like me?
Why it matters: Reviews on independent sites are harder to fake than testimonials on a vendor’s own site.
Our answer: Read what our clients wrote on our {L('/wedding-photo-booth-rentals','wedding page')} and in our {L('/work','case studies')}, and on Yelp and Google.
Red flags to walk away from
- No written agreement, or a contract that leaves out hours, prints or the cancellation policy.
- Pressure to pay in full months in advance.
- Vague package names with no list of what is included.
- Only stock or rendered photos on their website.
- Slow or no replies before you have paid; it rarely gets better after.
- "#1 photo booth company" claims with no reviews or clients to back them up.
For more on comparing quotes, see Special Events’ guide for event planners and our own photo booth cost guide.
Ask us anything
Send your date and venue, and we will answer every question on this list in writing with your quote.
Get a quoteFrequently asked questions
What should I ask a photo booth company before booking?
Ask for a signed agreement listing everything, the deposit and cancellation terms, the full price including travel and tax, whether an attendant stays all event, whether setup counts against your hours, the printer and paper used, whether prints are unlimited, how and when you get the digital photos, and whether they can send your venue a certificate of insurance.
What are red flags when hiring a photo booth?
No written agreement, pressure to pay in full early, vague packages, only stock photos on the website, slow replies before you pay, and '#1' claims with no reviews or clients to back them up.
Should the photo booth attendant stay the whole event?
Yes. An attendant fixes problems, keeps the line moving and helps guests pose. LA Glam Booth includes an attendant for the full booking.
What happens if the photo booth breaks during the event?
LA Glam Booth brings backup equipment and an on-site attendant to swap parts on the spot. If prints still cannot be made that night, we print the photos afterward and mail them to the client, with their OK.
Does photo booth setup time count toward rental hours?
It varies by company, so ask. At LA Glam Booth setup happens before guests arrive and does not count against your hours.
Do photo booth companies need insurance?
Many venues require vendors to carry liability insurance and send a certificate of insurance. LA Glam Booth carries liability insurance and sends the certificate directly to your venue.
Sources
Hitik Patel founded LA Glam Booth in 2022 after a decade behind the camera. His team has produced 1,000+ events and 250,000+ photos for couples and brands including UNIQLO, Netflix and Peacock.
