Photo Booth Types Explained: Mirror, 360, Glambot and AI Booths

A photo booth is a self-service capture station where event guests take their own photo or short video and receive it instantly as a print or a digital copy, with the frame, screen and enclosure designed around the event or brand. Today "photo booth" describes a whole family of products rather than one machine: from the classic photo booth to the mirror booth, the 360 video booth, the glambot and AI-powered photo booths, each type is built for a different output and a different kind of event.

This guide walks through the most popular photo booth types one by one: how each works, what it produces (print, video or digital content) and which events it suits best. At the end you will find a short guide to choosing the right booth by event type.

What is a photo booth and how does it work?

Every photo booth is built on the same four elements: a camera, a lighting setup, a screen where the guest starts the session and software that processes the image and gets it ready to share. The guest taps to start, the software applies the branded frame, filter or effect, and the result is either printed on the spot or sent to the guest's phone via QR code, email or SMS.

What separates the types comes down to three things: the capture technique (a single frame, a mirror screen, a rotating camera, a robotic arm), the output (printed photo, slow-motion video, GIF) and the footprint and set-up the booth needs on site.

Classic photo booth

The classic photo booth is the best-known and most versatile member of the family. The guest starts the session on a touchscreen, and a professional DSLR camera with studio flash captures a studio-quality photo. The software automatically adds the branded frame, filters and background effects.

Output: The photo is printed within seconds and delivered to the guest's phone by QR code at the same time; it can also be sent by email or SMS. Depending on the concept, it can be set up as an open kiosk or as an enclosed booth.

Best for: Weddings, holiday parties, galas, trade fairs and any event where guests should leave with a physical keepsake. Because the kiosk and print template are designed around the theme, it is also the simplest way to put a brand front and centre at a corporate event. See our photo booth rental page for details.

Mirror booth (magic mirror photo booth)

The mirror booth, often called a magic mirror photo booth, is a full-length, mirror-style touchscreen. Guests step in front of it, see their reflection and tap the mirror to start. Animations, filters and effects come alive on screen, and when it is paired with a red carpet and velvet ropes the whole thing feels like a VIP arrival.

Output: Instant prints, plus GIF and boomerang content; digital copies are shared by QR code, email or SMS.

Best for: Weddings, galas, award ceremonies, VIP receptions and launches that call for a premium atmosphere. Since the mirror itself becomes part of the décor, it blends naturally into elegant venues. Specifications are on our mirror booth page.

360 video booth

A 360 video booth (also searched as a 360 photo booth or spinning selfie platform) has guests stand on a circular platform while a camera arm sweeps a full circle around them. A high-speed 4K camera records slow-motion video during the spin, and the software automatically adds music, a digital frame and branded animations.

Output: The core output is a short, cinematic slow-motion video, delivered to the guest's phone by QR code and ready for social media.

Best for: Dance-floor moments at weddings, branded videos at launches and galas, and drawing a queue at trade fair stands. If social content is your top priority, the 360 video booth is the standout option.

Glambot

The glambot is the robotic-arm camera made famous by red-carpet coverage. The guest takes position in front of dedicated lighting and a backdrop, a wind effect kicks in, and a high-speed camera moving on a programmed path captures a dramatic slow-motion clip. The camera movement can be tailored to the scenario you want.

Output: A slow-motion video, processed on the spot and shared by QR code, email or SMS.

Best for: Galas, award ceremonies, fashion events, product launches and VIP nights. For brands that want to treat every guest like a star and produce the most-shared clips of the night, the glambot is a powerful showpiece.

AI photo booth

An AI photo booth combines a professional shoot with generative AI. The guest is photographed with a DSLR camera, and the AI instantly transforms the image according to a scenario designed for the event: a new setting, a character transformation, a style change or a cosmetic effect. In a single frame, a guest can become a superhero, a princess or part of a fantasy world.

Output: The transformed photo is printed instantly and sent to the guest's phone by QR code.

Best for: Product launches, beauty and fashion events, festivals and store openings, especially when the brand has a story or visual universe to tell. Browse scenario options on the AI photo booth page.

GIF and boomerang booth

In a GIF booth, the camera fires a quick burst of frames and the software turns them into an animated GIF or a back-and-forth boomerang clip, with branded frames, filters and effects applied instantly.

Output: A digital GIF delivered by QR code; guests who want one can also take home a classic or retro strip print.

Best for: Any event built around social sharing: graduations, festivals, store openings and corporate gatherings with a younger crowd. If you want motion content and a printed keepsake together, the GIF booth strikes a good balance.

Other photo booth types worth knowing

• Bullet time booth: An array of cameras set at an angle fires simultaneously, and the frames are stitched into a "Matrix-style" GIF that seems to orbit the guest. Ideal for action poses and sports-themed events.
• Magazine cover booth: The photo drops into a template inspired by iconic magazine covers or a cover designed for the brand, and is printed as a cover.
• Roaming photo booth: Instead of a fixed kiosk, an operator with a DSLR camera and connected tablet moves through the venue, captures guests where they are and prints on the spot. It brings the photo booth experience to cocktails and galas without taking up floor space; see the roaming photo booth page.
• Online photo booth: Guests scan a QR code to open a branded web app and shoot with their own phone camera, with no app download or physical set-up. The online photo booth works well for hybrid events and campaigns that run through packaging or printed materials.
• Aqua booth: An underwater photo booth installed in a pool or the sea; guests dive in to pose and collect their print from a kiosk on shore. Designed for pool parties, beach events and summer festivals.

Which photo booth is right for my event?

Three questions make the choice much easier: What should guests take away (a print or a video)? How much space do you have and how will guests flow through it? What brand message should the experience carry? Here is a general framework by event type:

Weddings and engagements

A printed keepsake is still the most valued output. A classic photo booth with a frame personalised for the couple, or a mirror booth for a more elegant look, is a great starting point; couples who want to capture the dance floor on video can add a 360 video booth.

Product launches and galas

At a launch, the experience should carry the product story. A glambot or mirror booth creates a red-carpet moment, while an AI photo booth places guests inside the brand's visual world and puts the product in the frame.

Trade fairs and stand activations

At a fair, the goal is to pull visitors onto the stand and keep them there. A 360 video booth or bullet time setup naturally gathers a crowd, and an AI photo booth gives each visitor a branded, personal output. If the stand is tight, a roaming booth can reach visitors in the aisles.

Store openings and retail activations

A compact classic kiosk or mirror booth runs smoothly inside a store without blocking the flow. For beauty and fashion brands, the cosmetic and style effects of an AI photo booth stand out; to take the campaign beyond the store, an online photo booth lets you place the QR code on packaging or in the window.

Festivals and outdoor events

In busy, fast-moving spaces, GIF booths and 360 video booths turn out quick, shareable content. For summer events by the water there is the aqua booth, and on large sites a roaming booth spreads the experience across the whole area.

Whichever type you choose, the kiosk wrap, frames, on-screen animations and print template can be designed around your event or brand, and several types can be combined at the same event.

Frequently asked questions

What is a photo booth?

A photo booth is a capture station where event guests take their own photo or short video and receive it instantly as a print or as a digital copy via QR code, email or SMS; the kiosk, frames and screen design can be customised for the event or brand.

What is a magic mirror photo booth?

A magic mirror photo booth, or mirror booth, is a full-length mirror-style touchscreen. Guests see their reflection, interact with on-screen animations and receive their photo as an instant print.

What is a 360 video booth?

A 360 video booth is an experience where the guest stands on a circular platform while a high-speed camera rotates around them to record slow-motion video. The clip is finished with music and a branded frame and sent to the guest's phone by QR code.

What is the difference between a photo booth and a glambot?

A classic photo booth captures a still photo that is usually printed on the spot, while a glambot uses a robotic-arm camera, special lighting and a wind effect to capture a cinematic slow-motion video that guests share digitally.

Can I use more than one type of photo booth at the same event?

Yes. For example, a mirror booth at the entrance and a 360 video booth by the dance floor. When space, power and guest flow are planned together, different types complement each other.

Not sure which photo booth type fits your event? Get in touch with us, share your date, city and event format, and we will put together the right concept and a tailored proposal.