Pros and Cons of Selfie Pod Hire vs Other Booths
Considering selfie pod hire? Here's a comparison of the pros and cons of the 4 most popular types of photo booths for hire
As the popularity of selfie pod hire has grown, so have the types of photo booths that are available for hire. We’d normally associate traditional photo booths with an enclosed shell inside a shopping centre or supermarket with a stiff curtain attached, a camera inside that aligns with your face, and takes passport-sized photos for ID purposes. But now you have the option of hiring a selfie pod and various booths to take superfast pictures at events.
Which booth you opt for may just come down to which one you think is more suitable for your event. A selfie pod will obviously be the most suitable choice for a wedding photo booth. But there are many pros and cons you may want to consider when looking for selfie pods to hire.
As the popularity of selfie pod hire has grown, so have the types of photo booths that are available for hire. We’d normally associate traditional photo booths with an enclosed shell inside a shopping centre or supermarket with a stiff curtain attached, a camera inside that aligns with your face, and takes passport-sized photos for ID purposes. But now you have the option of hiring a selfie pod and various booths to take superfast pictures at events.
Which booth you opt for may just come down to which one you think is more suitable for your event. A selfie pod will obviously be the most suitable choice for a wedding photo booth. But there are many pros and cons you may want to consider when looking for selfie pods to hire.
Mirrors
A Supreme Photo Booths’ magic mirrors could be considered the most unique booth of the four, as it’s one of the few that doesn’t appear as one at first glance.
Pros
Aesthetically pleasing – Mirrors come in many different styles and these days you have the choice of amazing mirrors, from large vintage mirrors to heart-shaped mirrors, which make them suitable for many different kinds of events.
More versatility – You can easily use photo filters and set the booth to take photos, boomerang gifs, or animated gifs like a selfie pod.
Guided photos – With the large touch LCD touchscreen interface, you can see yourself when taking photos digitally, making it a great option for large group photos.
Cons
Easier for things to go wrong – Not so much of an issue if you opt for a reputable magic mirror photo booth provider in 2024, but the truth of the matter is, the more moving pieces you have, the more chances there are of something going wrong. Compared to a selfie post, mirrors are made up of more electronic devices which all need to work in sync for it to work.
More difficult to use – With modern software for digital photos, it’s become a lot easier to operate magic mirror booths. But while enclosed booths or selfie pods can normally go unmanned, it’s best to employ an attendee to assist with the use of a mirror for unlimited photo for a guest book.
Longer Set up time – Mirrors are made up of more pieces, therefore, they longer to set up and take down. This may be a consideration for events with tight schedules.
Selfie Pod
The most common type of selfie pod is an iPad enclosed in a bespoke casing or a ring light on a stand.
Pros
Cheaper to hire – Selfie pod hire provides the simplest form of a photo booth. There are no additional devices or features needed for it to take pictures. For this reason, they tend to be in the cheapest photo booth hire services.
Fewer requirements – A selfie pod doesn’t require a power source, so you can put them anywhere inside your venue’s floor space. They also require the least time to set up.
Ease of use – iOS booth apps work very well on iPads, and since most people know how to use a tablet, there’s no need for an attendee.
Cons
Picture quality – The picture quality that a selfie pod brings doesn’t compare to other booths which use DSLR or mirrorless cameras.
Lacks aesthetics – Generally much smaller and simpler than traditional photo booths, this makes them less visually appealing.
Lacks extras – A selfie pod is normally an unmanned photo booth, which may not include extras like a guest book, double prints, or the ability to leave a text message.
Enclosed
The classic enclosed booth. For millennials and older generations, It’s something that pretty much all of us have used at one point in the past. There are also other types of traditional booths that exist today too, such as tuk-tuk photo booths or 3-wheel vans.
Pros
The most reliable – Tried and tested functionality. Enclosed booths have been used for decades and have been fine-tuned, making them ideal for instant prints, for a guest book, or for making boomerang gifs.
Most consistent for pictures – Every aspect of an enclosed booth is designed for taking photos, which means the lighting, exposure, focus, and distance are all perfectly measured for every photo.
Most privacy – Classic photo booths are fully enclosed unlike an open-air selfie pod, which gives them the most privacy out of all photo booths for hire.
Cons
Much larger size – Whether it’s a tuktuk or traditional booth, they all need a lot of floor space to manoeuvre, which may make them incompatible with many venues.
Limited group numbers – Enclosed booths have limited space for groups.
Not understated – An enclosed booth, due to its size, can often be an overbearing feature inside many venues.
Retros
Retros, also known as vintage booths, usually come in sleek wooden boxes on a wooden tripod stand made to resemble old Victorian-style cameras.
Pros
Coolest design – Probably the sleekest and most stylish photo booth next to a selfie pod, a retro one will sit nicely inside a wedding and make a positive impact on the venue’s décor.
Highest quality photos – A hire company will usually fit them out with high-spec DSLR or mirrorless cameras. And unlike a mirrors, there’s no extra layer between the lens and the object of the picture.
Better quality service – You’ll often find that many retros are offered by professional photographers where as a selfie pod isn’t. This means that you’ll usually receive high-quality service when it comes to actual photography.
Cons
Not as suitable for large events – This can vary depending on the rental company, but generally speaking, they’re not as fast to use as a selfie pod booth.
More event-specific – The old retro style is cool, but might not fit into the theme of many events, like kids’ parties. The wooden box and tripod are durable.
Limited lighting – Retros normally comes with just a flash, which is great for picture taking, but if there’s not much ambient light around or inside the venue, you may require exterior lighting like LED lights.
Final Thoughts
This is just a general view of how selfie pods compares to other popular photo booths. Hopefully, this article helps with your decision in choosing to hire a selfie pod.