Mirror Booth vs Open Air Booth — Which is Right for Your Event?

This is one of the most common questions we get, and it is a great one to ask. The Mirror Booth and Open Air Booth are two of our most popular rentals, they are priced similarly, and they both produce photo strip prints. But they deliver very different experiences — and choosing the wrong one for your crowd can mean guests never find the booth, or conversely, a line that never moves because people are too shy to step up.

Here is everything you need to know to make the right call.

What Is a Mirror Booth?

A mirror booth is a full-length interactive mirror — typically around six feet tall — that guests walk up to and interact with using a touch screen. The mirror greets them with animations, guides them through the photo process, lets them sign their name or add stickers, and then prints a 4x6 photo. Our Mirror X is our flagship mirror booth, and the Mirror Me and Mirror Retro are popular alternatives.

What Is an Open Air Booth?

An Open Air Booth is a camera-and-backdrop setup without walls. Guests stand in front of a backdrop, a DSLR camera on a stand captures the photo, and a printer produces a 2x6 photo strip. The whole setup is visible to the room — which is both its biggest strength and its biggest consideration.

The Real Difference: It Is About Your Crowd

Both booths produce great prints. Both come with an attendant, unlimited sessions, custom artwork, and digital sharing. The difference comes down to one question: how outgoing is your guest list?

When to Choose the Open Air Booth

Choose the open air booth when your guest list is outgoing and social. Corporate holiday parties, school events, proms, and birthday parties with a younger crowd tend to thrive with open air setups. The fact that everyone in the room can see what is happening at the booth creates a contagious energy — people see others having fun and immediately want in.

Open air also works especially well when you have a beautiful physical backdrop to showcase — a floral wall, a sequin curtain, or a custom branded backdrop for a corporate event. The backdrop is part of the experience, and the open air format puts it on full display.

When to Choose the Mirror Booth

Choose the mirror booth when your guest list skews introverted, or when the formality of the event calls for something more elegant. Weddings are the classic example. Not every wedding guest is comfortable jumping in front of a camera in a busy room. The mirror booth creates a more contained, intimate experience that even shy guests feel comfortable approaching.

The full-length format of the mirror is also a major advantage at weddings and formal events. It shows off the dress, the suit, the full outfit — something a waist-up open air shot simply cannot do. And the interactive touch-screen experience keeps guests engaged in a way that feels modern and premium.

What About the Enclosed Booth?

There is actually a third option worth mentioning: the Enclosed Booth. It functions like an open air booth in terms of prints and photo strips, but it has a curtain that draws around guests to create a private space. If your concern is specifically about guest shyness but you want photo strips rather than 4x6 prints, the Enclosed Booth is a great middle ground.

Can I Have Both?

Yes — and some of our clients do exactly that for larger events. A mirror booth and an open air setup running simultaneously means every guest has an option that suits their comfort level, and the variety keeps energy high all night. Contact us to discuss combination bookings and pricing.