1. What each type actually does
Before diving into which is better, it is worth being precise about what we are actually comparing, because the terms get thrown around loosely and the line between them has blurred considerably in recent years.
Traditional photo booth
A traditional photo booth captures still photographs. In its classic form, this was the enclosed curtain booth from shopping centres and train stations, producing strips of four photos in a couple of minutes. The modern event version has evolved quite a bit. Most traditional booths now use a DSLR or mirrorless camera mounted on a stand or inside an open-air enclosure, connected to a laptop or tablet that handles the capture, filtering, and printing. Guests step in front of the camera, strike a pose (often with props), and receive a printed photo strip or digital file within seconds.
The experience is simple, familiar, and well understood. Most people over the age of about fifteen have used one at some point. That familiarity is both its strength and, increasingly, its limitation.
360 photo booth
A 360 booth captures video, not stills. Guests step onto a platform and a camera mounted on a rotating arm spins around them, recording slow-motion video from every angle. The software then processes this into a short, shareable video clip typically lasting three to eight seconds, often with music, overlays, branding, and visual effects added automatically.
The output is designed specifically for social media. It is eye-catching, dynamic, and different enough from standard phone footage that it stops people mid-scroll. That social media optimisation is the primary reason 360 booths have grown so rapidly since about 2022.
Understanding this fundamental difference, still images versus dynamic video, is key to making the right choice for your situation. Neither format is objectively better. They serve different purposes and create different kinds of value.
2. Guest experience compared
If you have ever watched guests interact with both types of booth at the same event, the difference in energy is immediately apparent.
Traditional booth experience
Guests approach the booth, pick up some props from a table, step in front of the camera, and pose. The countdown timer gives them a few seconds to arrange themselves. The camera fires. They see a preview, maybe retake it, and collect their print or scan a QR code for the digital version. The whole process takes about 60 to 90 seconds per group. It is pleasant, low-pressure, and straightforward. Guests who are camera-shy tend to feel comfortable because the process is predictable and the enclosed or semi-enclosed setup offers a sense of privacy.
360 booth experience
The 360 booth creates an entirely different atmosphere. Guests step onto a platform, often with a dramatic lighting setup around them, and the arm begins to spin. There is an inherent theatrical quality to it. People naturally start posing, moving, and performing because they can see and feel the camera circling them. The slow-motion element encourages big movements: hair flips, jacket throws, group formations, confetti tosses. It feels like a moment, not just a photo.
The energy difference is significant. Traditional booths attract small groups who want a keepsake. 360 booths attract people who want an experience and a performance. You will regularly see queues forming as guests watch other people's clips and want their own turn.
That said, 360 booths can be intimidating for some guests. Older attendees, people with mobility issues, or anyone uncomfortable being the centre of attention may prefer the lower-key traditional option. The platform also requires guests to stand for the duration of the capture, which excludes wheelchair users unless you have made specific accommodations.
The 360 booth generates more excitement in the room, but the traditional booth is more inclusive and accessible. Know your audience before choosing.
3. Social media and shareability
This is where the 360 booth has a genuinely unfair advantage, and it is the main reason the format has exploded in popularity.
Traditional booth output
The output is a still image, usually with a branded border or overlay. It looks nice. People post it on Instagram Stories or send it to WhatsApp groups. But in a social media landscape dominated by short-form video, a still image simply does not stop the scroll in the way it once did. The print is lovely as a physical keepsake. The digital version tends to get posted once and forgotten.
360 booth output
The output is a short video clip, often with slow-motion effects, dramatic lighting, and a soundtrack. This format is native to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. It is the exact type of content that performs well on these platforms. A well-produced 360 video looks like something from a music video or a professional production, which is why people share them enthusiastically.
The sharing mechanics are also more immediate. Most 360 booth software delivers the finished video to guests via QR code or AirDrop within seconds of the capture. Guests share it while they are still at the event, still excited, still in the mood. This creates a cascade effect: one person shares their video, friends and followers see it, and suddenly everyone at the event wants one too.
For event organisers and brands, this organic social media activity is extraordinarily valuable. Each shared video carries the event branding, the client logo, or the company hashtag into hundreds or thousands of social media feeds without any additional marketing spend. No traditional booth can match that level of organic reach.
If social media presence and shareability are important to your client or event, the 360 booth wins this comparison decisively.
4. Cost comparison
Cost is often the deciding factor, so let us compare both options honestly across startup investment, running costs, and hire pricing in the UK market.
Startup costs for operators
- Traditional photo booth: A complete setup including camera, lighting, printer, laptop, backdrop, and enclosure runs between 2,000 and 6,000 pounds. The printer alone is often 500 to 1,500 pounds, and ongoing print media (ink and paper) adds a significant recurring cost.
- 360 photo booth: A complete iPhone-based setup with platform, arm, lighting, and software runs between 1,500 and 4,000 pounds. No printer is needed because the output is digital. The recurring cost is primarily the software subscription at 30 to 80 pounds per month.
Running costs
- Traditional booth: Print media costs 0.15 to 0.40 pounds per print depending on format and supplier. At a busy event with 150 prints, that is 22 to 60 pounds in consumables per event, plus printer maintenance and occasional replacement parts. Software licences add 20 to 60 pounds per month.
- 360 booth: No consumable costs per event. Software subscription and insurance are the main recurring expenses. The cost per event for consumables is effectively zero.
Hire pricing (what you charge clients)
- Traditional booth hire: 300 to 600 pounds for a typical 3 to 4 hour booking in the UK. Prints are included in the price.
- 360 booth hire: 350 to 700 pounds for the same duration. Perceived value is often higher because the technology feels newer and the output is more visually impressive.
The margin story is interesting. 360 booths typically have lower operating costs per event (no consumables) and can command equal or slightly higher hire prices. This makes the profit margin per event generally better for 360 operators, particularly once the initial hardware investment has been recouped.
5. Setup and logistics
The practical reality of getting your booth to a venue, setting it up, and packing it away matters more than most people think when starting out. This is the unglamorous side that separates the operators who last from the ones who burn out after a few months.
Traditional booth logistics
A traditional booth involves more physical equipment. The enclosure or backdrop frame, the camera and tripod, the lighting rig, the laptop and monitor, the printer, the props table, and all associated cables and accessories. Total weight can easily reach 40 to 60 kilograms. You typically need a van or large estate car. Setup time is 45 minutes to an hour for most experienced operators, and teardown is similar.
The printer is the complicating factor. Dye-sub printers need time to warm up, are sensitive to temperature changes, and occasionally jam or produce inconsistent colours. Troubleshooting a printer at a live event with a queue of guests is one of the more stressful experiences in the photo booth business.
360 booth logistics
A 360 setup is significantly lighter and simpler. The platform, arm, phone, and lighting can fit into a single flight case and a carry bag. Total weight is often 15 to 25 kilograms. It fits comfortably in the boot of a regular car. Setup time is 15 to 30 minutes. Teardown is 10 to 20 minutes.
The software runs on the phone itself, so there is no laptop to manage. No printer means no consumables to carry, no warm-up time, and no mechanical failures mid-event. The main risk point is the phone itself: battery life, storage space, and the occasional software glitch.
For solo operators doing two or three events per weekend, the logistical simplicity of a 360 booth is a genuine competitive advantage. Less time loading and unloading means more time for back-to-back bookings and less physical exhaustion.
6. Which events suit which booth?
Rather than declaring one format universally superior, it is more useful to consider which type works best for different event contexts. The right choice depends heavily on the specific event, the audience, and what the client actually wants to achieve.
Where 360 booths excel:
- Weddings (younger couples): Couples under 40 almost universally prefer 360 content for social media. The slow-motion clips of bridal parties and group dances are exactly what performs well on Instagram and TikTok.
- Corporate brand activations: When the goal is social media exposure and brand visibility, the 360 booth delivers far more organic reach per pound spent than a traditional booth.
- Nightclub and bar events: The theatrical, high-energy nature of the 360 experience suits nightlife perfectly. Low light and movement are exactly what the format thrives on.
- Product launches: The visual drama of a 360 video naturally showcases products, logos, and branded environments in a way that a still photo cannot match.
- Festivals and outdoor events: Lighter kit, simpler setup, and no printer to protect from weather make the 360 booth more practical for outdoor and semi-outdoor environments.
Where traditional booths excel:
- Weddings (older or mixed-age guest lists): When the guest list includes grandparents and young children, the accessibility and familiarity of a traditional booth is a safer choice. Not everyone wants to stand on a spinning platform.
- Corporate conferences and networking events: When the goal is professional headshots or branded photos for LinkedIn rather than social media videos, a traditional booth with consistent lighting and framing is the better tool.
- Charity galas and formal events: The subdued, elegant feel of a traditional booth suits black-tie events where a spinning platform might feel out of place.
- Children's parties: Young children love printed photos. The physical keepsake has genuine value at events aimed at kids under ten.
- Events where a physical takeaway is important: Some events specifically want guests to leave with a printed photo. Fundraisers, milestone birthdays, and retirement parties often fall into this category.
7. Can you offer both?
This is a question that comes up constantly, and the answer is genuinely worth considering if you are building an event services business rather than running a side hustle.
Yes, you can absolutely offer both. And there are good reasons to do so.
Having both options in your portfolio means you can serve a wider range of clients and events. When a potential client describes what they want, you can recommend the format that genuinely suits their event rather than pushing the only option you have available. That consultative approach builds trust and leads to higher booking rates.
The practical challenge is the additional investment. Owning both setups means roughly doubling your equipment spend. A mid-range traditional booth (2,500 to 4,000 pounds) plus a mid-range 360 booth (2,000 to 3,500 pounds) puts you at 4,500 to 7,500 pounds total. That is a significant commitment, particularly if you are just starting out.
A smarter approach for newcomers is to start with one format and add the other once demand justifies it. If most of your enquiries are for weddings and brand events, start with the 360 booth. If you are primarily getting interest from corporate conferences and formal occasions, start with the traditional setup.
Some operators also offer both formats at the same event, typically at a premium. A wedding might have a 360 booth on the dance floor and a traditional booth in the entrance hall. Charging 800 to 1,200 pounds for a dual setup creates a premium package that significantly increases your revenue per event. Staffing becomes the main consideration here, as running two booths simultaneously typically requires a second operator.
From a software perspective, running both formats is increasingly streamlined. Tools like SpinCam 360 and similar platforms are designed to keep the 360 side simple, while traditional booth software has its own mature ecosystem. The two do not need to integrate with each other, so there is no technical complexity in offering both.
8. Making your decision
After all of that comparison, here is a straightforward framework for deciding which booth type to invest in or hire for your next event.
Choose a 360 booth if:
- Social media reach and shareability are a primary goal
- Your audience is primarily under 45
- You want lower running costs per event
- You value fast, simple setup and teardown
- You are targeting weddings, brand activations, and nightlife events
- You want the format that currently has the most market momentum
Choose a traditional photo booth if:
- Printed physical keepsakes are important to your clients
- Your guest list includes a wide age range including elderly guests
- Accessibility is a priority (no standing platform required)
- You are primarily serving corporate conferences, formal galas, or children's events
- You prefer a more established, lower-risk market with well-understood pricing
Consider both if:
- You are building a full-service event entertainment business
- You want to maximise your addressable market
- You have the capital to invest 5,000 to 8,000 pounds in equipment
- You are able to staff multiple booths at larger events
The market trend is clearly moving toward video and social media-first content. If you are starting fresh in 2026 and can only invest in one format, the 360 booth offers better growth potential and stronger margins for most UK operators. But it would be a mistake to dismiss traditional booths entirely. They still serve a genuine need that 360 booths cannot fully replace.
Whichever direction you choose, the fundamentals of success remain identical: deliver a consistently excellent experience, market yourself effectively on social media and through local networks, and treat every event with the professionalism that generates referrals. The technology is just the tool. The business is built on execution.