Extra costs here, extra costs there. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, in this article we'll show you the approximate prices you should expect for photo box hire and what other costs might be added. It is important that you communicate your needs clearly so that the provider can send you a customised offer.
The total rent depends on many factors
Of course, the main component of the cost calculation is the photo box itself. However, in addition to the photobooth, there may be further costs depending on which additional options you have chosen. Possible extras are
- Costume items such as glasses, masks, hats, etc.
- Printers and printouts
- Delivery and return transport by the provider
- Accessories such as Backdrops or barrier cords to delimit your photo corner
- Logo placement or creation of an entire Photo Layouts
- On-site support
How much does a photo box cost?
There is not the Photobox. Many photobooths are designed in-house and are therefore very different from one another. However, just as many photobooths are standardised products from internationally active manufacturers (one of which is, for example ATA Photo Booths).
Prices start at just under CHF 200 per day of use and range up to several thousand francs. You can read about what you should look out for in your photobooth in this article. One of the main cost factors is usually the built-in camera. You should budget CHF 200 to CHF 400 for a model with an iPad camera, while a model with an SLR camera is available from around CHF 400.
- Attention: Some hire companies differentiate between hire during the week and at the weekend. The weekend rate can be CHF 50 to CHF 100 higher.
Fun dressing-up items to spice up your photos
You've never seen your guests like this before! What would photobooths be without funny costume items, also known as «props»? With many providers, the joke articles are already included in the offer, with other providers they cost between CHF 20 and CHF 50 extra. These are usually glasses, masks, hats, wigs, signs, etc.
Disguise case with various props (source: FotoboxZürich.ch)
For eternity: print photos
Even though many things are digital in this day and age, printed photos are still a memento for life. Especially at weddings, hardly anyone wants to do without them. There are various options here:
-
Photo box with inclusive units:
A certain number of prints are already included in the photo box hire. Usually with the more expensive offers from approx. CHF 500. -
Printout package as an additional option:
The printer and printouts are offered as packages. These are usually packages of 100, 200, 400 or 600 prints. The 100-pack is usually around CHF 100, the 600-pack often around CHF 250. -
Individual hire of the printer and billing for each printout:
If you are not yet able to estimate the number of prints, many photo box hire companies offer to hire the printer individually (usually for CHF 50 to CHF 70) and then pay for each print individually (approximately between CHF 0.50 and CHF 1.00 per print).
For maximum convenience: delivery & return transport by the provider
You don't want to pick up, set up, dismantle and return the photo box yourself? The vast majority of hire companies offer this service. Some photobooths are even delivered to you by post. In most cases, however, a price per kilometre is charged. This is usually between CHF 1.00/km and CHF 1.50/km. However, it should be noted that four times the distance must be calculated: One journey to the venue, one journey back, and usually the same again the following day. The calculation is often based on Google Maps used.
In contrast to kilometre-based billing, there are also rental companies that offer you fixed prices for different regions.
Myfotobox.ch
Photo Booth All-In-One
- 24 megapixel SLR camera
- Studio flash with panoramic diffuser
- Photos, GIFs & Boomerangs
- Second screen for viewing photos
- 24/7 emergency number incl. TeamViewer support
- Printer 10 sec/photo (optional)
Complete your booking with accessories
To get the most out of your photo box experience, most hire companies have accessories in their range. These include, for example, background walls or festive barrier cords. For around CHF 50 you can get loose hanging background fabrics, for around CHF 100 you can get fixed, crease-free background systems. Barrier cords are usually available from around CHF 50. A special type of background is the green screen: It needs plenty of even light, so that the green colour remains as consistent as possible. This leads to relatively high costs and a relatively large amount of work.
Accessories such as backgrounds, barrier cords, etc. (Source: FotoboxZürich.ch)
Your photo just the way you like it
The photo itself can also be customised: You usually have the choice between placing graphic files such as a logo or designing an entire photo layout (e.g. a frame, several photos on one printout, etc.). There are providers who already include these services in the price, as well as providers who charge additional costs (approx. CHF 50). This category also includes a customised start screen. In some cases, you can choose from predefined templates or request your own design. Depending on the provider, another CHF 50 or so will be charged for this. Under this link for example, you can see the possibilities in the photo box software «SimpleBooth».
Myfotobox.ch
Photo Booth All-In-One
- 24 megapixel SLR camera
- Studio flash with panoramic diffuser
- Photos, GIFs & Boomerangs
- Second screen for viewing photos
- 24/7 emergency number incl. TeamViewer support
- Printer 10 sec/photo (optional)
Fully automated or with on-site support
Most photo boxes work fully automatically. As soon as the power cable is plugged in, the box starts up. Photos are then taken using the touchscreen or foot trigger. If you prefer to play it safe and would like on-site support, you can usually book this for an hourly rate of CHF 50 to CHF 100. However, personal supervision by rental staff is rarely really necessary.
Conclusion: How much does a photo box cost?
There are big differences and the costs depend heavily on your requirements. In general, the offers can be roughly divided into these three categories:
- A simple overall offer beats with about CHF 400 to book.
- If you want an SLR camera and enough prints, you're in the right place. CHF 600 to CHF 700.
- If you are interested in a more complex solution including delivery and return transport, the price ranges from CHF 1,000.
You can find out what you should look out for when choosing your perfect photo box in this article.
