Portable photo booths and enclosed photo booths offer different experiences for events in Australia. Portable booths are lightweight, open, and easy to set up, making them ideal for smaller venues and events needing flexibility. They allow for social interaction, instant digital sharing, and accessibility for all guests. Enclosed booths, on the other hand, provide a private, nostalgic feel with controlled lighting and a cosy atmosphere, perfect for formal or intimate gatherings. Here’s how they compare:
- Portable Booths: Open design, compact, quick to set up, encourages group participation, and supports digital sharing.
- Enclosed Booths: Private space, vintage vibe, professional lighting, and suited for larger spaces.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Portable Booths | Enclosed Booths |
|---|---|---|
| Space Required | ≈2.4 × 2.4 m | ≈2.4 × 2.4 m + extra depth/height |
| Setup Time | Fast and simple | Longer, may need professional help |
| Transport | Lightweight, easy to move | Bulkier, more effort to transport |
| Guest Capacity | 1–5 people | 2–8 people |
| Privacy | Open and interactive | Private and intimate |
| Cost | Lower setup and transport costs | Higher setup and transport costs |
Choosing the right booth depends on your event’s size, theme, and guest preferences. Portable booths suit modern and casual events, while enclosed booths work well for formal or nostalgic occasions.
Portable Photo Booths
What Are Portable Photo Booths?
Portable photo booths bring a modern twist to the classic photo booth experience. Unlike the bulky, enclosed setups of the past, these booths are sleek, lightweight, and designed for ultimate flexibility. They typically consist of a compact camera tower or kiosk placed in front of a backdrop, doing away with the walls and curtains that defined traditional booths.
Equipped with digital interfaces, they offer an intuitive and engaging user experience. Their compact design makes them easy to set up almost anywhere, whether it’s a small backyard party or a large corporate event. This open design creates a social, interactive atmosphere, encouraging guests to mingle and enjoy the experience together.
Key Features and Benefits
Portable photo booths stand out for their practicality and user-friendly features, making them a popular choice for modern events. Here’s why:
- Easy Setup and Transport: Thanks to their lightweight design, these booths are simple to move and assemble, often without the need for special tools. This saves time and effort, letting event organisers focus on other priorities.
- Space-Saving Design: Unlike traditional enclosed booths, portable options take up minimal space, making them perfect for smaller venues like cosy restaurants or busy office spaces.
- Digital Integration: These booths shine in today’s connected world, offering instant social sharing. Guests can snap a photo and upload it to their favourite platforms in real time, adding a fun, interactive element to any event.
- Eco-Friendly Option: By eliminating the need for paper and ink, digital photo booths provide a more sustainable choice for environmentally conscious hosts.
- Accessibility: The open design ensures that everyone – regardless of age or mobility – can join in the fun without barriers.
Best Use Cases
Portable photo booths are a versatile solution for events where flexibility and mobility are key. Here are some of the best scenarios to use them:
- Weddings: Their portability allows them to be easily moved between different areas of the celebration, ensuring all guests can enjoy the experience.
- Corporate Events: With their sleek design and digital sharing capabilities, they’re a hit at corporate activations and events. In fact, demand for these booths in corporate settings has surged by 150%.
- Birthday Parties and Intimate Gatherings: The open design encourages group participation, making them ideal for smaller celebrations where guests want to capture memories together.
- Events with Unique Layouts: Whether the venue is spread across multiple areas or requires frequent adjustments, portable photo booths are an excellent choice for accommodating movement and unconventional spaces.
From weddings to corporate events, portable photo booths offer a seamless way to enhance any occasion with minimal effort and maximum engagement. Their modern, user-friendly features ensure they remain a go-to option for event organisers everywhere.
Enclosed Photo Booths
What Are Enclosed Photo Booths?
Enclosed photo booths bring back the charm of classic photo booth experiences that many Australians fondly remember. These booths are private spaces enclosed by curtains, panels, or even inflatable walls, creating a separate and intimate environment away from the main event area. Unlike open-style booths, these setups offer a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of vintage photo booths.
Typically, enclosed booths are designed to fit 2–4 guests, though some larger versions can accommodate up to 8 people. This contained space provides a unique opportunity for guests to step away from the crowd and enjoy a more personal photo session. The result is a cosy, private experience that stands in contrast to the open, social nature of portable booths.
Key Features and Benefits
Enclosed photo booths come with several standout features that make them a popular choice for events:
- Privacy: The enclosed design offers a secluded space, helping guests feel at ease. This privacy often leads to more relaxed, candid, and playful photos.
- Professional Lighting: Equipped with built-in lighting, these booths ensure consistently high-quality images, even in dimly lit venues.
- Noise Control: The enclosed structure reduces sound, making it easier for guests to hear instructions while minimising noise interference with the rest of the event.
- Creative Prop Play: The private setting encourages guests to experiment with props and themes, leading to fun and creative photo sessions.
- Spontaneous Moments: The intimate atmosphere inside the booth fosters genuine, unguarded expressions that are perfect for capturing special memories.
These features make enclosed booths a versatile option for events where privacy and quality are priorities.
Best Use Cases
Enclosed photo booths are a nod to the past, blending nostalgia with modern convenience. They work particularly well in settings where privacy, a traditional aesthetic, or a controlled environment is desired:
- Corporate Events and Team Building: The private booths create a relaxed environment where colleagues can let loose and have fun, making them a hit at company parties or team-building events.
- Formal Events and Weddings: Their vintage appeal and controlled lighting make them ideal for formal occasions, ensuring that guests’ attire and makeup are captured beautifully.
- Intimate Gatherings: For smaller, more personal events, enclosed booths allow close friends or family members to share special moments without distractions from the crowd.
- Spacious Venues: Since these booths are larger and require more setup time than portable options, they’re best suited for venues with plenty of space to accommodate them comfortably.
Enclosed photo booths offer a timeless experience, combining privacy, quality, and a touch of nostalgia to create memorable moments for guests.
Size, Convenience, and Functionality Comparison
Size and Space Requirements
One of the most noticeable differences between portable and enclosed photo booths is the amount of space they take up. Portable booths usually need just a 2.4 × 2.4 m area, making them easy to place in various locations. On the other hand, enclosed booths not only require the same footprint but also need extra vertical clearance and an additional depth of about 1.23 m .
Capacity is another factor to consider. For example, a 360 photo booth with a 40-inch (100 cm) diameter can typically fit one to five people. Enclosed booths, however, are designed to fit more guests at once. Portable booths are often smaller and may come with fewer props or accessories compared to enclosed options. This size difference also impacts how easy they are to set up and move around.
Transport and Setup
When it comes to moving and setting up, portable photo booths are much easier to handle. Their lightweight design makes them simple to transport, making them a great choice for events where quick setup and teardown are needed. The process is straightforward and doesn’t require much effort.
Enclosed booths, however, are bulkier and need more effort to transport. They also take up more floor space and often require professional help for setup, which can take longer . This means you’ll need to account for extra time and possibly higher costs when planning your event. Portable booths, with their compact and flexible design, are better suited for smaller spaces.
User Experience and Features
The differences in logistics also affect the overall experience for guests. Here’s a quick comparison of the key features:
| Feature | Portable Photo Booths | Enclosed Photo Booths |
|---|---|---|
| Space Required | ≈2.4 × 2.4 m | ≈2.4 × 2.4 m plus vertical clearance |
| Setup Time | Quick | Longer; may need professional help |
| Transport | Lightweight and easy to move | Bulkier; requires extra manpower |
| Guest Capacity | Fits 1–5 people | Can fit several people |
| Prop Availability | Fewer props and accessories | More props and accessories available |
| Cost Efficiency | Lower setup and transport costs | Higher setup and transport costs |
In general, portable (open-air) booths are a more budget-friendly choice. Their simple setup and ease of transport make them appealing to event organisers looking to save on costs.
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How to Choose the Right Photo Booth
What to Consider
When deciding between photo booth options, several factors come into play, including your guest count, venue size, event theme, budget, and the level of privacy you want for your guests.
Guest count is a major consideration. Open-air booths shine at larger events, as they keep the photo-taking process efficient, allowing more people to participate without creating long queues. On the other hand, enclosed booths are perfect for smaller, more intimate gatherings, offering a private space for guests to enjoy their moment in front of the camera.
Venue space is another critical element. It’s important to measure the available area and compare it with the dimensions of different booth setups. Open-air booths are compact and adaptable, making them ideal for venues with limited space. Make sure to also account for the booth’s power requirements and overall footprint to avoid any last-minute surprises.
Event type and theme can also guide your decision. Open-air booths are great for modern or branded events, as they allow for customisable backdrops that can align with your theme. Meanwhile, enclosed booths add a touch of nostalgia, making them a great fit for retro-style celebrations.
Budget is another factor to weigh. Open-air booths are typically more cost-effective due to their simpler setup and quicker installation time, which can help stretch your event budget further.
Lastly, consider the experience you want to create for your guests. Open-air booths encourage interaction and are accessible to everyone, while enclosed booths provide a more private, intimate experience for those who prefer it. Additionally, enclosed booths often offer controlled lighting for consistent photo quality, whereas open-air booths might be influenced by ambient light conditions.
One Click Events Photo Booth Options
Once you’ve considered these factors, One Click Events makes it easy to find a booth that matches your needs. As an award-winning entertainment company based in Melbourne, they bring over seven years of experience and maintain a 5-star customer rating by offering modern equipment and exceptional service.
Their photo booth collection includes options to suit every occasion:
- Open-air booths: Perfect for group shots and interactive fun.
- Enclosed booths: Ideal for creating a classic, vintage vibe.
- GIF and flipbook booths: Great for capturing animated memories.
- Luxury glam booths: Designed for premium, high-end events.
Each booth comes with customisable backdrops and props, ensuring it blends seamlessly with your event’s theme.
As One Click Events explains:
"We offer several photo booth options, including open-air and enclosed booths, GIF and boomerang booths, and custom backdrops and props, to ensure your event is truly unforgettable."
What makes One Click Events stand out is their transparent pricing and all-inclusive approach. Packages start at $250.00, with no hidden fees, making it simple to plan within your budget.
The company caters to weddings, parties, and corporate events, offering tailored packages that can include extras like custom printing, online photo galleries, and social media-ready content. For instance, in July 2025, a customer named Karen C. hired One Click Events for light-up letters and a photo booth. She praised the high-quality photo strips and the quick delivery of digital photos via Google Drive within a week.
With ABIA and ABS accreditation and a reputation for excellence, One Click Events is frequently recognised for their professional service. Customers often highlight their friendly staff and sleek booth designs, which add a polished touch to any event atmosphere.
Whether you’re hosting a small, intimate wedding or a large corporate event, One Click Events can help you choose the perfect booth to suit your space, guest count, and budget. Their experienced team knows how to optimise booth setups for Melbourne venues, ensuring the photo booth adds to the overall success of your event.
The different types of Photo Booths
Conclusion
Deciding between a portable photo booth and a traditional enclosed option comes down to understanding what your event truly needs. Portable photo booths shine when flexibility and convenience are key – they’re perfect for events with limited space or for those who want a modern touch, like touchscreen features and instant social media sharing.
On the other hand, traditional enclosed booths offer a more private and classic experience. They’re a great fit for formal gatherings or nostalgic-themed events, where guests can enjoy the cosy environment without feeling like they’re in the spotlight. While they take up more space and need more setup time, they bring a timeless charm with printed photo strips and physical props that add a tactile layer to the fun.
Portable booths are ideal for mobility and group-friendly fun, while enclosed booths focus on creating a private and elegant vibe. Both have their strengths, but choosing the right one can elevate your event by encouraging guest interaction and leaving everyone with lasting memories.
For Australian events, One Click Events offers both portable open-air and traditional enclosed photo booths, designed to fit a variety of venues, guest counts, and budgets. Based in Melbourne, their team has successfully handled over 1,000 events, earning a consistent 5-star rating. With all-inclusive packages and ABIA and ABS accreditation, they bring professionalism and expertise to weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations – helping you create unforgettable moments with ease.
FAQs
What should I consider when choosing between a portable photo booth and an enclosed photo booth for my event?
When deciding between a portable photo booth and an enclosed photo booth, it’s important to consider your event’s space, the vibe you’re aiming for, and what your guests might enjoy most.
Portable photo booths are open-air setups, making them ideal for smaller venues or when you want to fit larger groups into a single photo. They’re perfect for creating a lively, social atmosphere, so they work especially well for events like birthdays or casual parties where mingling and fun are the focus.
Meanwhile, enclosed photo booths offer a more private and classic experience. With their nostalgic charm, they’re a great match for formal events or intimate gatherings. However, they do need a bit more room to set up properly. If your goal is a cosy and personal feel rather than an open, interactive vibe, an enclosed booth might be the better option.
Think about your venue size, the number of guests attending, and the type of atmosphere you want to create to make the right choice for your event.
How do portable photo booths boost guest interaction and create a fun atmosphere at events?
Portable photo booths are an excellent way to get guests involved and energise the vibe at any event. Because they can move around, these booths make it easy for guests to jump in, interact, and enjoy themselves without being tied to one spot. This flexibility sparks spontaneous fun and helps ensure everyone feels part of the action.
Many of these booths are packed with fun, interactive features like touchscreens, filters, and instant photo-sharing options. Guests can snap a shot and post it to social media on the spot, adding a modern twist to the celebration. Beyond capturing memories, these booths are great icebreakers, making them a hit at weddings, parties, and corporate events alike.
How do enclosed photo booths create a nostalgic and private experience for guests?
Enclosed photo booths offer a nostalgic nod to the past, evoking the charm of vintage-style booths that many remember fondly. With their enclosed design, these booths create a cosy, private space where guests can unwind and snap photos without the distractions of the outside world. This setup makes it easier to capture those genuine, candid moments that feel truly special.
The added privacy also allows guests to feel at ease, often inspiring playful poses and personal expressions. This blend of old-school appeal and a sense of exclusivity makes enclosed photo booths a standout feature for any event.