Is the attendant included in photo booth hire?

Yes, at any reputable UK provider. A professional attendant stays for the full session, manages the queue, helps guests, and handles any technical issues. If a quote lists the attendant as an extra, you are not looking at a standard package.

Do all photo booths include printing?

No. Printing is included in some packages and charged as a £50–£100 extra in others. 360 booths never print because the output is a video clip, not a photo. Check the quote before booking — printing is often the biggest price differentiator between similar providers.

Is travel included in photo booth hire?

Travel is typically included within the provider's standard radius (usually 30–40 miles). Beyond that, providers charge a per-mile rate or a flat travel fee. A Coventry-based booth travelling to London usually adds £80–£150 on top of the package.

What happens if something goes wrong with the booth on the night?

The attendant is trained to troubleshoot on the spot and has backup equipment in the van for common issues. Any reputable provider also carries public liability insurance. In the extremely rare case of a total failure, the provider should refund or compensate as per their terms of service — ask to see the written policy before booking.

What's Included in Photo Booth Hire?

The core package — what every decent provider should include

When you book a photo booth in the UK in 2026, the standard package at a reputable provider should include seven core elements, all bundled into the headline price. If any of these are missing or listed as extras, you are not looking at a professional package — keep shopping.

First, the booth and all equipment. This means the booth itself (selfie, 360, glass, magic mirror), the camera, the lighting, the touchscreen or interface, and any associated kit like platforms, LED rings, or backdrops. No hidden equipment hire fees on the day.

Second, setup and pack-down. The provider arrives at least 60 minutes before your event start time to set up, test, and be fully ready. At the end they break down the booth and clear the space without you having to chase them. This is typically included in the price because the setup time is as important as the operating time.

Third, a professional attendant for the full session. This is a trained person — not a part-time helper — who stands with the booth throughout, manages the queue, helps guests with posing, handles any technical issues quietly, and keeps props tidy. They make the difference between a slick experience and chaos.

Fourth, unlimited sessions. Guests can use the booth as many times as they want during the hire period, with no per-session cost. This is the default at all proper providers and you should be suspicious of any who cap session counts.

Fifth, a custom overlay featuring your event details. This is a designed frame that appears on every photo or video — typically featuring the couple's names and wedding date, the company logo for a corporate event, or the birthday celebrant's name. The overlay is designed 3–5 days before the event based on details you provide.

Sixth, props. A box of photo booth props — hats, glasses, feather boas, signs, themed items — is included so guests have something to play with. Premium providers upgrade the prop selection for themed events or offer bespoke props for weddings and corporate brand activations.

Seventh, the digital gallery. Within 24 hours of your event, you receive a private link to a gallery containing every photo and video captured during the session. Guests can download their individual shots and the couple or organiser keeps the full archive forever.

The attendant — what they actually do

A good attendant is worth their weight in gold, and they do far more than press a start button. They greet guests as they arrive, give a 30-second intro on how the booth works, hand out props, help with posing (especially the first session of the night when guests are nervous), and keep the queue flowing. They discreetly handle technical issues — a camera glitch, a printing jam, a guest who has had a few too many — without disrupting the event.

At weddings they become part of the team, coordinating with the wedding planner, DJ, and photographer. At corporate events they help capture lead-capture data (if the package includes it) and ensure branded overlays are rendering correctly. At kids' parties they manage the chaos of 30 over-excited children with the patience of a saint.

Ask potential providers about attendant training. At All Stars Entertainment, for instance, every attendant goes through a full briefing on the specific booth, event type, and any bespoke elements of your booking before they arrive. This is why 5.0 Google ratings happen.

Custom overlays — the branded frame on every photo

The overlay is the single most customisable element of a photo booth and the one that makes the output feel bespoke rather than generic. A wedding overlay typically features the couple's names, the wedding date, and a tasteful design matching the wedding stationery. A corporate overlay features the company logo, event hashtag, and brand colours. A birthday overlay features the celebrant's name and age.

Overlays are designed before the event using details you supply. Most providers offer 1–3 design revisions included in the price, and good providers will work with you on wording, colour, and layout to get it right. Anything beyond 3 revisions or highly bespoke illustration work may be chargeable, but that is rare for standard events.

Digital gallery vs printed photos

The digital gallery is included in every package. It is a private, shareable link to every photo and video from the event, usually delivered within 24 hours. Guests download their own shots; you keep the archive.

Physical printing is where the lines diverge by provider. Some include unlimited instant prints in the base package (meaning every photo is printed on the spot and handed to the guest); others charge £50–£100 as a print upgrade. 360 booths do not print because there is no frame to print. For weddings where you want the printed photo as a mini-keepsake for every guest, check upfront whether printing is included or extra — it is often the single biggest price differentiator between two otherwise similar providers.

What is usually extra?

Five things are commonly charged as extras, and you should ask about each before booking: unlimited physical printing (£50–£100 if not in the base package), branded backdrops for corporate events (£80–£150), magic mirror voice prompts and extra features (£50–£80), travel to venues outside the provider's standard radius of 30–40 miles (per-mile or flat rate), and idle time if you want the booth to run past your main event window (£30–£60 per hour).

Peak-season Saturday surcharges for summer weddings are another hidden cost to watch for. Reputable providers declare these upfront in the quote; shady ones add them at the contract stage.

Questions to ask before you book

Before committing, get clear written answers to these: Is the attendant included for the full session? Are unlimited sessions included? Is the custom overlay included (how many revisions)? Is the digital gallery included? Is printing included or extra? What is your travel charge beyond 40 miles? Are there any peak-season or Saturday surcharges? What is the cancellation policy?

A professional provider will answer all of these in writing before you pay a deposit. If any answer is vague or evasive, consider that a warning sign.

What to expect on the day

On the day, the attendant arrives 60–90 minutes before your event start time, sets up the booth in the agreed location, tests the equipment, and is ready to run from the minute your event opens. Guests start using it once the evening kicks off. The attendant stays through the full session, packs down within 30 minutes of the end, and you never have to worry about a thing.

Within 24 hours you receive the digital gallery link and the memory lives on for years. That is the complete package.

Want a full quote showing exactly what is included? Contact All Stars Entertainment — we provide itemised quotes with no surprises.