Choosing a photo booth in Calgary: start with the vibe, not the gear

Booking a photo booth rental in Calgary should be the fun part of planning. The catch is that "photo booth" can mean very different things: a curtained booth that prints a classic strip, an open-air portrait setup for big groups, or a vintage phone booth where guests leave video messages. At Pure Portrait we run all of them for weddings, parties and corporate events across Calgary, Banff and Canmore, so here is a plain-English buyer's guide to picking the right booth and the right prints.

If you want the full overview first, read our Calgary photo booth rental guide, then come back here to compare.

Step 1: Decide enclosed or open-air

Enclosed curtain booths give you privacy, silly poses and that nostalgic "pull the curtain" moment. They are best for couples, small groups and anyone who wants a real keepsake strip. Open-air portrait booths suit bigger groups, family photos and corporate step-and-repeat style photos, because everyone can squeeze in front of the camera. Our post on the enclosed photo booth comeback explains why curtain booths are so popular again.

Step 2: Match the booth to your event

Nostalgic: the heirloom strip

The Nostalgic vintage photo booth is a sit-down curtain booth that prints three frames on the spot. Guests can also choose an Old Hollywood sepia look. It is a great fit for couples who want a printed keepsake for decades.

Retro: the classic mall booth

The Retro photo booth is the booth you remember from the mall. Strike three poses and walk away with an instant 2x6 strip in black and white or colour.

Late Night Analog (LNA): the party booth

The Late Night Analog booth is built for the evening. A custom marquee sign can carry your names, and the front screen can be branded with a monogram or logo, which makes it popular for monogram weddings, company parties and brand activations.

Colour Shotz: bright, colourful portraits

The Colour Shotz photo booth is an open-air portrait booth for guests who want colour photos and room for the whole crew.

Black & White: timeless and glam

The Black & White photo booth is an open-air portrait booth with a clean, editorial look. It works especially well for weddings in Calgary, Banff and Canmore, and for corporate events where you want polished group shots.

Vintage phone booth: the video guestbook

Not every event needs prints. Our vintage phone booth video guestbook lets guests pick up the receiver and leave a video message you will replay for years. It is $999 and includes a video guestbook. See all event and corporate packages for details.

Step 3: Choose your prints

Strip format

Our enclosed booths print instant 2x6 photo strips with three frames, the classic format that fits a wallet, a fridge or a guestbook page. If you are planning a specific print size or layout for the open-air booths, mention it when you contact us and we will confirm what is available for your date.

Finish and look

Classic black and white feels timeless and hides tricky venue lighting. Colour keeps outfits, florals and décor true to the night. At the Nostalgic booth you can also add the Old Hollywood sepia look. If you cannot decide, pick the look that matches your wedding photos so everything feels like one story.

Branding and personalization

For weddings, names and a date on the strip turn each print into a favour. For corporate events, a logo on the booth screen or print keeps your brand in guests' hands long after the party. Late Night Analog is our most customizable option with its marquee sign and branded front screen.

Weddings vs corporate events and parties

Weddings: prioritize privacy and keepsakes. A curtain booth with unlimited prints and a video guestbook gives guests something to take home and gives you something to watch later. Wedding packages start from $1,649 with unlimited prints and a video guestbook, and you can see everything on our wedding photo booth pricing page.

Corporate events, birthdays and parties: prioritize throughput and branding. Open-air booths move groups through quickly and branded prints double as marketing. Compare options on all photo booth packages or read about corporate photo booth rental in Calgary.

Banff and Canmore

Getting married in the mountains? We bring our booths to Banff and Canmore venues too, with an attendant to set up, run and pack down.

Quick checklist before you book

  • Enclosed (privacy, keepsake) or open-air (groups, branding)?
  • Black and white, colour or sepia prints?
  • Do you need a logo, monogram or custom names?
  • Do you want a video guestbook, or a phone booth?
  • Is your venue in Calgary, Banff or Canmore?

Ready to pick your booth?

Tell us your date, venue and guest count on our contact page and we will recommend the best fit. You can also head back to the Pure Portrait home page to see our booths in action.