A photo booth is a coin-operated vending machine or modern kiosk that houses an automated camera and film processing. Or at least that’s what they used to be. The picture booths these days are digital. Usually they are brought to special events like weddings and graduations to capture a memory no one will want to forget.

There has been an average of 226,000 monthly searches for a photo booth as of 2016. Since 2015, it has increased by 48.9%. (in the UK alone this is nearly 20,000 searches a month). This is a whole lot of interest every single month.

Due to the cost of high-quality photographic equipment coming way down, the cost to open one of these businesses is attainable by just about anyone. Here’s the data around this growing industry and predictions for the next few years. Is this still an industry you want to get involved in when everyone has a camera in their pocket? Find out below.

Photo set.

Photo Booth Industry Statistics

The market for photo booths is expected to develop at a 16 percent CAGR from 2021 to 2027, with market size of USD 400 million in 2020. (Global Market Insights)

The number of searches for “photo booth rental” has increased by 22% (this keyword gets close to 50,000 searches each month). Please note that this 22 percent is based on a three-month comparison. The 19% figure above is for the entire year.

Around 4 billion people used social media as of January 2021, accounting for roughly half of the world’s population. Photo booths allow users to publish photographs, videos, and animated GIFs to their social media accounts fast, simply, and securely. Customers may post their images right from the booth on Facebook and Instagram thanks to the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies. (Global Market Insights)

Everything pertaining to wedding photo booths has increased by 14%. 

The photo booth market is expected to develop due to an increase in tourists from emerging countries. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, approximately 32 million foreign tourists visited Japan in 2019, up 2.2 percent from the previous year. (Global Market Insights)

The number of people looking for a “corporate” photo booth rental has increased by over 30%. The volume of searches for this topic, on the other hand, is relatively low. At live events, guests take an average of 21 images and share them on social media. (Event Marketer)

The number of people looking for “vintage” photo booths has increased by 15%. However, searches for a “vintage” photo booth to rent have dropped by half. (Pro Starra)

Within one month of their engagement, 49% of our couples visit WeddingWire, with some even before saying “yes!” (Photo Booth International)

In general, searches for photo booth “ideas” have decreased by 11%. Meanwhile, searches for photo booth ideas for birthday parties and wedding receptions are on the rise. (Pro Starra)

Although the majority of couples had a budget, 74% of newlyweds say they went over budget for their wedding. Only 16% of those who were given a budget stayed within it. (Photo Booth International)

Photo booth items are being searched for less than a third of the time (this still represents around 16,000 monthly searches). (Pro Starra)

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Professional photography is alive and well in this age of smartphones. According to research, picture booth proprietors can make up to a 75 percent profit margin. Prints have a tactile and sentimental worth that is lacking in their digital counterparts. (Photo Booth International)

Searches for “budget” photo booth rentals have dropped by more than 12%. (Pro Starra)

The cost of a social gathering might be anywhere from $500 to $1,000 per event. You may also charge by the hour, which usually costs $250-$250. (Photo Booth International)

The SnapBar is a high-end photo booth. Its staffing and printing packages start at $1,099, with additional pricing based on customer customization. In the market, the cheapest options typically range from $300 to $500. (The Ringer)

In comparison to social parties, corporate events have higher hourly prices, ranging from $350-$450 per hour. You can charge extra if the experience is more customized (green screens, branded photographs, and other unique components). (Photo Booth International)

Snap, snap.

Photo Sharing Industry Statistics

Global online users shared approximately 41.6 million mobile texts and 2.1 million pictures in a single internet minute in 2019, demonstrating digital consumers’ ongoing urge to communicate and share. (Statista)

More than 20 billion gadgets are expected to be connected to the internet in the next two years. (Crifax)

Facebook, the market leader, now has 2.4 billion monthly active users, while Instagram, the photo- and video-sharing app, has over one billion monthly active accounts. (Statista)

In a survey of more than 250 people, 70% stated they watch Facebook Stories more frequently than Instagram or Snapchat Stories. (HubSpot)

Reddit is a network traffic giant, with around 1.6 billion visitors in April 2019, making it one of the most popular websites online. (Statista)

BuzzSumo discovered that articles with a picture per 75-100 words earned twice as many social media shares as posts with fewer images, based on a study of over 1 million articles. (Buzzsumo)

Every day, more than 500 million Instagram profiles utilize Stories, and 4 million businesses use Stories ads on a monthly basis. After viewing a brand/product via Stories, 58 percent of those polled said it piqued their curiosity. (Instagram Business)

The greatest demographic of Instagram users in the United States as of January 2021 was between the ages of 25 and 35, accounting for 33.1 percent of Instagram’s user base in the United States. (Statista)

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Instagram is used by 72 percent of teenagers, while Snapchat is used by nearly as many (69 percent). Since 2015, both have climbed by more than 20%. (Pew Research) Images get 2.3 times more interaction on Facebook than posts without them. (Buzzsumo)

In 2019, revenue from Pinterest shopping advertisements increased by 100 percent. (Pinterest) As of 2020, there were 249 million Snapchat users that were active on a daily basis. (Statista)

Advertisers on Pinterest may reach over 169 million individuals. (Hootsuite)

Pins that show a product or service in action have a 67 percent higher chance of driving sales. (Pinterest Business)

Every minute, 527,760 photographs are shared on Snapchat. (Bernardmarr)

People who follow directions that include text and graphics perform 323 percent better than those who do not. (Springer)

On Instagram, 95 million photographs and videos are shared every day. (Bernardmarr)

Photo Printing Industry Statistics

The adoption of picture printing technology has been hampered by factory and company closures across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Because North America is home to numerous manufacturing and technology companies, the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, which is predicted to extend through 2021, will substantially impact the region. (Market Research Future)

In 2021, the market size for online photo printing in the United States will be $3.3 billion. (IBISWorld)

In 2019, the photo printing market was worth $14,769.9 million, and by 2027, it is predicted to be worth $27,335.3 million. (The Insight Partners)

In 2017, the United States held a market share of 40.45%. The high costs of self-printing kiosk installation and maintenance are projected to stifle market expansion. The machine costs between $10,000 and $20,000 on average. (Market Research Future)

Because of the rising trend of content sharing across social media platforms, which indirectly affects the growth of the photo printing market in this region, North America accounted for the biggest market share in 2019. (The Insight Partners)

The global Photo Printing and Merchandise market was worth 15300 million dollars in 2017, and is predicted to be worth 28400 million dollars by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 8.1 percent between 2018 and 2025. (My News Desk)

Consumers may now print their images straight on albums, apparel, wall art, mugs, cards, and gifts thanks to digital camera innovations from firms like Sony and Panasonic. (The Insight Partners)

In 2016, the overall U.S. picture printing business, excluding home printing and immediate, was estimated to be worth $10.1 billion. (Digital Imaging Reporter)

FujiFilms developed the “Instax tiny Link” smartphone printer in 2019, which uses Bluetooth to produce high-quality Instax prints of photos stored on smartphones. (The Insight Partners)

Market Size Growth in 2021 for Online Photo Printing in the United States is expected to be 0.6 percent. (IBISWorld)

According to Data Bridge Industry Research, the photo printing market is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 6.5 percent from 2021 to 2028, reaching USD 27,377.99 million by 2028. (Data Bridge Market Research)

In 2016, it was estimated that the consumer retail segment was worth $3.8 billion. This translates to 8.2 billion printed products (prints, picture albums, greeting cards, wall décor, and calendars) from 176 million print orders. (Digital Imaging Reporter)

After the United States, Germany is the second-largest market, owing to its extensive use of photo printing and merchandise printed products as a result of its promotional operations. (Data Bridge Market Research)

Shutterfly, Inc., Peak Imaging, Snapfish, and Mpix are some of the companies that operate in the Photo Printing Products industry. (PR Newswire)

Annualized Market Size Growth 2016–2021 for Online Photo Printing in the United States is 1.7 percent. (IBISWorld)

Bay Photo Lab, Printique LLC, WhiteWall, Cardfactory, LLC, Kodak Alaris Inc., AGC, LLC, Cimpress, JONDO Ltd, MILLER’S PROFESSIONAL IMAGING, RitzPix, Nations Photolab, Smartphoto Group, Walmart, Shutterfly Inc., Digitalab, and Walgreen Co. (A Subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.) are among the major players in the photo printing and merchandise. (Data Bridge Market Research)

Will Photo Booths be Popular in the Future? (Industry Predictions)

The industry is expected to increase due to the high demand for photo booths for capturing moments at various events such as weddings and corporate events. (Global Market Insights)

Due to the widespread use of photo booths in various retail stores and shopping complexes, the North American photo booth market is expected to rise significantly throughout the forecast period. (Market Watch)

The photo booth market is expected to develop due to an increase in tourists from emerging countries. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, approximately 32 million foreign tourists visited Japan in 2019, up 2.2 percent from the previous year. (Global Market Insights)

Video, gifs, green screen, slow motion, and other effects are now available in photo booths, which has kept them in great demand. (DJ Times)

Demand for photo booth solutions in Japan is expected to grow at a rate of over 15% CAGR through 2027, owing to the rising demand for photo booths with high-quality cameras. In the market for shooting branded images, high-resolution DSLR-based photo booths are seeing significant popularity. (Global Market Insights)

The global Photo Booth market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.6 percent from USD 378.2 million in 2020 to USD 730.6 million in 2026. (The Cowboy Channel)

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In 2020, the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the photo booth business. The imposition of travel prohibitions and the temporary shutdown of entertainment and retail venues have severely hampered market growth. Due to the closing of movie theaters and the cancellation of events, demand for photo booths has decreased. (Global Market Insights)

Everything linked to “video” with photo booths has dropped by about 6%. Searches for “portable” or “mobile” photo booths have increased by nearly 25%. This is a strong predictor of growth. 

Weddings, corporate celebrations, parties, festivals, and school formals are all using open air photo booths. Customers will have a more enjoyable and engaging experience with these portable studios than with typical closed booths. (Global Market Insights)

Take a picture. It will last longer.

Because of their customizable backdrops, theme-based text printed on the images, and elegant design, photo booths are becoming increasingly popular at weddings and celebrations. (Global Market Insights)

The number of people looking for picture booths for birthday parties has increased by a quarter. (Pro Starra)

The photo booth market revenue will be driven by the increased popularity of photo booths in wedding parties. Every year, about 2.5 million weddings take place in the United States, with the average wedding costing around USD 34,000 in 2019. (Global Market Insights)

Celebrations with large crowds will be replaced with smaller gatherings and possibly outdoor ‘al fresco’ style parties. Gardens and rustic barn settings will become popular choices. (Smart Pics UK)

The expansion of the photo booth market will be driven by customized features that allow users to take unique photographs that can be shared on social media sites. (Global Market Insights)

To make up for canceled and postponed dates, weddings will be held every day of the week in 2021, not only on weekends. Despite the industry’s frustrations and heartbreaks in 2020, the best venues, caterers, florists, photographers, and photo booth vendors will continue to be in high demand. (Smart Pics UK)

Photo booths are becoming increasingly popular in the entertainment industry as a way to improve the fun and gaming experience of clients. Purikura, a Japanese picture booth, for example, is mainly found on the basement floor of various arcades in Japan. (Global Market Insights)

T. E. Enjalbert, a French inventor, created the first known fully functional photography machine (March 1889). It debuted in the Paris World’s Fair in 1889. Anatol Josepho (formerly Josephewitz), who immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1923, invented the contemporary photo booth with (later) a curtain, with the first one debuting on Broadway in New York City in 1925.

How much does it cost to start a photo booth?

Would you want to take my picture?

Photo booths have grown in popularity since in spite of the fact everyone has a high-quality camera on their phone. You can start a photo booth business in no time with a little technological knowledge, a few thousand dollars, and a little ambition. This type of business can pay $100 per hour or more once it’s up and running.

Surprisingly, starting a photo booth business isn’t expensive. In fact, if you’re thrifty and handy, you can make one for well under $5,000 all in. Although the booth, camera, and other equipment aren’t outrageously costly, you’ll need to invest in a high quality printer, a background, and props so customers can play dress up.

A substantial booth will set you back around $2,500 and may be dismantled. A simple camera, on the other hand, costs around $500. Consider investing in better lenses—or a better camera—as you progress. For $360, you can get a laptop, and for $175, you can get simple software like DSLR Remote Pro. Other resources, such as a printer, props, and other items, are typically inexpensive and available online.

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