Evanston Graduation Party Photo Booth Ideas

Graduation season in Evanston is busy. High school open houses, college send-offs and family dinners stack up across a few weekends, and guests often hit two or three parties in one afternoon. A photo booth gives them a reason to stay a little longer at yours.

Why a booth works at a grad party

Grad parties are casual and spread out. People drift between the food table, the yard and the driveway. A booth gives everyone one spot to gather, and it catches the photos you'd never get otherwise: the grad with their favorite teacher, three generations of the family, the friends who are about to move to different states.

It also takes the pressure off you. Nobody has to chase people down for a group shot.

Ideas guests actually use

• Sign props with your school colors. "Class of 2027," "Finally Finished" and "Proud Parent" signs always get picked up.
• A "where I'm headed" board. Have the grad write their next school or job on a small whiteboard and hold it in the shot.
• Yearbook-style prints. Put the grad's name, school and year on the photo design so every print looks like a page from a yearbook.
• Parents' corner. Ask parents and grandparents to take one serious shot and one silly one.
• Advice in a book. Add a scrapbook ($240) to a print booth so guests paste a photo and write advice for the grad.
• Superhero grads. The AI Booth can turn photos into a theme, like comic book heroes in your school colors.

Places to host in and around Evanston

Plenty of grad parties happen at home, but if you need more room, a few local spots rent space:

• Chandler-Newberger Center on Central Street is a city community center with room rentals. A Digital Booth fits easily in a multipurpose room.
• The Woman's Club of Evanston on Chicago Avenue is a 1912 clubhouse with a Grand Ballroom and a marble entry hall with a double staircase. A Printer Booth by the staircase makes the most of it.
• Halim Time & Glass Museum on Oak Avenue hosts private events for up to about 250 guests, with a Rooftop Garden. A 360 Booth on the rooftop gives grads a video with an open sky behind them.

Picking a booth for the party you're having

Prices are before tax, and every booth includes props and a personalized design.

Backyard open house

The Digital Booth is the easy choice: $228 for 2 hours, $278 for 3, $348 for 4. Photos, GIFs and boomerangs go straight to phones by text or QR code. It's also our lowest-priced booth, which helps when the rest of the budget goes to food. Pick it up free and you're done.

Bigger rented room

The Printer Booth is $298 for 2 hours, $348 for 3 and $398 for 4. Relatives love walking out with a print, and it pairs well with the scrapbook.

Party for a group of grads

When a few families throw one party together, the 360 Booth keeps a big friend group busy: $249 for 2 hours, $299 for 3, $349 for 4. Everyone gets a slow-motion video on their phone.

Timing it right

Open houses usually run 3 or 4 hours, but guests come in waves. If you only book 2 hours, aim for the middle of the party, when the most people overlap. If the party is at home, pickup is free and you return the booth the day after, which makes an afternoon open house simple. Delivery and setup is $75 if you'd rather not.

Questions people ask

How much is a photo booth for a graduation party?

With EMCO Booth, the Digital Booth is $228 for 2 hours before tax. The 360 Booth starts at $249, and the Printer Booth starts at $298.

Can we set it up outside?

Many grad parties do. Pick a shaded, flat spot near an outlet. The Digital Booth is the easiest outdoors since there's no printer.

Can the photos show the school and year?

Yes. Every booth includes a personalized design with the grad's name, school, year and colors.

How do we hold our date in graduation season?

A 35% deposit locks it in. The balance is due at pickup, or 7 days before the party if we deliver.

Evanston is part of the North Shore area we cover. See the Northbrook photo booth rental page, or build your package to see your total.