Glam Photo Booth Rental San Francisco Bay Area: Is It for You?

A glam photo booth rental in the San Francisco Bay Area costs more than a standard booth, so it's fair to ask what the extra money buys. The short version: softer light, a classic black-and-white finish and photos that look like portraits instead of party snapshots. Here's how the EMCO Glam Booth stacks up against our two most popular booths.

• Glam Booth: from $379 for 2 hours. Soft beauty lighting, black-and-white portraits, unlimited prints.
• Printer Booth: from $298 for 2 hours. Color photos, unlimited prints, the fun party look.
• Digital Booth: from $228 for 2 hours. Photos, GIFs and boomerangs sent to phones, no prints unless you add them.

All three include a personalized picture design and props. The Glam Booth is $81 more than the Printer Booth for 2 hours. What you get for that is the lighting and the look.

When glam is worth it, and when it isn't

Pick the Glam Booth when you want the photos to feel elegant, not goofy. Black and white keeps the focus on faces, and the soft light is kind to everyone who steps in. It's the booth for guests who dressed up and want a picture that shows it.

Pick something else when the night is about silly props and loud colors. A teen birthday or a theme party is a better match for the Printer Booth or the 360 Booth. If guests only want photos on their phones, the Digital Booth saves money.

Glam photo booth rental San Francisco Bay Area prices

• 2 hours: $379
• 3 hours: $439
• 4 hours: $479
• 5 hours: $519
• 6 hours: $559

These prices are before tax. Bay Area events are taxed at 10.25%. A 3-hour Glam Booth you pick up yourself comes to $484.00 with tax. Paying by card adds a 5% fee.

Notice how the price climbs slowly after 3 hours. Going from 4 to 6 hours adds $80, which is why long receptions often go for the full 6.

Pickup from our location is free, and you return the booth the day after. Delivery and setup is $75. A 35% deposit locks your date, and the balance is due 7 days before the event for delivery, or at pickup.

Where the glam look fits best in the Bay Area

Weddings. The Fairmont San Francisco on Nob Hill is a good example of a room made for this booth. Formal ballroom weddings and soft, flattering light belong together. The same goes for vineyard weddings in Napa, where black and white keeps the photos timeless.

Galas and fundraisers. Black-tie nights in San Francisco call for photos guests are proud to post. A glam portrait with the event name on it does that. A reception after a ceremony at San Francisco City Hall in Civic Center also suits the look, since the photos match the formal feel of the day.

Milestone birthdays. A 40th, 50th or 60th in Palo Alto, San Mateo or Walnut Creek is the kind of party where people dress up and want a good picture of themselves. They get one, printed on the spot.

Brand events. Product launches and client parties in Redwood City or Santa Clara can use the Glam Booth for a polished, on-brand look instead of a carnival feel.

Backdrops, prints and extras

The backdrop matters a lot with the Glam Booth, because it sits right behind every portrait.

• Shimmery sequin backdrop: $100. Sparkles on camera and pops in black and white.
• Flower wall: $530. The most dramatic option for weddings.
• Grass wall: $500.
• 4x6 prints instead of strips: $200. Better for framing.
• Scrapbook: $240. Guests paste a print and sign a note.
• Customized picture, fully custom: $150
• Digital gallery: $120
• Red carpet VIP: $200
• LED inflatable: $240
• Extra lighting kit: $145
• Attendant: $50 an hour

Three sample budgets, before tax:

1. Ballroom wedding on Nob Hill, 6 hours: Glam Booth ($559), flower wall ($530), 4x6 prints ($200) and delivery ($75). Total $1,364.
2. San Francisco gala, 4 hours: Glam Booth ($479), shimmery backdrop ($100), attendant for 4 hours ($200) and delivery ($75). Total $854.
3. 50th birthday in San Mateo, 3 hours, picked up: Glam Booth ($439) and shimmery backdrop ($100). Total $539.

Questions people ask

Is the Glam Booth only black and white?

Black and white is the signature look. Ask us if you want color too.

Why does the Glam Booth cost more than a regular photo booth?

It brings soft beauty lighting for the portrait look, plus unlimited prints. For 2 hours it's $379, compared to $298 for the Printer Booth.

Which backdrop works best for a glam wedding?

The shimmery backdrop ($100) is the budget pick and sparkles in black and white. The flower wall ($530) gives the most formal look.

Can we get prints big enough to frame?

Yes. Strips are standard, and the 4x6 upgrade is $200.

See all booths and venue ideas on the Bay Area photo booth rental page, learn more about the Glam Booth, or get a free quote for your date.