Knowledge Base
How can we help?
Straight answers to the questions buyers and operators ask us most: prices, shipping, payments, setup and Chalkak OS.
Watch and learn
Start a Photobooth Business: the video guide
13 short episodes, from choosing a booth to your first paying guest, built from thousands of real customer questions.
60-second answers
One question, one short video.
Most asked
- What is included in the price of a machine?Every machine comes complete: the Canon mirrorless camera, the DNP printer, built-in lighting, the touchscreen, Chalkak OS Core for the first year, a 12-month warranty and paper and ink for 700 prints.
- What do I pay after the first year?Chalkak OS Core, US$199 a year per booth from year two. It is the only required fee. Beyond that you pay for paper and ink as you use them, and Care+ only if you want a longer warranty.
- Are import duties and taxes included?Yes for the USA, Canada, Europe and the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines: the price is delivered duty paid. In Australia and New Zealand, import GST and duties are paid by you on arrival.
- Where is my order?After you pay the balance we send the tracking details and shipping documents. At sea there is little news to share; near arrival the delivery company contacts you to book a time. For an update at any point, email hello@chalkak-studio.com with your order name.
- How can I pay for my order?Bank transfer in your own currency with no fee from us, card through Stripe (+6%), PayPal (+8.9%), or 12 monthly instalments (+9%). Standard terms are 60% to start production and 40% before shipping.
- Does the booth support my local payment method?We connect local methods including UPI (India), PIX (Brazil), TWINT (Switzerland), iDEAL (Netherlands), mada (Saudi Arabia), NETS (Singapore), Stripe and Square, or your own payment provider.
- What is the difference between Standard and Standard Advanced?They are the same booth, but the Advanced has a camera that moves up and down at the press of a button, so tall guests, kids and wheelchair users all get the right angle. It costs US$200 more and is our best seller.
- How does ordering work, from quote to first guest?Five steps: pick your booth, get one all-in number, pay 60% to start production, check the QC video and pay the balance before shipping, then we set it up remotely when it lands.
Browse by topic
Prices and what's included
8 articlesWhat a booth costs, what comes in the box, and what you pay after year one.
- How much does a photo booth cost?
- What is included in the price of a machine?
- What costs extra? (add-ons)
- What do I pay after the first year?
- Do you take a cut of my sales?
- Is there a discount for buying several booths?
- What does it cost to run a booth, and when does it pay back?
- How much do paper and ink cost per print?
Shipping, duties and delivery
7 articlesDoor-to-door shipping, import duties, transit times and what to do on arrival.
Ordering and paying
5 articlesThe five steps from quote to launch, payment options and instalments.
Choosing a booth
6 articlesEvery model, the difference between them, print sizes and photo quality.
- Which booth should I choose?
- What is the difference between Standard and Standard Advanced?
- What do machine, complete booth, all-in-one and photo box mean?
- What print sizes and formats can a booth print?
- What camera do the booths use, and what makes the photo look good?
- Which booths work for events and rentals?
Taking payments at your booth
5 articlesCard terminals, cash, local payment apps, and how the money reaches you.
Location, power and setup
5 articlesSpace, power, internet, climate, and getting a booth running after delivery.
Chalkak OS software
13 articlesRunning booths from your phone: frames, screens, alerts, coupons and sales.
- What does Chalkak OS do?
- Do I need to check or restart booths every day?
- How do I change the paper and fix the print counter?
- How do I design my own frames, and what size should the artwork be?
- How do I change how the booth screens look?
- How do I publish frames and themes to my booths?
- How do I create a coupon code?
- Where do I see sales, and can I export them?
- A guest says they paid but got no print. What do I do?
- How do I add staff to Chalkak OS?
- Can Chalkak OS connect to my CRM or website?
- Can the booth screen be in my language?
- What is Chalkak OS Enterprise?
Design and branding
3 articlesExterior finishes, your own brand on every screen, and artwork rights.
Warranty and support
4 articlesWarranty, Care+, spare parts and how to reach us when something goes wrong.
About Chalkak Studio
5 articlesWho we are, certifications, clients you can talk to and where to see the booths.
Still need help?
Ask our assistant any time, or reach the team on WhatsApp or email. We reply in Singapore business hours.