Types of photo booths: standard, high angle, low angle, portable, kiosk and enclosed

"Which model should I buy?" comes up in our sales conversations more than almost any other question. The short answer is that the booth should match the place it will live and the photo your customers want to take.

This guide explains the six main types of commercial photo booth, what photo each one produces, how much space it needs and where it earns best. Every Chalkak model runs the same software and takes the same payments, so the choice is really about the camera angle and the footprint.

Prices below are machine-only "from" prices in US dollars, the same ones on our machines and prices page.

At a glance

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Standard Angle: the reliable earner

The Standard Angle is the classic Korean photo booth: the camera sits at eye level, customers stand or sit in front of a backdrop, and the booth prints a strip or 4×6 layout. It's our best-selling model and the one most first-time operators start with.

Why pick it: it fits almost anywhere, it photographs one to four people well, and it's the lowest-cost entry point. There's also a height-adjustable Advanced version from US$6,050, which helps if your customers range from children to tall adults.

Watch out for: on its own it's an open booth. If you want privacy, pair it with an exterior shell (see "Enclosed" below).

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High Angle: the group shot

The camera looks down from above. That angle is flattering, fits four or more people, and gives a distinctive top-down photo that people recognise from Korean self-photo studios. It comes as a control panel (the machine) with an optional photo-taking box.

Why pick it: groups love it, and in a studio it gives customers a reason to try a second booth after the Standard. Search interest in "high angle photobooth" barely existed in 2022 and grew fast in the years after.

Watch out for: it needs more floor space and ceiling height than a Standard, especially with the box.

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Low Angle: the full-body photo people queue for

The camera sits low and shoots upward, so customers appear taller and the whole outfit is in frame. It stands on a 1.3 × 1.3 m platform.

Why pick it: it's the most dramatic photo of the range and works well as a studio's signature booth. Fashion stores and arcades like it for the same reason.

Watch out for: it's the heaviest and largest model at 300 kg, and the most expensive. Plan the delivery route and floor loading.

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Portable: built to travel

A Standard-style eye-level booth in a smaller, lighter body, at 100 kg. It's designed to move between venues more easily than a fixed booth.

Why pick it: event rentals, weddings, pop-ups and operators who split time between a fixed spot and bookings.

Watch out for: "portable" still means a two-person lift and a van, not a car boot.

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Kiosk: the self-service corner

A compact, upright kiosk with the camera, screen and printer in one body. Two models: Model 1 (80 kg, on wheels) and Model 2 (90 kg, with a large display).

Why pick it: unmanned retail such as shop corners, cinema lobbies and arcades where you want a small footprint and a clean look.

Watch out for: it's an open format, so it suits bright, busy spaces better than a private studio.

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Enclosed booths: machine plus exterior

An enclosed photo booth is a machine inside an exterior shell. The shell gives customers privacy, blocks ambient light and turns the booth into a small room, which is what many people picture when they think of a photo booth.

We offer a range of exterior styles, from modern boxes to vintage designs. Shells are quoted per design. See the booth exterior options and our vintage photo booth.

Why pick it: studios, bars and venues that want the booth to feel like a destination.

Watch out for: a shell adds to the shipping volume and needs assembly space on site.

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How to choose: four questions

1. Where will it live? Measure the floor, the ceiling and every door on the delivery route.
2. Who are your customers? Couples and friends suit a Standard. Groups suit a High Angle. Fashion-conscious visitors love a Low Angle.
3. Will it move? If yes, Portable. If no, any fixed model.
4. Is this one booth or a studio? For a studio, combine angles. A Standard plus a High or Low Angle gives visitors two different photos from one visit.

Still not sure? Browse all machines at a glance or the technical specs.

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What every model shares

• A Canon mirrorless camera, a DNP dye-sublimation printer and a touchscreen.
• The same software: remote pricing, frames, sales reports and QR downloads.
• Cash and card payments (card via a NAYAX terminal).
• A 1-year hardware warranty and a video-call set-up when the machine lands.