The short answer: choose the magic mirror when you want prints in hands — weddings, corporate events, anything where a physical keepsake matters. Choose the 360 booth when you want the line, the spectacle, and slow-motion clips all over everyone’s stories the next morning. Budgets are near-identical between the two; the real difference is prints versus video.
We run both at events across Sacramento — including a 360 booth on the concourse at Sutter Health Park with the ballfield behind it — so here’s the honest comparison.
Side by side
| Magic Mirror | 360 Video Booth | |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Instant prints + digital | Slow-mo video to phones |
| Guest flow | Groups, fast turnover | One group at a time |
| Footprint | ~8’x8’ | ~10’x10’ + queue space |
| Best at | Weddings, corporate, galas | Dance-floor parties, brand moments |
| Keepsake | Physical print | Shareable clip |
| Minimum | 2-hr minimum, attendant included | 2-hr minimum, attendant included |
Both come with an attendant, props, and setup styled to your event — red carpet and stanchions included with the 360. Full details on our photo booth page.
The case for the magic mirror
Prints win hearts. Guests pocket them, grandparents fridge them, and at weddings the second print goes straight into the guest book. The open-air mirror also swallows big groups — we’ve fit twelve people in a frame — and keeps a line moving at corporate scale. If your event’s memory should be held, it’s the mirror.
The case for the 360 booth
Nothing at a party draws a line like the spinning arm. The clips — slow-motion, music overlaid, confetti mid-air — are the content your guests actually post. At quinceañeras, sweet sixteens, and brand activations, the 360 is the entertainment. Budget its footprint honestly: a 10’x10’ clear patch plus somewhere for the queue.
Or don’t choose — the third option
For budget-minded hosts, our selfie station (one flat rate, full event) puts a styled backdrop, red carpet, and prop table anywhere — guests shoot on their own phones. It runs unattended all night and pairs with anything.
And if the booth is joining a casino night or mobile bar booking, the add-on stacks — each added service earns a discount over booking separately. Tell us your date and crowd and we’ll recommend the right rig: get a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a 360 booth and a magic mirror booth?
A magic mirror is an open-air photo booth: guests pose in front of a full-length interactive mirror and get instant prints. A 360 booth puts guests on a small platform while a camera arm spins around them, producing slow-motion video clips delivered to their phones.
How much does a photo booth rental cost?
Both the magic mirror and the 360 video booth are booked hourly with a two-hour minimum and an attendant included, and they price within a few dollars an hour of each other — so pick on what you want out of the night, not on cost. A selfie station — backdrop, props, guests shoot on their own phones — is a flat rate for the whole event and is the budget option. Check your date for exact figures.
How much space does a 360 photo booth need?
Plan a roughly 10-by-10-foot footprint: the spinning camera arm needs clearance on every side, plus room for the queue — because there will be a queue.
Which photo booth is better for a wedding?
Most weddings choose the magic mirror: instant prints become favors and guest-book pages, and it handles a steady flow of groups. The 360 booth wins when you want shareable video moments — think receptions with a dance-floor energy.
