If you're weighing up a magic mirror vs a photo booth, the short answer is this: choose the Magic Mirror when you want a centrepiece people can see from across the room, and choose the Oval Photo Booth when you want a classic enclosed booth that guests step inside. Both cost the same, so the decision rests on the feel of your event and the room you're in.

We're a small team based in Harpenden, and we hire out both. Here's an honest side-by-side to help you decide which photo booth to hire.

The two booths at a glance

Both booths are £75 an hour with a 3-hour minimum. Neither costs more than the other, so you're choosing on style rather than budget.

Every booking, whichever booth you pick, includes:

A box of fun props
One print per photo session
Digital copies of every photo
A free custom print design with your names, logo or theme

If you'd like more prints, Unlimited Prints is £100 and gives each group 3 prints per visit instead of 1. We've explained who needs unlimited prints and who doesn't in a separate guide.

What the Magic Mirror is like

The Magic Mirror is a full-length touch-screen mirror framed in lights. We set it up on a red carpet with chrome rope barriers, so it looks more like a red-carpet arrival than a machine tucked in a corner.

That's its main strength. It's designed to be seen, and guests pose in full length, which suits outfits people have put real effort into. Because it's open rather than enclosed, onlookers can watch whoever is at the mirror, and a queue becomes part of the atmosphere.

The flip side is that it's a visible, open feature, with a carpet and barriers around it. If you'd rather your photo booth stayed quietly out of sight, or you suspect the room is tight, the Magic Mirror may not be the right match.

What the Oval Photo Booth is like

The Oval Photo Booth is an enclosed booth, with prints included. If you picture a traditional photo booth, this is the nearest match to it.

Because it's enclosed, what happens inside isn't on show to the whole room. Some groups like that, and some guests are happier stepping inside with their friends than posing in front of everyone. The people waiting outside see the prints and the laughing, not the poses themselves.

If your event is relaxed, loud and full of friendship groups, this is the booth we'd lean towards.

Which suits a wedding?

For most weddings, we'd recommend the Magic Mirror.

Guests are dressed up, the room has been styled and a mirror framed in lights on a red carpet suits that mood. Full-length photos show off the outfits properly. Hertfordshire has plenty of barns, country hotels and village halls that couples dress beautifully, and a lit mirror on a red carpet looks at home in those rooms.

The Oval is the better pick if you'd like something more playful, or if you'd rather the booth didn't become a focal point of the room. Both work well on a dance floor evening.

The free custom print design can carry your names or a theme, so the prints feel personal to your day. Our wedding photo booth hire page covers how weddings usually work with us.

Which suits a party or prom?

For birthdays, proms and house or hall parties, we'd recommend the Oval Photo Booth.

Parties tend to be about groups of friends squeezing in together and pulling faces. An enclosed booth suits that, and prints come out for each group as they finish.

The exception is a milestone birthday with a smart dress code, where you want a bit of glamour. In that case the Magic Mirror earns its place, much as it does at a wedding. Our party photo booth hire page has more.

Which suits a work event or Christmas party?

For company events, the Magic Mirror is usually the stronger choice, especially if there's a brand to show off. It's a visible talking point, and the custom print design can carry your logo. At an awards night, a launch or a Christmas party, it gives colleagues something to gather around.

For an informal team Christmas do, the Oval works well, and it's a good option if you'd rather people let their hair down away from the eyes of the whole office. Our corporate photo booth hire page has the detail.

Checking your venue before you choose

The question we hear most from people stuck between the two is whether the room suits it. Rather than guess, here's what to check before you book:

Where would it go? Picture a spot near the action but away from the bar queue and the main walkway.
Is there a power socket nearby? Ask the venue, and make a note of where it is.
How do you get in? Think about doors, stairs and lifts, particularly in older Hertfordshire venues and upstairs function rooms.
How much floor does the room really have? The Magic Mirror sits on a red carpet with rope barriers around it, so it's worth taking this into account if the room is already full of tables.

Send us the details when you enquire, and ask us what each booth needs on the day. That's far better than guessing from a floor plan.

A quick way to decide

Ask yourself two questions:

Do I want the booth to be a visible feature of the event? Pick the Magic Mirror.
Do I want guests to step inside with their friends and have fun? Pick the Oval.

If you're still torn, the price is the same, so there's no wrong financial choice. Pick the one that matches how you want the evening to feel.

FAQs

How do I know if my venue is big enough?

Check where the booth would go, where the nearest power socket is and how it would get through the door. Tell us about the room when you enquire, and we'll talk it through with you.

Do you cover my area?

We're based in Harpenden and cover all of Hertfordshire, including St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Hitchin and Watford, plus nearby Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and North London.

Can I add music to my booking?

Yes. A DJ can be added to a photo booth booking at £75 an hour, also with a 3-hour minimum.

Is anything different in what's included between the two booths?

No. Both come with a box of fun props, one print per photo session, digital copies of every photo and a free custom print design with your names, logo or theme. The difference is the look and the way guests use it.

Ready to pick one?

If you've settled on a booth, you can build your package online. If you'd like to look at everything we offer first, our photo booth hire in Hertfordshire page is a good place to start. And if you're still unsure, send us your date and venue and we'll help you pick.

Build your booth

Magic Mirror vs Photo Booth: How to Choose for Your Event