New Year's Eve Photo Booth Hire in Hertfordshire
A practical guide to New Year's Eve photo booth hire for Hertfordshire hosts: where to put midnight in a 3-hour booking, how to add a DJ, and what to check with your venue.
New Year's Eve photo booth hire is easiest to get right when you decide two things early: which three hours of the evening you want the booth, and whether you want a DJ alongside it. Both booths have a 3-hour minimum, so the real question is where midnight sits inside that window. This guide covers that, plus what to check with your venue and why it pays to book ahead.
Why a photo booth suits a New Year's Eve party
Everyone has made an effort, the night is long, and most people want a picture to mark it. A booth gives guests something to do between the food, the drinks and the countdown, and it means you end up with photos of the whole room rather than just the people holding phones.
It works in a house in Harpenden just as well as a function room in Watford. Guests wander over in small groups when they feel like it, so nobody has to organise anything.
New Year's Eve photo booth hire: where to put midnight in a 3-hour window
With a 3-hour minimum, you have room for one clear plan. Here are three ways to set it up, depending on the kind of party you're hosting.
- 8.30pm to 11.30pm. Suits a party with children or older guests who may head home before midnight. The photos are done before the evening gets loud.
- 9pm to midnight. The booth runs as the party builds and finishes as the countdown starts.
- 9.30pm to 12.30am. Gives you the booth either side of midnight, so you can get the "Happy New Year" photos too.
Around the countdown itself, guests are usually busy finding a drink, a hug or a good spot for the fireworks. If you want photos of that moment, the third option is the safest choice.
Some practical tips:
- Tell guests about the booth as they arrive, so it gets used early and not only at 11.45pm.
- Keep speeches, games and the buffet away from the booth, so it stays an easy thing to wander into.
- If you're unsure how long you need, our guide on how many hours of photo booth hire you need is a useful read.
New Year's Eve party ideas in Hertfordshire: where a booth fits
Hertfordshire hosts tend to use a mix of spaces for New Year's Eve: a living room cleared for the night, a village hall, a club function room, a pub's upstairs room or a hotel suite. Each one has its own quirks, and a few checks will save you stress on the night.
- Finish times. Some halls and function rooms have a fixed finish time. Check yours before choosing booth hours, so you're not paying for time you can't use.
- Access and parking. Winter evenings are dark and often cold, so ask the venue about parking, loading and whether there are stairs or a lift.
- Floor space. The Magic Mirror is set up on a red carpet with chrome rope barriers, so it needs a clear patch of floor. At home, that usually means moving a sofa or two.
- Power. The booth needs a socket nearby, so find one before the day, especially in older halls or at home.
- A spot away from the bar. Placing the booth near, but not in, the main flow of the room stops queues blocking the way to the drinks.
We're a small team based in Harpenden, covering all of Hertfordshire plus nearby Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and North London. If you're planning a party in a particular town, such as St Albans or Hitchin, we can talk through what works there.
Choosing between the Magic Mirror and the Oval Photo Booth
Both booths cost the same, so the choice comes down to the feel of your party and the space you have.
The Magic Mirror is a full-length touch-screen mirror framed in lights, set up on a red carpet with chrome rope barriers. It suits a party where people are dressed up and want a full-length shot.
The Oval Photo Booth is an enclosed booth with prints included. It's a more traditional booth experience, and a better fit if you'd rather not give up much floor space to a red carpet.
If you're still weighing them up, our guide to choosing between a magic mirror and a photo booth lays out the differences.
What it costs and what's included
Both booths are £75 an hour with a 3-hour minimum. Every booking 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
For New Year's Eve, a simple custom design works well: the year, a "Happy New Year" message or the name of your party, so the print doubles as a keepsake.
By default each group gets one print per visit. Unlimited Prints is £100 and gives each group 3 prints per visit instead. It's worth considering if you want everyone to leave with a copy, and you can read who it suits in our guide to unlimited prints.
Adding a DJ to your photo booth booking
If you want music as well as photos, a DJ can be added to a photo booth booking. The DJ is also £75 an hour with a 3-hour minimum.
Booking photo booth and DJ hire together means one small team and one set of details to confirm, rather than two suppliers to coordinate on a busy night. It also lets you plan the evening as a whole: the music carries the dance floor, and the booth gives people a reason to step off it for a few minutes.
If you'd like music running through midnight, tell us the start and finish times you have in mind when you book and we'll go from there. If you'd rather use your own playlist, you can book the booth on its own.
Why book early for New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is one night a year, and everyone who wants a booth wants it for the same evening. Unlike a birthday, the date can't move to a quieter weekend, so waiting until December leaves you with less choice, whatever kind of supplier you're looking for.
Booking early also lets you settle the details without rushing. It helps to have these to hand:
- Your venue name and address, or your home address
- Your preferred start and finish times
- A rough guest count
- Any wording or theme for the print design
For a wider look at what we do for birthdays, proms and other celebrations, see our party photo booth hire page, or visit the home page for photo booth hire in Hertfordshire.
FAQs
How long should I book a photo booth for on New Year's Eve?
Three hours is the minimum. Pick a window that suits your guests: 9pm to midnight finishes at the countdown, while 9.30pm to 12.30am also covers the first photos of the new year.
Can I book for less than three hours?
No. Both booths have a 3-hour minimum, and the same goes for adding a DJ.
Can I book a photo booth and a DJ together?
Yes. A DJ can be added to a photo booth booking at £75 an hour with a 3-hour minimum.
Do guests get to keep their photos?
Yes. Every booking includes one print per photo session and digital copies of every photo. Unlimited Prints gives each group 3 prints per visit instead of 1.
Can the prints be customised for New Year's Eve?
Yes. A custom print design with your names, logo or theme is free with every booking, so you can add the year, a message or your party theme.
Ready to plan your NYE booking?
If you have a date, a venue and a rough idea of your guest list, you can build your booth online and see the price as you go. If you'd rather talk timings through first, just get in touch.