If you own a bar, you’re constantly asking the same questions:
• How do I get people to stay longer?
• How do I get them to spend more per visit?
• How do I get them to come back and bring friends?
A well-placed, well-run photo booth can quietly help with all three.
We’re not talking about those old-school mall photo strips that spit out faded prints. Modern booths can:
• Capture branded photos, GIFs, and boomerangs
• Collect emails and phone numbers
• Drive people to tag your bar on social media
• Bring in extra revenue every single week
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how bar owners can make money and benefit from having a photo booth in their bar.
1. The Main Ways a Photo Booth Makes You Money
There are several ways a photo booth can generate direct or indirect revenue in a bar:
💸 A. Charge Per Use
Set it up so guests pay per session:
• Example: $5–$10 per session
• Payment methods: card reader, QR code, cash, app-based payment
Even just 20–30 paid sessions on a busy night can bring in $100–$300 in extra revenue with almost no effort.
🍹 B. Bundle It With Drink Specials
Use the booth as an incentive to sell higher-margin items:
• “Buy 2 signature cocktails, get a free photo booth session.”
• “Photo + shot combo: take a pic, show the bartender, get $X drink special.”
This increases average spend per customer, which is where bars really win.
🎉 C. Private Event Packages (Big One)
If you host:
• Birthdays
• Corporate parties
• Bachelor/bachelorette nights
• Ticketed events
You can offer “Photo Booth Included” packages and charge more for the event.
Example:
• Private event fee: $800
• With photo booth included: $1,000–$1,200
The booth helps you justify a higher price and makes your bar more attractive than the one down the street.
📲 D. Sponsorships & Brand Collabs
You can also let brands sponsor the booth:
• Local distillery, brewery, or liquor brand
• Their logo on every photo
• Their name on the welcome screen
• “This photo brought to you by [Brand]”
You charge the brand a monthly fee or event fee, and the booth becomes both a customer perk and an advertising platform.
2. The “Hidden” Profit: Social Media Exposure
A photo booth doesn’t just give people pictures it gives your bar free advertising.
Most modern booths:
• Email or text photos
• Generate QR codes
• Let guests share directly to social media
If your bar’s logo or name is on every photo, and people share them on Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok, your booth is constantly:
• Reaching new people
• Showing your bar’s atmosphere
• Acting as proof that your place is fun
That kind of authentic, word-of-mouth marketing is worth a lot more than another flyer or random boosted post.
3. Collecting Data Without Being Annoying
Photo booths can help you build a customer list without feeling spammy.
You can set the booth so guests:
• Enter their email or phone number to receive their photos
• Agree to “receive updates & offers” (with a simple toggle or checkbox)
Now, instead of just hoping people remember you, you can:
• Send event announcements
• Promote special nights (karaoke, DJ, trivia, etc.)
• Offer birthday promos (“Free shot or dessert with your group if you book a table”)
A bigger, more engaged contact list = more packed nights with less marketing effort.
4. How a Photo Booth Keeps People in Your Bar Longer
The longer people stay, the more they usually spend.
A photo booth can help with:
• Giving people something fun to do between rounds
• Keeping groups entertained while they wait for a drink, food, or their friends
• Creating a “flow” where people drink, socialize, take photos, repeat
A group that might have stayed for one drink and left often turns into:
• Drinks + photos + “okay, one more round” + “let’s take another pic before we go”
That extra 30–60 minutes can be worth hundreds of dollars on a busy night.
5. Choosing the Right Type of Photo Booth for a Bar
You don’t need the fanciest, biggest unit on earth. You need a booth that:
• Fits your space
• Matches your vibe
• Is easy for staff to manage
Here are good options:
📱 iPad Photo Booth
• Compact, modern, sleek
• Great for bars with limited space
• Can be set up as a self-serve unit
• Perfect for bars with younger, social media–heavy crowds
🔄 360 Photo Booth
• More of a “showpiece”
• Amazing for weekend nights, special events, and VIP bookings
• Needs a bit more space and supervision
• Best if you already do lots of events or parties
🪞 Mirror or DSLR Booth
• High-end, very visual
• Great if your bar also doubles as an event space
• Pairs well with corporate parties, buy-outs, and formal events
For many bar owners, an iPad booth is the ideal first step—it runs with minimal staff involvement and still creates tons of content and engagement.
6. Practical Setup Tips for Bars
A. Where to Put It
Place the booth:
• In a visible area, but not blocking the bar or walkways
• Near a wall, pillar, or small corner that can become your “photo corner”
• Ideally with a nice background or simple backdrop
B. How to Make It Look Good
• Add a small neon sign or LED sign with your bar’s name or a fun phrase
• Keep a small table with props (if it fits your vibe)
• Make sure the lighting is not directly blown out by bright overhead lights
C. How to Make Sure People Actually Use It
• Put a sign on the bar: “Don’t forget to hit the photo booth!”
• Have bartenders casually mention it: “By the way, we’ve got a photo booth over there if you want some pics later.”
• Use it in your promotions: “Free photo booth all night this Friday!”
7. Simple Numbers: How the Booth Can Pay for Itself
Let’s say you invest in a booth and your total cost is around $2,000–$3,000 (depending on the type).
Scenario 1: Per-Use Model
• $5 per session
• 20 sessions on Friday + 20 on Saturday = 40 sessions/week
• 40 × $5 = $200/week
→ Around $800/month
At that rate, the booth can pay for itself in just a few months.
Scenario 2: Event-Based Revenue
• You use it mostly for private events
• Charge an extra $200–$300 for including the booth in a party package
• If you host 4 events a month × $250 = $1,000/month
Combine both, and it becomes very realistic to:
• Pay off your booth in a few months
• Then enjoy mostly profit each time it’s used
8. Staff & Maintenance: Is It a Hassle?
Most modern booths, especially iPad-based ones, are very low-maintenance:
Your staff’s job is mostly to:
• Turn it on at the beginning of the night
• Check occasionally to make sure it’s running smoothly
• Turn it off at closing
• Call you or your tech person if there is any glitch
If you use printing, you’ll need to:
• Keep an eye on paper and ink
• Refill as needed (similar to a receipt printer, just less frequent)
If you go digital-only (no printing), it’s even easier.
9. How to Promote Your Booth Inside and Outside the Bar
Inside:
• Posters or table tents: “Take a pic in our photo booth & tag us!”
• QR codes on menus linking to your Instagram where you repost the best photos
• “Tag us in your photo booth pics and we might buy your table a round!” (This one works.)
Outside / Online:
• Feature it in your social media videos and stories
• Add “Photo Booth Available” to your Google Business profile
• Mention it in your event packages and website
• Run a giveaway: “Post your photo booth picture and tag us to enter to win a $50 bar tab.”
10. Is a Photo Booth Right for Your Bar?
A photo booth makes the most sense if:
• Your bar already gets groups (birthdays, coworkers, celebrations)
• You host events or parties (or want to)
• Your crowd uses Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok
• You want ways to increase tabs and stay top-of-mind
If your bar is more of a quiet, old-school, sports-only or dive vibe, it might be less of a fit but even then, certain nights (karaoke, trivia, theme nights) can benefit.
Final Thoughts: Why a Photo Booth Is More Than a “Gimmick”
A photo booth, when done right, is not just a toy in the corner.
It’s:
• An extra revenue stream
• A marketing tool
• A customer experience upgrade
• A way to differentiate your bar in a crowded market
The best part?
Once you set it up and dial in your system, it can keep working for you every week with very little extra effort.
Thinking about adding a photo booth to your bar?
Reach out to us and we’ll help you choose the right setup based on your space, crowd, and budget.