La Vida guide 12 questions to ask a photo booth company

Insurance and the people on site

Question one: are you insured, and can you provide a certificate of insurance? Many venues require a COI before a vendor can set up, and a company that hesitates here is a warning sign. La Vida is insured and we can send a COI to your venue on request.

Question two: is an attendant included, and for the whole booking? Some quotes drop the attendant to hit a low price, leaving guests to work the booth alone. Every La Vida booking includes an on-site attendant from setup to breakdown, on either booth.

Question three: can you work with my guests in Spanish? At many Los Angeles weddings and quinces this matters more than anything on the list. We plan in English or Spanish, our Audio Guestbook greeting can be recorded in either language, and our attendant talks guests through the pose in whichever they prefer.

Prints, templates and the look

Question four: are prints included, and is there a limit? Ask whether the price covers one print per session or one per guest. On the Beverly Booth, prints are unlimited at every tier. The Selfie Booth is digital first, with prints on its four-hour package.

Question five: will I see and approve the template before the event? A custom template with your names, date, colours and any logo is included with every La Vida booking, and we send a proof for approval so the strip matches your invitations rather than surprising you.

Question six: which backdrops do you have, and can I order a custom one? We carry ten house backdrops and offer custom backdrops from $180 with six to eight weeks' lead time. A company with one plain curtain cannot match your palette.

Logistics on the day

Question seven: how much space and power do you need? The answer should be specific. Our Beverly Booth needs about 8 by 8 feet and the Selfie about 6 by 6, each with one standard outlet. If a company cannot give you a footprint, they may not have set up in many venues.

Question eight: how early do you arrive, and is setup time charged? Setup and breakdown are included in every La Vida package, and we arrive early enough to be ready before your guests reach the booth. Our booking hours are booth hours, not travel hours.

Question nine: what happens if something goes wrong on the night? Ask who is responsible for fixing it. Our attendant stays for the whole booking and handles the booth, the printer and the prop table, so there is always someone on site to put it right. A good company will answer this without being defensive.

Money and delivery

Question ten: how far is travel free, and how is the fee calculated beyond that? We travel free within 30 miles of Burbank. Beyond that, a distance-based fee is written into the quote before you sign, never added afterwards.

Question eleven: what is the deposit, and what are the cancellation terms? Ours is 50 percent to hold the date. Cancel 30 or more days out and it is refunded in full; inside 30 days it transfers to a future date.

Question twelve: when and how do I receive the digital files? Vague answers here are common. We deliver every file within 24 to 48 hours of the event.

• Insured, with a COI available
• Attendant included for the full booking
• Spanish-speaking planning and attendant
• Unlimited prints on the DSLR booth
• Template proof for approval
• Ten house backdrops, custom from $180
• 8 x 8 ft or 6 x 6 ft, one outlet
• Setup and breakdown included
• Attendant on site for the whole booking
• Free travel within 30 miles of Burbank
• 50 percent deposit, clear refund terms
• Files within 24 to 48 hours

Reading the answers

You are not looking for a company that says yes to everything. You are looking for one that answers plainly and in writing. A quote that lists prints, attendant, template, travel and delivery terms is one you can hold them to. A quote that says a single price and nothing else is one you will be renegotiating on the night.

If an answer is missing from the quote, ask for it to be added before you pay. Any company worth hiring will do that without fuss.