A photo booth side hustle in Canada rents a staffed camera, printer and backdrop to holiday parties, weddings and corporate events by the hour. Canadian booth companies that publish prices charge about $400 to $800 for two hours, and the core gear (a dye-sublimation printer, its media, a camera and booth software) can be bought for roughly $2,200 at the Canadian prices below. Every price in this guide was read on the company’s or retailer’s own page on October 19, 2026.
Related reading: event photography covers the camera skills, party rentals covers the delivery-and-deposit side of renting equipment, and best winter side hustles puts this next to other December work.
| Quick fact | Figure (read October 19, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Typical published 2-hour price | $399.97 to $775 |
| Typical extra hour | $90 to $185 |
| Pro printer (DNP DS620A) | $1,419 at Continent-Wide |
| 4x6 media cost per print | $179 ÷ 800 = about $0.22 |
| Booth software | US$17/month (annual) to US$49.99/month |
| GST/HST registration | Required once taxable sales pass $30,000 in four calendar quarters |
What do Canadian photo booth companies charge?
Canadian photo booth companies that publish their rates charge by the hour of booth time, with an attendant, props, a backdrop and prints included in most packages. The table lists packages exactly as each company’s page showed them on October 19, 2026.
| Company (city) | 2 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours | Extra hour and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo Booth Of Toronto | $399.97 | $499.97 | $599.97 | 5 hours $699.97, 6 hours $799.97 |
| Little Black Box (Vancouver) | $475 | $625 | $775 | 5 hours $925; $150 an hour extra; unlimited prints |
| Fun Kliks (Burnaby, serves Metro Vancouver) | $550 | $700 | $850 | Single 4x6 prints, 30 minutes idle time included; green screen $150, duplicate prints $40 an hour |
| LIT Photo Booth (Vancouver) | From $599 + GST (2x6 strips), from $699 + GST (4x6) | From $1,150 + GST (4x6 Glamour) | $179 an hour extra (strips), $199 (4x6), $249 (Glamour) | |
| The Photo Booth Guy (Toronto) | $550 | $750 | $950 | Attendant, DSLR, instant prints, backdrop, props |
| GTA Photo Booths (Toronto) | $550 | $750 | $1,000 | 5 hours $1,250, 6 hours $1,450; unlimited prints $60 an hour; $100 deposit |
| SelfieBooth Toronto | From $550 + HST (digital) | Prints package from $675 + HST; 2-hour minimum | ||
| Twisted Photo Booths (Calgary) | $610 | $785 | $995 | $185 an hour extra; unlimited 2x6 strips; add 5% GST |
| Analog Squad (Calgary, Red Deer) | $775 (classic, prints) | $575 (social, digital) | $185 an hour extra with prints; unlimited printing $85 an hour | |
| Winnie Chan Photobooth (Calgary) | $320 digital, $420 double print, $520 unlimited prints (promotional) | $90 an hour extra on print packages; $520 minimum on Friday to Sunday in August and December |
The Photo Booth Guy and GTA Photo Booths list the same phone number on their pages, so treat them as one operator’s price, not two independent data points. These are established companies with branded booths, insurance and templates. A new side hustler with one booth usually prices at or below the low end until they have photos of their own events to show.
What booking terms do established booth companies publish?
Established booth companies publish deposits, cancellation windows, space and power needs, and travel charges, and those terms are a ready-made checklist for your own booking form. Two Metro Vancouver companies spell theirs out in detail (both pages read October 19, 2026).
| Term | Fun Kliks (Burnaby) | LIT Photo Booth (Vancouver) |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit and payment | 50% deposit to book; final 50% due 7 days before; e-transfer or cheque | 7% added to pay by credit card |
| Minimum booking | 2 hours | 3 hours on Saturday nights |
| Breaks between sessions | 30 minutes idle time included; extra idle time $50 an hour | Inactive hours $75 an hour |
| Cancellation | 50% of deposit refunded if cancelled 60 to 31 days out; nothing at 30 days or less | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Venue needs | Power source and an 8 by 8 foot space | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Travel and parking | Free delivery to 12 listed Metro Vancouver cities; $1/km beyond, plus tolls or ferry | Flat $35 when parking is not free |
| “Unlimited” prints | Single 4x6 per session; duplicates $40 an hour | Defined as one print per person in the picture, adjustable for waste |
Fun Kliks’ how-it-works page also says its attendant arrives one hour before start to set up, a print takes under 10 seconds, and it averages 40 sessions an hour. That last figure is a useful planning input: it tells you how many prints a busy hour can consume.
Copyable booking-terms block (adapt the numbers to your own prices):
Booking: [50]% deposit holds your date; balance due [7] days before the event.
Minimum: [2] hours of booth time. Breaks between sessions: $[__] per hour.
Venue: one standard outlet within [__] m and an [8 x 8] ft space.
Arrival: we arrive [60] minutes before start to set up.
Travel: included within [list of cities]; $[__]/km beyond, plus tolls, ferries and paid parking.
Prints: one 4x6 per session; duplicates $[__] per hour.
Cancellation: [__]% of deposit refunded [60-31] days out; non-refundable within [30] days.Illustrative example: how many prints does one busy hour use?
Inputs: 40 sessions an hour is Fun Kliks’ published average; the 4x6 media cost is the DNP pack price in the gear table below ($179 for 800 prints, about $0.22 a print). The number of busy hours is assumed.
| Scenario (assumed) | Sessions | Prints (1 per session) | Media cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-hour party, 50% busy | 40 | 40 | about $9 |
| 3-hour party, 75% busy | 90 | 90 | about $20 |
| 4-hour gala, full pace, duplicates on | 160 | 320 | about $70 |
Duplicate prints double media use, which is why Fun Kliks charges $40 an hour for them. If you offer LIT-style “one print per person”, a group of four uses four prints per session, so price that option like duplicates.
How does a photo booth side hustle make money?
A photo booth side hustle makes money from booth hours, with prints, extra hours, idle time and custom templates sold as add-ons. The add-ons in the published packages above give a ready menu:
- Extra hour: $90 (Winnie Chan) to $185 (Twisted, Analog Squad).
- Unlimited prints: $60 an hour (GTA Photo Booths) or $85 an hour (Analog Squad).
- Idle time between sessions, such as during dinner and speeches: $50 an hour at Analog Squad.
- Glam black-and-white lighting: $75 at GTA Photo Booths.
- Custom template: $30 for each extra layout at Winnie Chan.
December adds two things to that list: corporate holiday parties that book weeks ahead, and weekend minimums. Winnie Chan’s page is the clearest public example of a company pricing December weekends higher.
Which events should a holiday photo booth target?
A holiday photo booth should target events where people dress up, arrive in groups and stay for at least two hours. These 15 event types fit that description, each with the reason it suits a one-booth operator:
- Office holiday parties. Booked by one organiser, often weeks ahead, and paid by invoice.
- Restaurant and bar holiday nights. The venue already has a crowd and wants a reason to post.
- Community centre family nights. Short bookings, many kids, simple props.
- School winter concerts and dances. Parent councils book by committee; quote early.
- Church and cultural association holiday events. Recurring every year once you do one well.
- Holiday markets. A branded booth for the market’s social channels; see the holiday market vendor guide for how markets run.
- New Year’s Eve parties. The highest-demand single night; take a deposit.
- Condo and apartment building socials. The property manager books, residents use it.
- Sports team and league banquets. Group photos with the trophy are the product.
- Retail store openings and holiday shopping nights. Branded prints with the store logo.
- Wedding receptions in December. Longer bookings; the wedding page above is the comparison.
- Milestone birthdays during the holidays. Family members travel home, so the guest list is big.
- Real estate and mortgage client appreciation events. Branded keepsakes are the point.
- Charity galas and fundraisers. Ask whether the booth can be a sponsored line item.
- Ugly sweater parties. Props and a simple template do most of the work.
What gear does a photo booth need, and what does it cost?
A photo booth needs a camera, a printer that can keep up with a line of guests, booth software, a stand or enclosure, lighting, a backdrop and props. The camera, printers and software below are priced from the retailer’s or developer’s own page on October 19, 2026.
| Item | Option and price | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Pro printer | DNP DS620A, $1,419 at Continent-Wide (media not included) | Printed packages; the retailer lists 4x6 prints in under nine seconds and two 2x6 strips per 4x6 |
| Pro printer media | DNP DS620A 4x6 print pack, $179 for 2 rolls, 800 prints | About $0.22 a 4x6 print or $0.11 a 2x6 strip |
| Budget printer | Canon SELPHY CP1500, $179.99 sale (regular $199.99) | Digital-first booths with a print add-on, small parties |
| Budget media | Canon KP-108IN, $54.99 for 108 4x6 prints | About $0.51 a print |
| Camera | Canon EOS R100 with RF-S 18-45mm lens, $629.99 sale (regular $899.99) | A first DSLR-style camera; check your booth software’s supported camera list before buying |
| Software (Windows) | LumaBooth for Windows (dslrBooth), US$17 a month billed annually or US$49.99 monthly | Canon, Nikon, Sony or webcam on a laptop |
| Software (Apple) | LumaBooth for Apple, US$18 a month billed annually or US$19.99 monthly | An iPad or Mac you already own |
The stand, lighting, backdrop and props are the items with the widest price spread, so price them from your own receipts. The illustrative example below sets aside an assumed amount for them rather than inventing a shelf price.
Illustrative example: what does one holiday booth cost, and how many events pay it back?
This is an illustrative example. The printer, media, camera and software prices are sourced from the pages above. The event price, print count, and the stand, lighting and backdrop budget are assumptions you replace with your own numbers.
Kit cost (sourced unless marked):
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| DNP DS620A | $1,419.00 |
| 4x6 media kit (800 prints) | $179.00 |
| Canon EOS R100 kit | $629.99 |
| Stand, lights, backdrop, props (assumed) | $400.00 |
| Total before tax | $2,627.99 |
| LumaBooth for Windows, 12 months billed annually | US$17 × 12 = US$204 (in US dollars; your card converts it) |
Per event (assumed): a 3-hour office holiday party at $550, below the 3-hour prices of $625 (Little Black Box) to $785 (Twisted) above because you are new. Guests print 300 strips, which is 150 4x6 sheets cut in two.
- Media: 150 × ($179 ÷ 800) = 150 × $0.224 = $33.60.
- Assumed travel and parking: $30.
- Left after media and travel: $550 − $33.60 − $30 = $486.40.
- Events to cover the kit: $2,627.99 ÷ $486.40 = 5.4, so the sixth event is the first one that adds to profit, before software, insurance and your own time.
| Event price (assumed) | Left per event | Events to cover $2,627.99 |
|---|---|---|
| $400 (low) | $336.40 | 7.8, so 8 events |
| $550 (middle) | $486.40 | 5.4, so 6 events |
| $750 (high) | $686.40 | 3.8, so 4 events |
Hours matter too. A 3-hour booking is closer to five or six hours of your evening once you add an assumed hour of setup, an hour of teardown and the drive. At $486.40 for six hours, that is about $81 an hour before software, insurance and tax, and only after the kit is paid off.
The budget printer changes the math. With a SELPHY CP1500 at $179.99 the kit drops by $1,239.01, but each print costs about $0.51 and the printer is a consumer model, so sell it as a digital booth with limited prints rather than as unlimited strips.
What should you check before the first booking?
Before the first booking, check what the venue requires, what your insurance covers, and how you will power and secure the gear. Use this checklist with each venue contact:
Venue checklist
[ ] Load-in time, elevator or stairs, parking
[ ] Power outlet within reach of the booth (and who supplies the extension cord)
[ ] Wi-Fi for digital sharing, or plan to work offline
[ ] Floor space: about the size of your backdrop plus a line for guests
[ ] Does the venue require proof of liability insurance? Ask for it in writing
[ ] Start and end of booth hours, and any idle time during speeches
[ ] Who approves the print template (logo, date, event name)
[ ] Deposit received, balance due date, cancellation termsA written agreement that states hours, idle time, the deposit and what happens if the event is cancelled saves the December argument. The freelance contract guide covers the clauses in plain language.
What does a 30-day plan look like for a holiday booth?
A 30-day plan for a holiday booth buys the gear in the first week, runs two free or discounted test events, and spends the rest of the month booking December dates. Start in late October or early November, because December weekends fill first.
| Days | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | Buy the printer, media and software; set up the camera and print a test template at home |
| 6 to 10 | Run the booth at a friend’s party or a community event for free; time setup and teardown |
| 11 to 14 | Build two templates (corporate logo, family holiday) and a price sheet with 2, 3 and 4 hours |
| 15 to 20 | Message 20 local venues and office managers with the pitch below and a few sample prints |
| 21 to 25 | Follow up once; offer one weekday discount to fill a slow night |
| 26 to 30 | Confirm bookings in writing, collect deposits, and order a second media kit if bookings justify it |
A pitch you can copy
Subject: Photo booth for your holiday party
Hi [name],
I run a small photo booth in [city] and I'm booking December holiday parties.
A 3-hour booking is $[price] and includes an attendant, instant 2x6 prints
with your logo and date, props, and a backdrop. Extra hours are $[price].
I can send sample prints from a recent event. Do you have a date set yet?
[Your name], [phone]Which tax rules apply to a photo booth side hustle in Canada?
Photo booth income is self-employment income reported on Form T2125, with the gear claimed through capital cost allowance and media, software and travel as expenses. GST/HST registration is required once your taxable sales pass $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive calendar quarters, under the CRA’s when to register rules. The published prices above show both approaches: SelfieBooth quotes “+ HST” and Twisted asks clients to add 5% GST. This is not tax, legal, or insurance advice. More detail is in how much tax to set aside.
What should a photo booth starter kit include?
What can this guide not confirm?
This guide cannot confirm what a booth will book for in your city this December, whether a venue will require insurance and what that insurance costs you, or whether a given camera works with your booth software version. Prices were read on the companies’ and retailers’ own pages on October 19, 2026 and change often, especially around December. No Canadian operator on these pages publishes income or bookings, so the break-even above uses assumed event prices and print counts. This is not tax, legal, or insurance advice.
Which guides sit next to a holiday photo booth side hustle?
- Event photography: the camera and client skills behind a good booth.
- Party rentals: deposits, delivery and damage terms for rented equipment.
- Event staffing: holiday event work if you want the season without buying gear.
- Seasonal holiday jobs: other November to January income.
What are the common questions?
How much do photo booth rentals cost in Canada?
Canadian companies that publish prices listed two hours at $399.97 to $775 on October 19, 2026, with extra hours from $90 to $185. Calgary's Winnie Chan Photobooth sets a $520 minimum on December weekends.
What printer do photo booths use?
Many use dye-sublimation printers such as the DNP DS620A, listed at $1,419 at Continent-Wide in Toronto, with an 800-print 4x6 media kit at $179. A Canon SELPHY CP1500 at $179.99 suits digital-first booths with fewer prints.
How many events does it take to pay off a photo booth?
In the illustrative example, a kit of about $2,628 before tax and software is covered after about 6 events at an assumed $550 for 3 hours, or 4 events at $750. Your own prices and print counts change the answer.
Do I charge GST/HST on photo booth rentals?
Once your taxable sales pass $30,000 in a calendar quarter or four consecutive quarters you must register and charge GST/HST. Income is reported on Form T2125. This is not tax advice.
When should I start booking holiday parties?
Start in late October or early November. December weekends fill first, and some companies set higher minimums for them.
Which sources support this guide?
The rules, rates, and platform requirements in this guide are checked against these primary sources. Retail price ranges are labelled as ranges to verify locally, and they are not quotes.
- Photo Booth Rental Toronto Prices — The Photo Booth Guy
- Photo Booth Rental Prices — GTA Photo Booths
- Book Online — Photo Booth Of Toronto
- Packages — SelfieBooth Toronto
- Pricing — Twisted Photo Booths
- Photo Booth Packages & Pricing — Analog Squad
- Packages — Winnie Chan Photobooth
- Rates — Little Black Box Photobooth
- Vancouver Photobooth Rental Pricing — Fun Kliks
- How It Works — Fun Kliks
- Photo Booth Rental Vancouver — LIT Photo Booth
- DNP DS620A Dye Sub Digital Photo Printer — Continent-Wide
- DNP DS620A 4x6 Print Pack (2 rolls, 800 prints) — Continent-Wide
- SELPHY CP1500 Wireless Compact Photo Printer — Canon Canada
- Ink & Paper Set KP-108IN — Canon Canada
- EOS R100 RF-S18-45mm Lens Kit — Canon Canada
- Pricing — LumaBooth (dslrBooth)
- When to register for and start charging the GST/HST — Canada Revenue Agency
- T2125 Statement of Business or Professional Activities — Canada Revenue Agency