Reference Guide
Photo Booth Glossary
A plain-language A–Z guide to photo booth and event industry terminology. Whether you are planning a wedding, corporate event, or brand activation in Indianapolis — or comparing vendors for the first time — this glossary covers the 37 terms you are most likely to encounter.
Defined and maintained by Rejoice Booth, Indianapolis's premier photo booth rental company serving weddings, corporate events, galas, and brand activations across central Indiana.
- Activation
- A branded photo booth experience designed around a specific marketing campaign or sponsor, often used at corporate events, trade shows, or product launches. The goal is to create shareable, on-brand moments that extend campaign reach beyond the event itself.
- Attendant
- The on-site staff member who operates the photo booth during an event, assists guests, manages prints, and troubleshoots any technical issues. At Rejoice Booth, every staffed experience includes dedicated attendants for the full duration of the event.
- Backdrop
- The decorative background placed behind guests during a photo session. Options include fabric drapes, vinyl prints, sequin panels, flower walls, hedge walls, LED installations, and fully custom-printed designs. The backdrop is one of the most visible and customizable elements of the photo booth experience. Browse our full backdrop collection at rejoicebooth.com/backdrops.
- Boomerang
- A short looping video clip that plays forward and then in reverse, popularized by Instagram. Some photo booth setups offer Boomerang as a fun digital output alternative to still photos — ideal for social sharing.
- Branded Template
- A custom photo print layout that includes a company logo, event name, date, hashtag, or other design elements specific to the client or event. Every Rejoice Booth package includes a fully custom branded template designed before your event.
- Certificate of Insurance (COI)
- A document provided by the photo booth vendor's insurance carrier confirming that general liability coverage is in place. Many Indianapolis venues require vendors to submit a COI before setup. Rejoice Booth is fully insured and provides COIs upon request.
- Custom Overlay
- A graphic layer applied digitally to every photo taken at the booth, typically featuring a logo, decorative frame, or design elements that match the event theme or brand. Overlays are included with every Rejoice Booth package and are custom-designed for each client.
- Data Capture
- The collection of guest contact information — such as email address or phone number — through the photo booth interface during the digital sharing step. Common at corporate activations and marketing events where lead generation is a measurable goal.
- Dye-Sublimation Printer
- The professional printing technology used by most high-end photo booths. Dye-sublimation transfers dye onto paper using heat, producing lab-quality, water-resistant, smudge-proof prints in 20 to 30 seconds. It is the industry standard for photo booth printing and is used in all Rejoice Booth packages that include physical prints.
- Enclosed Booth
- A traditional photo booth style where curtains or walls surround the guests during their session, offering privacy and a nostalgic experience. Less common at modern upscale events, where open-air setups are typically preferred for group photos and visual impact.
- Folio
- A premium print presentation format where photos are mounted inside a folded card, booklet, or envelope-style sleeve. Folios elevate the guest keepsake experience and are especially popular at upscale weddings, galas, and corporate events. Rejoice Booth offers folio presentation as a memento enhancement.
- 4x6 Print
- A standard photo print size measuring four inches by six inches. Larger than a traditional 2x6 photo strip, the 4x6 format allows for more creative template layouts and is a popular choice for events where guests want a displayable, frameable keepsake.
- Gallery Link
- A secure, shareable online link sent to the event host after the event, providing access to all photos taken during the session. Guests can view, download, and share from the gallery. Rejoice Booth provides gallery access for at least 30 days following every event.
- GIF
- An animated image created by sequencing multiple still photos taken in quick succession at the booth. GIFs loop automatically and are a popular digital output because they are expressive, shareable, and perform well on social media platforms.
- Green Screen
- A technology that replaces the physical background behind guests with a digital image in real time during the photo session, using chroma key compositing. Green screen allows for virtually unlimited virtual backdrop options and is especially popular for trade shows, brand activations, and themed corporate events in Indianapolis.
- Hotspot
- A mobile internet device used by photo booth operators to maintain reliable connectivity at venues that lack stable Wi-Fi. Critical for enabling real-time digital sharing, gallery uploads, and print server communication during events.
- Idle Time
- Billable time during which the photo booth is physically set up at a venue but not actively operating — such as during a wedding ceremony, dinner service, or program break before open booth hours begin. Idle time is typically agreed upon in the contract.
- Instant Print
- The ability to produce a physical print within seconds of a guest completing their photo session. Instant printing is a hallmark of the photo booth experience. Rejoice Booth's dye-sublimation printers produce finished, lab-quality prints in approximately 20 to 30 seconds.
- Keychain Print
- A small-format photo print sized to fit inside a standard keychain holder, offered as a novelty takeaway keepsake at events. Available as a memento add-on through Rejoice Booth.
- Layout / Template
- The design structure of the photo print, determining how many photos appear, their arrangement on the print, and where branding, event name, date, or decorative elements are placed. Every Rejoice Booth package includes a fully custom layout designed by our team.
- LED Ring Light
- A circular lighting fixture used in photo booth setups to provide even, flattering, shadow-free illumination for subjects. Ring lights eliminate harsh shadows and create a pleasing catchlight in the eyes. They are a standard lighting component of selfie stations and many open-air booth configurations.
- Memento
- A physical keepsake produced from the photo booth experience for guests to take home. Common mementos include photo strips, 4x6 prints, keychains, trading cards, folios, button pins, and magnets. Rejoice Booth offers a full line of memento options as event enhancements.
- Mirror Booth
- A full-length interactive photo booth designed to look like a floor-standing mirror. Guests interact with a responsive touchscreen on its surface to trigger the photo session and add digital signatures or animations. Popular at formal events, weddings, and upscale parties.
- Open-Air Booth
- A photo booth setup without walls or an enclosure, typically consisting of a professional DSLR camera on a stand, a backdrop, and a studio lighting configuration. Open-air setups accommodate larger groups, allow more creative freedom, and are the most common format used at modern Indianapolis weddings and corporate events.
- Photo Strip
- A narrow vertical print, typically 2x6 inches, featuring a series of two to four photos taken during a single session. The photo strip is the classic, iconic photo booth format and remains one of the most popular print options for weddings, parties, and corporate events.
- Print Server
- The software or hardware component that receives photo data from the booth and sends print jobs to the dye-sublimation printer. Reliability depends on network stability and device configuration, which is why professional operators use dedicated equipment rather than consumer-grade setups.
- Retake
- The option for guests to redo their photo session if they are unhappy with the result before a print is produced or a digital file is sent. Allowing retakes is a standard part of delivering a high-quality, guest-first photo booth experience.
- Roaming Booth
- A portable, attendant-operated photo booth setup in which the photographer or operator moves through the event space to capture guests where they are, rather than guests coming to a fixed station. Roaming booths are popular as a complement to a traditional booth at large galas, conferences, and weddings.
- Session
- One complete photo booth experience for a group of guests — from stepping in front of the booth, through the photo countdown sequence, to receiving the final print or digital delivery. Sessions typically last 60 to 90 seconds.
- Setup / Strike
- The installation (setup) and teardown (strike) of photo booth equipment at a venue before and after the event. Rejoice Booth always includes setup and strike in all packages — these are never counted against the contracted operating time.
- Slow Motion Video
- A video output option where footage is captured at high frame rates (typically 120fps or higher) and played back at reduced speed for a dramatic, cinematic effect. Guests toss confetti, strike poses, or dance as every detail is captured frame by frame. Rejoice Booth offers Slow Motion as a standalone experience.
- 360 Booth
- A motorized rotating-arm setup that spins around a platform where guests stand, capturing a slow, sweeping video from all angles. The output is typically a dramatic slow-motion clip that guests can instantly share. The 360 Booth is popular at corporate events, galas, and upscale celebrations.
- Trading Card
- A novelty photo print formatted to look like a collectible sports or character trading card, featuring the guest's photo alongside custom event branding and stats. A creative and memorable keepsake option — especially popular at sports-themed events, corporate activations, and milestone birthday parties.
- Unlimited Sessions
- A package feature where guests can use the photo booth as many times as they like during the contracted rental period, with no cap on the number of sessions. Prints may be subject to a per-session limit even under an unlimited sessions policy.
- Venue Coordinator
- The on-site venue staff member responsible for managing event logistics on the day of the event. Photo booth vendors typically coordinate setup timing, power outlet access, and placement location through the venue coordinator prior to and on arrival day.
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