The Best 360 Photo Booths for Sale
— from the Inventor
Made in the USA
Wireless Operation
Direct App Control
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Meet the Air,
our best-selling
360 photo booth
There’s an OrcaVue Air 360 Photo Booth sized for every guest list—and every venue. Each Air is American-made with a welded steel frame rated for an industry-leading 1,200 pounds. Airs come loaded with the features photo booth companies rely on: 10-hour battery operation, app control, DMX special-effects sync, and an instant safety stop.
Sets up in 60 seconds,
no wizards required
With the Air, load-in is the easy part of your day. One person and zero tools take it from covered to spinning in 60 seconds, and the built-in battery means there’s not even a cord to tape down. Book tight windows and stack your events. The Air keeps up.
Choose the best 360 photo booth for you:Air, XL or Overhead
OrcaVue invented the 360 photo booth and manufactures three lines in our Washington, DC factory. All three share the features OrcaVue 360 photo booths are known for:
- Battery operation (8-10 hours)
- Integration with leading photo booth apps
- Obstruction detection
- US-based support and service
OrcaVue Air
The Air is by far our most popular model: we’ve sold thousands to photo booth businesses in the US and around the world. It is designed for easy transport and setup. Available in 34, 39 and 46 inch sizes, each model supports up to 1,200 pounds, the largest of which holds up to 5 people. Air models are made for a stabilized camera or lens.
What's included
Every Air includes: 10-hour motor battery, canvas cover, dolly, telescoping arm with universal head, power cord, GoPro mount, marketing materials, sample contract and a 3-month Gruvy subscription.
The Essentials bundle adds: rectangular light, two wireless remotes and an all-metal horizontal phone mount. Available in 39 and 46 inch sizes.
The Pro bundle adds: 18-inch ring light, four wireless remotes, rotating metal phone mount, accessory mount, tablet mount and DMX special-effects control.
OrcaVue XL
The XL uses an independent suspension to isolate the arm from movement on the platform. This allows it to carry non-stabilized cameras and heavier arm loads common in production settings. The sturdier structure of the XL supports up to 1,500 pounds and holds groups of five or even six.
What's included
The XL Pro bundle includes: 8-hour motor battery, 18-inch ring light, four wireless remotes, DMX special-effects control, rotating metal phone mount, tablet, GoPro and accessory mounts, telescoping arm with universal head, counterweights, dolly, wheeled wooden crate with quick-release clasps, canvas arm bag, canvas accessory bag, power cord, marketing materials, sample contract and a 3-month Gruvy subscription.
OrcaVue Overhead
The Overhead model hangs from a truss or ceiling and covers a 15-foot diameter area (or 19ft with extension arm). It is mostly used in permanent installations or for activations that need to support larger groups and oftentimes vehicles.
What's included
The Overhead package includes: 8-hour motor battery, two wireless remotes, Pelican case, four 2-inch truss clamps, lifting straps, blocks and line, all-metal horizontal phone mount, marketing materials and sample contract.
Compare Specs
| Air 34 | Air 39 | Air 46 | XL | Overhead | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | 34 in (86 cm) | 39 in (99 cm) | 46 in (117 cm) | 46 in (117 cm) | Hangs from a truss |
| People | 2 to 3 | 3 to 4 | 4 to 5 | 4 to 6 | Groups, sets, cars |
| Weight capacity | 1,200 lb (544 kg) | 1,200 lb (544 kg) | 1,200 lb (544 kg) | 1,500 lb (680 kg) | Not applicable |
| Platform weight | 64 lb (29 kg) | 78 lb (35 kg) | 93 lb (42 kg) | 126 lb (57 kg) | 30 lb (13.6 kg) unit |
| Camera weight limit | 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 4 lb (1.8 kg) 2.5 lb (1.1 kg) with extension |
| Typical reach (from center) | 60 in | 60 in | 60 in | 66 in | 90 in (7.5 ft) 108 in (9 ft) with extension |
| Min/max reach (from center) | 27 to 83 in | 27 to 83 in | 27 to 83 in | 33 to 110 in | 32 to 90 in (7.5 ft) Up to 114 in (9.5 ft) with extension |
| Camera height | Up to 60 in | Up to 60 in | Up to 60 in | Up to 80 in | 28 to 70 in below the unit |
| Speed | 6 to 30 RPM | 6 to 30 RPM | 6 to 30 RPM | 6 to 30 RPM | 6 to 12 RPM |
| Battery / sessions | 10+ hours / 500 | 10+ hours / 500 | 10+ hours / 500 | 8+ hours / 300 | 8+ hours / 300 |
| Stabilization | In-camera or in-lens | In-camera or in-lens | In-camera or in-lens | Isolated arm | Not applicable |
| Fits in | Most cars | Small SUVs | Larger SUVs or vans | Larger SUVs or vans | Single Pelican case Separate bag for extension |
| Case | Canvas cover with dolly | Canvas cover with dolly | Canvas cover with dolly | Wooden crate with wheels | Pelican case |
OrcaVue 360s can be started and stopped using a key fob, a Bluetooth-enabled app, or an optional wired foot switch. All models are compatible with 120-240 VAC power at 50 or 60 Hz and carry a one-year limited warranty.
Popular accessories
Off-Road Dolly
Grass, gravel, muddy field or thresholds? Roll right over them. With two 10-inch pneumatic tires and four inches of clearance, the Off-Road Dolly boldly goes where no OrcaVue 360 has gone before. Canvas cover stays on for the ride.
$110
Auxiliary Battery Kit
Camera dying halfway through the night? A 95 Wh V-mount battery locks under the arm and runs your ring light, camera, phone or tablet for hours from its D-Tap and USB ports. It also takes the battery packs off the upper arm, so the arm runs lighter. Charger included.
Air $230 / XL $175
Foot Switch
Hands full of props or a guest’s drink and phone? At the tap of your toe, the foot switch starts and stops an OrcaVue 360 booth over a wired connection. Greet the next group while the last one spins.
$50
Twelve questions to ask before buying a 360 photo booth
360 photo booths sell from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. In pictures they look similar. What sets them apart? These questions will help bring out the differences. Ask them of any seller, including us.
Can it run on battery power? How long will it last? Is the battery included?
▶ Quick look at the battery
Outlets are rarely where you need them. Taping down cords is a time-consuming hassle. Battery power was our most-requested option, which is why a battery is included with every booth we sell. Air models run for 10 hours or 500 sessions on a single charge. The XL and Overhead go for 8 hours or 300 sessions. Here’s a quick look
How long does setup take?
▶ Watch a 60-second setup
Many 360 booths have bulky road cases that you need to work through doors and then need two people to awkwardly unpack. The OrcaVue Air ends all of that and has arguably the fastest 360 setup time in the industry. The secret is the integrated dolly and cover that allow you to locate the 360 where you want it before ever tipping it into place. With the Air, setup time becomes a rounding error. One person, no tools, under 60 seconds.
How much weight can it hold?
Many manufacturers don’t tell you. If they do, it’s usually a low number tucked away on the website. We’re happy to publish our specs: Air models support up to 1,200 pounds while the XL supports up to 1,500 pounds. Ask around; you might be surprised.
Does the arm stop if something gets in its way?
▶ Watch the arm stop
Sooner or later a spinning arm meets a hand, a chair or a cable. What happens next can determine if it’s a simple hiccup or damage to property and equipment. OrcaVue’s obstruction detection stops the arm the moment it meets resistance; this protects the booth and whatever it touched. Watch it stop
What cameras can it use? How heavy can they be?
Air models are made for cameras with built-in stabilization such as iPhones, iPads, GoPros and many mirrorless and DSLR bodies and lenses. Because the XL arm is isolated from the platform, it works with non-stabilized cameras and lenses in addition to the others just listed. The Air arm carries up to 6 pounds while the XL arm carries up to 8 pounds.
Is software included? Does one press run everything?
Yes! Every OrcaVue booth comes with a 3-month subscription to Gruvy, our all-in-one app that makes using your 360 quick and easy. More important: our 360s also have a built-in Bluetooth interface. Most major photo booth apps* take advantage of this interface to stop and start our booths in sync with the video recording. Many apps can also respond to our key fob remotes.
*Apps include Snappic, Touchpix, Curator, Booth.Events, Darkroom, LA Photo Party and Gruvy among others.
Does it have RGB lighting around the deck?
Ours don’t, on purpose. We looked at this and could not find a solution that would hold up for the many hours we expect our booths to last. Despite the pretty pictures, most manufacturers just ship an LED strip for you to tape around the base; the same kind sold on Amazon. Here’s what you’re likely to receive.
Does the platform top light up?
Some do, and they photograph well in a catalog. That said, the top is where guests stand…in heels…with drinks…for hundreds of sessions. A lit acrylic panel shows every scratch and clouds within a season. We think a plain top is the better choice and recommend a cleanable round carpet, which also gives guests a firm footing. Available here.
Can it fire confetti or fog machines on cue?
▶ Watch DMX in action
Effects timed by hand land early or late, particularly when you are on the 57th guest. OrcaVue’s DMX control fires confetti and fog machines in step with the recording. It comes as part of every Pro bundle. Watch DMX in action
What does shipping cost? When does it leave and where from?
Freight can add hundreds of dollars to a quoted price. OrcaVue orders over $2,500 ship free from Washington DC to FedEx Freight hubs in the lower 48 states. Units are typically in stock and ship one to two business days after payment.
Who builds it, and where? How long have you been in business? Will you still be in business next year?
▶ Watch us build one
We invented the 360 photo booth in 2014 and hold the original patent. Every OrcaVue 360 is built in our factory in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC, and to our knowledge we’re the only large-scale 360 photo booth manufacturer in the US. As for everyone else? Search for the booth’s photo on Alibaba. If the same booth is for sale there under another name, you are buying an import. Resellers come and go with regularity. Watch us make one
Can I get parts? Can I reach someone?
A booth earns nothing while it waits for a part. OrcaVue stocks replacement parts in its Washington, DC warehouse and sells many of them on our website. Our tech support team answers the phone weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern. Most importers keep no parts, even simple ones. We know because one or two owners a week call us about booths they can’t fix.
Starting a 360 photo booth business?
One garage, one booth, one car: that’s how many photo booth companies get started. DJs and rental companies usually come at it from the other direction—adding a 360 booth to what they already sell. Either way, the shopping list is short. Add a phone or camera, perhaps some lighting and a set of stanchions, and you’re ready to work your first event.
What can you charge? It depends on your location, experience and event type. Most operators set a minimum number of hours with a fee for each additional hour. A 360 booth often runs at a small premium over open-air booths, and a three-hour event typically bills $700–$900 while costing the operator $100–$200. With numbers like these, the booth pays for itself in about six events, or fewer if you add in some upsells for props and extra hours. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
If you’re still prospecting for customers, download some marketing materials below. The sooner you start selling, the sooner the booth pays for itself.
Run the Numbers
- Profit per event
- Booth paid for after
- Profit in the first year
Here’s what an OrcaVue 360 can do for you
What OrcaVue owners say
Ten OrcaVue owners in their own words, filmed at Photo Booth Expo
“It is so robust: hundreds of events without any maintenance, any servicing.”
“OrcaVue stands behind their products, stands behind their customers, wants to help us make money.”
“We do intend on buying quite a few more as we grow, and I highly recommend this product.”
“I’m able to confidently deliver a 360 experience. We’ve had a great relationship with OrcaVue.”
“It really exceeded my expectations. It is far better than anything else in the market.”
“It integrates really well with SnapPic, and I’m very excited about the DMX integration.”
“Excellent product, excellent customer service.”
“I don’t see any other machine that competes.”
“At the end of the day, we want to provide the best customer service and the best product, and we found that OrcaVue is the way to go.”
“Anybody in this market, I encourage you to take a look at OrcaVue.”
Other common questions
Which is the best 360 photo booth for me?
The best 360 photo booth for you is the one that fits the events you book. For most photo booth businesses that is the Air-39 Pro, our best-selling model: it holds four guests, sets up in 60 seconds and runs ten hours on a battery. Studios, agencies and production houses choose the XL for its isolated arm, which carries heavier and unstabilized cameras. The Overhead is built for cars and large groups. Whatever you choose, ask the twelve questions above of every seller.
How many people fit on a 360 photo booth?
In short: If the model’s weight rating allows, use these sizes as a guide:
- Under 34 inches: 1 person, possibly 2
- 34 inches: 2, possibly 3
- 39 inches: 3 or 4
- 46 inches: 4 or 5, sometimes 6
Here is where those numbers come from. The number depends on three factors:
- The platform’s diameter
- Its rated weight capacity
- How big the people are: a handful of first graders might take the same room as two NFL linebackers
For smaller platforms, the distance across (the diameter) matters more than the distance around. Here’s why: An adult in shoes is about 12 to 14 inches from toe to backside and is only comfortable standing about three inches from the edge and two inches from the person behind. So two people standing back-to-back need about 34 inches (3 + 13 + 2 + 13 + 3) to be comfortable. This means that platforms under 34 inches need either smaller people or ones who do not mind bumping into each other.
On larger platforms, a person’s width matters more than depth. Typical adults are 16 to 20 inches across the shoulders and need another 8 to 12 inches to move their arms freely, so each person needs about 24 to 32 inches of the circle they stand on. Measure that circle 3 inches in from the edge and you get:
| Platform | Circle | Room for |
|---|---|---|
| 34 in (86 cm) | 88 in | 2, possibly 3 people |
| 39 in (99 cm) | 104 in | 3 or 4 people |
| 46 in (117 cm) | 126 in | 4 or 5 people |
If all this math is too much, use masking tape to make a circle on a rug at the size you are considering. Then ask family or friends to stand in it. Remind them that the tape is the edge of a step and to stand back a little.
Next, check the weight capacity of the model you are considering. All Air models support up to 1,200 pounds of people standing still. We do not recommend going to the limit because bouncing and dancing adds extra stress. Even so, five people averaging 180 pounds comes to 900 pounds, well within the margin. The XL’s sturdier build is rated at 1,500 pounds, which stretches the maximum to six people.
What is the difference between manual and automatic 360 photo booths?
In short: “Automatic” means a motor turns the arm. “Manual” means the attendant pushes the arm around the platform by hand. Nearly every 360 booth sold today is motorized, apart from a few low-cost holdovers, so the word “automatic” says less than it once did.
Here is where the terms came from: In the early days of 360 booths, one seller offered a platform whose arm had to be pushed by hand. When it added motorized models, it called those “automatic” rather than calling the others “manual”. In time the hand-pushed models were labeled “manual” too, but by then both terms had stuck across the industry.
What it means for you: a hand-pushed arm gives uneven speed, wobbly video and tired attendants. A motorized arm gives smooth, repeatable video at a set speed. All OrcaVue 360 booths are motorized, with electronic speed control, 8 to 10 hours of battery operation, and obstruction detection that stops the arm if something gets in its way. If you ever forget the battery and the power cord, an OrcaVue Air can be switched to manual for the day.
How much space does a 360 photo booth need?
About 10 feet by 10 feet. Pro tip: ask for at least 12 by 12 to prevent the actual space from becoming 8 by 8. If you do end up with 12 by 12, guests will appreciate the extra breathing room.
Will it fit in my car?
The Air 34 fits in nearly any car. The Air 39 fits in small SUVs and some cars with the back seats down—Smart Cars and the Infiniti G35x are exceptions we know of. The Air 46 and the XL need a larger SUV or van. The Overhead packs up into a Pelican case the size of a large suitcase.
How many staff do I need?
One person can set up and run a booth at smaller private events. We recommend two for large activations.
Do you ship internationally?
We ship to nearly every location across the globe, generally by air freight, which typically reaches a country’s customs department in about seven days.
Do you offer financing?
We have relationships with the biggest finance companies and can work with them after you complete an application here. In reality though, their terms are typically worse than just using a credit card, and most people end up taking that route. To split a purchase across cards, call us.
Talk to the people who build them
We get it. There are a lot of 360 photo booths for sale out there. Give us a call if you want to talk to someone who’s been there, done that. We’re here to help.
You’re also welcome to visit us in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC, for a demonstration.