Photo strip: what it is and what photo booth prints look like
If you have ever come home from a party with a narrow, tall print showing several silly frames in a row, you already know what a photo strip is. It is the most recognisable print a photo booth makes, and it is the reason many guests visit the booth not once but three or four times in one evening. In this guide we explain what a photo strip actually is, how it differs from a regular photo, and what to think through about the print design before your event.
What is a photo strip?
A photo strip is a narrow, long print with several consecutive frames on it. In the Pic Me photo booth the strip measures 5 × 15 cm. The booth takes a short series of pictures a few seconds apart, so the group has time to change poses between frames: polite smiles in the first one, funny faces in the second, and a hug or a jump in the last.
The format comes from the old photo booths that used to stand in railway stations and shopping centres. That is why a photo strip feels nostalgic even to people who have never stepped into a real coin-operated booth.
Photo strip or a standard 10 × 15 cm photo?
With the Pic Me photo booth you can choose between two print formats. Both are included in the rental, and you can pick the format to suit the event – you do not need to decide when you send your enquiry.
- Photo strip, 5 × 15 cm: several frames on one strip, playful and compact. It fits into a wallet, a phone case or under a fridge magnet.
- Standard photo, 10 × 15 cm: the classic photo size that suits a frame, an album or a wedding guest book.
A simple rule of thumb: if the party is lively and social, go for the strip. If the picture will later go into a frame or an album, the standard photo is the better fit. You can read more about everything that comes with the booth on our photo booth rental page.
Some hosts switch formats depending on the type of event they run. A wedding might lean towards the standard print for the guest book, while a company party or a thirtieth birthday almost always ends up with strips. There is no wrong answer, only a choice that matches how your guests will use the prints.
Why does a photo strip work so well at a party?
The biggest advantage of a strip is that every member of the group gets their own copy from a single session. Four friends walk away from the booth with four identical strips, and nobody has to argue about who keeps the picture.
- A story in several frames: the strip shows how a moment unfolded, not just one pose.
- Small and light: it slips into a bag and survives the trip home.
- Encourages people to try: if the first frame fails, the next ones save it.
- It lasts: a paper print does not get lost in a phone gallery the way a snapshot does.
There is also a social effect. When one group comes back to the dance floor holding strips, others want theirs too. The booth becomes a small meeting point where colleagues from different departments, or relatives who have not seen each other for years, end up in the same frame.
What do photo booth prints look like?
Every print is designed in the style of your event. You can add the event name, the date, a logo, your colours or a short line of text to the strip. Usually the top or bottom part of the strip is reserved for the design, and the frames take up the rest.
A few ideas for different events:
- Weddings: the couple’s names, the wedding date and the colour theme. Guests can stick the strip into the guest book next to their wishes. If you are still choosing between formats, our comparison of a photo booth or photo mirror for a wedding helps.
- Company parties: the company logo and the theme of the evening. If the whole photo zone should follow your brand, read our article on the branded photo booth.
- Birthdays and anniversaries: the name of the person being celebrated, their age and one funny line.
- Marketing events: the brand logo and website address – the strip becomes a giveaway that people actually keep.
How do you prepare the photo strip design?
Good design is simple. The strip is narrow, so long text or lots of small details quickly become unreadable. Before the event, send us:
- your logo as a vector file (SVG, PDF or EPS) or a high-resolution PNG with a transparent background;
- the event name and date exactly as they should appear on the print;
- one or two main colours and, if you like, a font;
- an example of a style you like, if you have one.
Keep the text short: a name and a date usually look cleaner than a full sentence. Avoid very thin fonts and light grey text on white, since both fade on a small print. If you are unsure, ask us for a draft and check it on your phone at actual size before approving it.
Think about the photo zone as well. The backdrop and the light affect print quality more than most people expect: a dark corner gives a dark strip. We have collected the most common mistakes in our article on why photo zone pictures come out dark. If you want a ready-made backdrop, you can order a live sequin wall for 150 € together with the booth.
Can guests get the photos digitally too?
Yes. As well as the paper prints, every frame is saved digitally, and the organiser receives the files after the event. Many guests love having the strip in hand and the files on their phone later. For ways to share the pictures easily, read our guide to sharing photos with guests.
Prints come out within seconds of the session, and there is no limit on the number of prints during the rental time. Nobody in the queue has to worry about whether there will be a strip left for them.
When should you choose a photo booth over a photo mirror or 360°?
If the most important thing for you is that guests take home a real paper photo, a photo booth is the natural choice. A photo mirror gives full-length shots, and a 360° camera produces slow-motion video. If you are weighing up the formats, our article photo booth, photo mirror or 360° compares them side by side.
We bring the photo booth anywhere in Estonia. For events in Tallinn and Tartu, the city guides are worth a look too: photo booth rental in Tallinn and photo booth rental in Tartu. Pic Me has been running events across Estonia since 2020.
Frequently asked questions
A photo strip is a narrow 5 × 15 cm print with several consecutive frames. It is the classic photo booth format and the most popular print our booth makes.
Every member of the group gets their own strip from a single session. There is no limit on the number of prints during the rental time.
Yes. We design the print for your event: logo, names, date and colours. A short, clear line of text works well on a narrow strip.
A strip suits a lively party and a big crowd, while a 10 × 15 cm photo suits a frame, an album or a guest book. You can choose the format later as well.
Yes, every frame is saved, and the organiser receives the digital files after the event.
Send your logo, text and colours as early as you can, ideally a week or more before the event, so there is time to review a draft and make changes.
Summary
A photo strip is small, but it is exactly what turns a photo booth into entertainment people remember after the night is over. Choose the format to suit your event, keep the design simple and put the photo zone in good light – then every guest leaves with a strip worth keeping.
Want a photo booth with photo strips? Get in touch and tell us the date, the venue and roughly how many guests you expect. See what clients say on Google.
AI photo booth
Photo booth
Photo mirror
360° video booth