A corporate gala or awards night has a lot riding on it. Guests are dressed up, leadership is in the room, and the evening is meant to celebrate a year of hard work. A photo booth fits that kind of night well, as long as it looks the part. Here's how to plan one that feels polished and still gets people laughing.
Plan the booth around the winner moments
Awards nights have a natural rhythm: arrivals, dinner, the presentation, then the celebration. The busiest moment at the booth usually comes right after the awards, when winners and their teams want a photo with the trophy.
- Keep the booth open after the presentation. If your schedule is tight, extend into the after-party with an extra hour ($250).
- Add a few award-night props. "Winner", "Best Team" and "Speech!" signs work far better at a gala than novelty hats.
- Invite each winning team up together. A quick mention from the host after each category keeps a steady flow of meaningful photos.
Roll out the red carpet
A red carpet with stanchions ($125) turns the booth into an arrival moment. Guests walk in, pose, and feel like the night is about them — which, at an appreciation gala, it should be.
Tip: place the carpet and booth near the reception area so guests use it during cocktails, before everyone sits down for dinner.
Choose black-and-white glam for black tie
Black-tie dress codes and black-and-white portraits belong together. Our glam booth, included with the Signature package, uses soft, flattering light and can shoot in colour or black and white. The result looks more like an editorial portrait than a party snapshot — the kind of photo guests are happy to post on LinkedIn the next morning.
Brand the template, backdrop and signage
A gala is a branded event, and the photos should be too. With custom branding ($700), we design:
- Print and digital templates with your event name, date, logo or sponsor marks
- A backdrop in your event colours
- Signage that matches the rest of your décor
If you have sponsors to recognize, the photo template is a subtle way to give them a place in every guest's take-home photo. The Premium package includes custom branding and two rounds of design revisions.
Put the photos on the big screen
A live slideshow screen ($150) shows photos as they're taken. It keeps the room engaged between speeches, encourages more people to visit the booth, and gives sponsors and leadership a fun moment to watch.
Give guests prints worth keeping
At a gala, prints are part of the experience. Signature and Premium include unlimited prints in 2x6 strips or 4x6 format, so every group can take a copy home. Guests can also get their photos instantly by text, email or QR code, and you receive an online gallery of every photo after the event.
Placement and setup
- Space: most setups need about 8 × 8 feet of clear space, plus room for a red carpet if you add one.
- Power: one standard outlet.
- Setup: about 60–90 minutes. We arrive early so the booth is ready before guests walk in.
- Venue coordination: we're happy to work directly with your venue or event planner on timing and placement.
Booth location matters. Near the reception area or the path to the dance floor works best; tucked away in a corner rarely does.
Which package fits a gala?
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Unlimited prints and a black-and-white glam booth for a four-hour evening | Signature — $899 |
| Full custom branding, the AI photo experience and unlimited premium prints | Premium — from $1,499 |
| A smaller reception or networking hour with an attendant and prints | Essential — $549 |
You can also see more ideas on our corporate events and luxury events pages.
Frequently asked questions
Can the photo booth match our gala branding?
Yes. Our custom branding add-on covers branded templates, a backdrop and signage in your event colours, with your logo, event name or sponsor marks.
Is a black-and-white photo booth a good fit for a black-tie event?
Yes. Black-and-white glam portraits suit formal dress codes and give guests a polished photo they're happy to share.
When is the photo booth busiest at an awards night?
Usually during cocktails and right after the award presentations, when winners want photos with their trophies and teams.
Do we get all the photos after the gala?
Yes. You receive an online gallery of every photo taken during the event, available for 12 months.
Planning a gala or awards night in Toronto or the GTA? Check your date and we'll send you a personalized quote.
We run photo booths at weddings, corporate events and parties across Toronto and the GTA every week, and write these guides from what we see on the floor. More about us.
