How Does a Postal Photo Booth Work? SelfieDrop, Explained

If you’ve only ever seen the staffed kind — a big booth wheeled in by an attendant who stands beside it all night — the idea of a photo booth arriving in the post can sound too good to be true. It isn’t. It’s just a smarter way to do the same thing for a fraction of the price. Here’s exactly how it works.

What is a postal photo booth?

A postal photo booth is a compact, self-contained photo booth that’s couriered to your door, set up by you in minutes, and collected by courier after your event. There’s no operator, no van, and no waiting around — just the fun bit, without the premium price tag that comes with staffed hire. It’s sometimes called a DIY, send-by-post or self-service photo booth. Same idea.

The four simple steps

• 1. Book your date online. You choose your dates and package, and we confirm your delivery and return windows so you know exactly when the kit arrives and when it needs to go back.
• 2. Your kit arrives by courier. It turns up a day or two before your event in a single, protective case with everything inside and clear instructions.
• 3. Set it up in about ten minutes. Stand it up, plug it in, switch it on. No technical know-how needed — if you can set up a lamp, you can set up the booth.
• 4. Use it, then send it back. Guests snap away all night. Afterwards, pop it back in the case and a courier will collect it from your home the next working day.

What’s in the kit?

Everything you need to run the booth end to end: the booth unit itself, a stand, lighting for flattering photos, and simple step-by-step instructions. You can also add optional extras, such as a props pack (£29) or a printed guestbook (£79). Take a look at what’s included in each package.

Is it hard to set up? (No.)

This is the number one worry, and it’s the one we hear least about afterwards. The booth is designed to be idiot-proof — no fiddly settings, no software to install, no cables spaghetti. Most people have it up and running in under ten minutes and then forget about it, because it just works for the rest of the night.

How do guests get their photos?

Instantly and digitally. Photos, boomerangs and clips are captured and shared on the night, and you get access to the full gallery afterwards to download and share however you like. If you’d like a physical keepsake too, add our optional printed guestbook (£79).

What events does it suit?

Almost anything. Weddings, birthdays, Christmas parties, hen dos, baby showers, anniversaries, christenings, work events — if people are gathered and in a good mood, a booth earns its keep. Because it’s postal, it works anywhere in the country without travel charges, and because it’s self-service, it’s just as at home in a village hall as a marquee.

Postal booth vs attended booth

The trade-off is simple. An attended booth gives you a person standing by it; a postal booth gives you the same photos and fun for far less, in exchange for a ten-minute set-up you do yourself. For most parties, that’s an easy call — which is exactly why DIY photo booth hire is the best-value way to wow your guests. And if you’re comparing prices across the market, our UK cost guide lays it all out.

Check your event date with SelfieDrop →

Frequently asked questions

How does a postal photo booth work?

You book online, the kit is couriered to your door a day or two before your event, you set it up yourself in about ten minutes, guests use it all night, and then a courier collects it from your home the next working day. No operator needed.

Is a postal photo booth hard to set up?

No. It arrives ready to assemble with clear instructions and no software to install. Most people have it running in under ten minutes — if you can set up a lamp, you can set up the booth.

How do guests get their photos from a DIY photo booth?

Photos, boomerangs and clips are shared instantly and digitally on the night, and you get the full gallery afterwards. If you’d like a physical keepsake too, you can add our printed guestbook (£79).

Where can I use a postal photo booth?

Anywhere in the UK. Because it’s posted to you, there are no travel charges, and its compact size suits homes, village halls, marquees, offices and function rooms.