In this guide
A photo booth and Robo Portraits both give guests a keepsake. The difference is what happens before they take it home.
Choose robot portraits when you want the making of the keepsake to be the entertainment: guests watch a robot draw their portrait in pen, line by line, and take the drawing home.
Choose a photo booth when the priority is friends posing together for quick photos, with prints or digital sharing depending on the package.
Robot portraits vs photo booth at a glance
| What matters | Robot portraits | Photo booth |
|---|---|---|
| Main experience | Watch a robot draw a portrait with a pen | Pose for photos, often with friends |
| Takeaway | Physical pen-drawn portrait | Prints, digital photos or both, depending on package |
| Entertainment while waiting | Guests can watch portraits being drawn | Usually centred on the people taking the photo |
| Group photos | Ask about group-portrait timing and capacity | Often a strong fit for several friends in one picture |
| Speed | About 45 portraits in 2 hours with 1 robot; larger setups are available | Photo sessions can be quick; confirm how many guests they can realistically serve |
| Digital sharing | Available from Robo Portraits only if arranged before the event | Common with many modern booths, but package inclusions vary |
| Best fit | Watching something unusual happen and receiving personal artwork | Group photos, posing, props and photo sharing |
| Capacity planning | About 22 portraits per robot-hour | Ask the provider about sessions, prints and guest changeover |
| Staffing | Robo Portraits packages include staffing | Varies by provider and package |
What guests do at each
At a Robo Portraits station, our attendant takes a quick photo and the guest picks a style: a realistic line portrait or a caricature. Then the robot draws it in pen in about 1.5 to 2.5 minutes while friends watch, and the guest keeps the card. See how it works.
At a photo booth, guests step in, often in a group and with props, pose for a few shots and leave with prints, digital photos or both. Booths differ, so ask what the package includes.
Group photos or individual drawings?
For several friends in one quick picture, a photo booth is the natural fit. Robo Portraits can draw couples and groups too, but a group drawing takes longer than a single portrait, so tell us in advance if groups matter to you.
What guests take home differs as well: a photograph of the moment, or a pen drawing made for them. See sample portraits.
How many guests can take part?
We’ll plan portrait capacity with you. For two hours of drawing time, plan on about:
| Robots | Approximate portrait capacity |
|---|---|
| 1 | 45 portraits |
| 2 | 90 portraits |
| 3 | 130 portraits |
These are planning estimates; styles and group portraits change the count. Extra time or a third robot adds capacity, and our capacity guide has a calculator. With a booth, ask the provider how many sessions they can realistically run in your booked time.
Compare the whole package
Booth quotes bundle different things: operating time, an attendant, prints, props, a backdrop and digital sharing. Compare what each quote includes, not only the headline price.
Robo Portraits packages include two hours of drawing time, the attendant, setup and pack-down, with no per-portrait fee:
- Birthdays and small socials: from $799, with 1 robot
- Weddings, wedding socials and grads: from $1,195, with 2 robots
- Galas, fundraisers and schools: from $1,195, with 2 robots
- Staff and corporate parties: from $1,395, with 2 robots
Prices are in CAD, plus applicable taxes. See packages and starting prices.
Which fits your event?
- Weddings: a booth suits a dance-floor crowd who want group photos; a robot station suits cocktail hour and guests taking a break from dancing, and the portrait doubles as a favour. See robot portraits for weddings.
- Staff and corporate parties: a booth gives teams a group photo; a robot station gives colleagues something to gather around and compare. See staff and holiday parties.
- Both: they do different jobs, and some hosts book a booth for group pictures and robots for individual portraits.
Three questions that settle it
- Do you want group photos or individual keepsakes?
- How many guests do you want to take part, and over how long?
- Should watching it being made be part of the fun?
See the drawing, then check your date
Watch the equipment demonstration, then send us your date, location and approximate guest count. We’ll reply within one business day with availability, a suggested setup and a quote. Check your event date.
Comparing an artist as well? See robot portraits vs a caricature artist, or all three in one comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Are Robo Portraits a type of photo booth?
Not really.
Both start with a photo, but Robo Portraits uses that image as the starting point for a physical drawing. A robot draws the portrait in pen while guests can watch.
With a photo booth, the photograph itself is normally the output.
Are photo booths faster than robot portraits?
For planning, one robot draws approximately 22 portraits per hour. Add robots or drawing time for a larger setup.
Photo-booth speed varies significantly by setup. Rather than relying on a generic speed comparison, ask a provider how many sessions they can realistically handle during your booked time.
Can everyone at my event get a robot portrait?
We’ll recommend a setup based on your guest list and drawing time.
For example, two robots produce approximately 90 portraits in two hours, while three produce approximately 130.
Do Robo Portraits include digital photos?
The standard takeaway is the physical pen-drawn portrait.
Digital copies are available on request but must be arranged before the event.
Which is better for a large group of friends?
For several friends in one quick picture, a photo booth is the natural fit.
If the goal is to give people individual drawings and let them watch those drawings being made, choose Robo Portraits.
