As the popularity of photo booths at Chicago weddings continues to grow more and more companies are entering the market, this is good and bad for you the consumer. More companies means a wider selection of services and price ranges however, it also means there are many less than reputable companies entering the market.

When selecting a company to provide a photo booth for your wedding you want to find a Chicago based vendor that will deliver a quality product at a reasonable price. Keep in mind that price should not be the only determining factor. Cheaper companies are often cheap for a reason. If you do your homework and research your photo booth companies well you should have little to worry about on your wedding day.

After checking out their websites you should narrow down your search to 3-5 companies who serve your area and then contact each one either by email or telephone. Do they answer the phone when you call? If not, how long does it take them to respond to you? This can be a good indication of their focus on customer service.

Once you have contacted a company there are 10 questions you should ask.

1. How long have you been in business? Ideally the company you choose should have been in business for at least several years and have a proven track record of successful events. You want to make sure they will still be in business when your wedding day arrives!
2. Do you have references? If you are dealing with a reputable company they should easily be able to provide you with a list of satisfied clients. What do their past clients say about them?
3. Where are you based out of? Where is your office? Do you want a company that is locally based or that has offices far away? Does the company even have an office or is it a fly by night company working out of someone’s garage?
4. Are you licensed and insured? Many venues now require vendors to carry liability insurance. This is a good way to weed out those less than professional businesses.
5. Is there a contract? Will you receive a written contract stating the responsibilities of both parties?
6. Have you been at my venue before? Is the company familiar with your venue, where to set up, the load in procedures, etc?
7. What kind of back up plan do you have in place in case there is a problem at my event? What will they do if something goes wrong on the day of your event or at your event? Do they have back up equipment available? Will they have an attendant at your event as well as an on duty technician they can call for support?
8. What kind of equipment do you use? You want to make sure they use high quality professional grade cameras and lab quality dye sublimation photo printers in their booths. No web cams or ink jet printers.
9. What types of packages do you offer and what do they include? Do their packages include on site prints, a web photo gallery, digital copies for you, a scrapbook, etc?
10. And finally, how much do you charge? Are there any “hidden” fees or travel fees?

As stated before, the cheapest price may not be the best deal. After you have gathered these important facts you are in a much better position to make an informed decision about the photo booth company that you should choose for your wedding day.