A gender reveal is built around one surprise, and everyone wants a picture of it. A gender reveal photo booth gives guests a fun spot before the announcement, a place to gather afterward and photos to share with family who could not attend. Here is how to plan one.
Key takeaways
- The Standard Booth creates photo strips with 3 still images, and the Animated Booth creates looping GIFs, digital copies only.
- Both booths are self-serve and completely unattended, so the hosts can watch the reveal with everyone else.
- Guests get photos by email or text, sent with built-in data on the booth, so no Wi-Fi is needed.
- A custom design on the digital photo strips is an optional add-on, so a short boy-or-girl message can appear on every strip.
Why a booth fits a reveal party
A gender reveal party brings family and friends together for a short, high-energy reveal. Guests arrive dressed up, phones come out at once and people want a keepsake that is not a blurry phone video. A booth gives them a second place to pose after the cake, balloon pop or smoke moment is over, and it collects the pictures while the hosts stay in the middle of the celebration.
Pick the booth: strips or GIFs
The photo booth rentals page describes two booth types:
- Standard Photo Booth: creates photo strips with 3 still images, available as digital photo strips.
- Animated Photo Booth: creates fun, looping digital animations perfect for sharing online. Digital copies only. A GIF of the group reacting to pink or blue is made for posting the same day.
Both are DIY-friendly: self-serve, completely unattended and simple to use. Guests tap to start, get ready for 3 photos and then get their photos online. If you have never set one up, our DIY photo booth guide walks through the kit and the setup.
Plan the gender reveal photo booth around the big moment
The reveal is the peak of the party, so plan the booth around it:
- Before guests arrive: set the booth up with good light and a clear path so groups can step in without blocking the reveal area.
- Early in the party: guests stop for a photo while outfits are fresh and before the surprise.
- Right after the reveal: the line gets longer. Keep coats and gift tables away from the booth so groups can move through quickly.
- Later in the party: some of the best photos happen once everyone has relaxed.
Keep the booth near the celebration but not in the same spot as the cake table or the reveal prop.
A background that matches the party
A plain wall can make even great outfits look flat. The backdrops page says backdrops are available in many different colors, including solid and sequins. Our guide to photo booth backdrop ideas compares drapes, sequins and boxwood walls.
On the photo booth rentals page, the 8’x12′ backdrop is listed under the optional add-ons. You can also put the booth inside an enclosure:
- Inflatable Photo Booth Enclosure: an 8′ tall x 8′ wide x 8′ long inflatable with built-in lights that can change the booth to any color, plus a remote control for lighting effects.
- Photo Booth with Canopy Enclosure: a fabric canopy that creates an inviting and elegant atmosphere.
An enclosure is easy to spot across a busy room.
Put a short message on every strip
A custom design or logo on the digital photo strips is one of the optional add-ons on the photo booth rentals page. The Standard Design option allows you to customize one of our templates, and the Premium Design option allows you to submit your own custom logo, or work with our graphic designers to create custom artwork. Add these design options at checkout.
For a reveal, keep the design short: a party name, a due date or a simple greeting. Save boy-or-girl wording for after the moment if you want early strips to stay a surprise.
Light the room for photos and for the reveal
The lighting sets the mood long before the announcement. Uplights let you choose any color with the push of a button, so the walls can glow in your party colors and the booth area stands out. Our birthday party photo booth ideas cover strips, GIFs and how guests share photos — many of the same habits work at a reveal.
How guests get their photos
Guests can choose to receive their photo by email or text. The messages are sent instantly using built-in data on the photo booth, so no Wi-Fi is needed. Each message has social media buttons.
All the photos also go to an online photo gallery, which can be either private or shareable with guests. After the party, send the gallery link to everyone who came.
Setup, delivery and returns
The photo booth arrives in 2 small packages, making it easy to transport. Your rental package will arrive at least two days before your event, and the standard rental period is 5 days. Each rental includes complete setup instructions, and 24/7 phone support is available. All prices include free shipping both ways within the continental U.S. You can schedule your rentals well ahead of time.
After the party, repack everything in the boxes it came in and attach the prepaid return labels. Rentals must be returned to any FedEx location within two days after the event, and the packages must go to a physical FedEx location, not a FedEx drop box. More answers are on the FAQs page.
Set up with good light, a clear path and a short design on the strips, and a gender reveal photo booth gives every guest a picture of the day. Book early and plan around the reveal.
Planning a gender reveal?
Tell us the date and the venue, and the team can help you choose the booth, backdrop and lighting.
FAQ
Can you put a boy or girl message on the digital photo strips?
Yes, with the optional custom design add-on. The Standard Design option allows you to customize one of our templates, and the Premium Design option allows you to submit your own custom logo, or work with our graphic designers to create custom artwork.
Does the Animated Photo Booth work for the reveal moment?
Yes. The Animated Photo Booth creates fun, looping digital animations perfect for sharing online, digital copies only. A short GIF of the group reacting after the announcement is easy to post the same day.
What are good photo booth ideas for a gender reveal?
Put a short boy-or-girl message on every strip with the optional custom design add-on, set the booth up before guests arrive so the path stays clear for the announcement, use the Animated Photo Booth for a looping GIF of the reaction, and send the gallery link after the party.
People Also Ask
What props work for a gender reveal booth?
Keep a small set on a table beside the booth — hand-held signs, simple frames and items that match the party colors. The kit already includes a set of props; add only what fits the theme so the reveal stays the focus.
What should guests wear for gender reveal photos?
Outfits that show well in bright light and match the party colors work best. Solid colors and simple patterns photograph cleanly against a sequin or solid backdrop.
How should you lay out a booth for a gender reveal?
Leave a clear path to the announcement area, put the booth where guests gather before and after the reveal, and keep cords out of walkways. An 8’x12′ backdrop is listed under the optional add-ons if you want a solid or sequin wall behind the camera.
