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Candy's Photo Booth Recommendations: Post-PBX 2025 Reviews ✨

Candy's Photo Booth Recommendations: Post-PBX 2025 Reviews ✨

Hey there, NowCandid fam!

Candy here, and I’m excited to bring you my top picks for iPad-only photo booths in 2025 — fresh from the Photo Booth Expo show floor. As you know, NowCandid’s Photo Booth Mode works seamlessly with Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras. But if you’re looking to simplify your setup, these iPad-only booths are our top recommendations!

Why do we prefer iPad-only?

It’s all about scalability, convenience, and cost savings. While Windows is very customizable compared to Apple, that also opens up your software to various complications & interference from settings & applications across a Windows device. The streamlined software of Apple devices can help reduce those odd issues that pop up occasionally from event to event.

Below, you’ll find three stands we checked out this year, each with a Pros & Cons list and our more detailed “Our Take.” Let’s get to it! 🚀

1. The “Bargain Booth” by Marvel Tech

Price: $549 (or $649 with rolling case)


Link: Bargain Booth on Amazon

• Manufactured by Marvel Tech

• Can be purchased directly on Amazon

• Includes frames for multiple iPad sizes (10.2'' 10.9'' 11'' 12.9'')

• Optional rolling case for an extra $100

Pros:
  • Affordable — Perfect for those on a tighter budget
  • Sturdy, good build quality despite the lower price point
  • Attractive design with body lights + ring light
  • Two remotes to control both the body lights & the ring light
  • Ring light can change color tone (white, blue, yellow) + brightness

Cons:
  • Too tall — even with tilt, shorter guests often appear low in the frame
  • Not super portable — 10 screws for full assembly/disassembly, not counting iPad mounting
  • Can’t keep iPad fully charged on max brightness; battery drain is slower but still present
  • Spinning 360° head can get tilted off-center by guests too easily, unless tightened
  • Carrying case is sub-par (handles sometimes broke off in our tests, no dedicated compartments for each piece)

Our Take

We call this booth the “Bargain Booth” for a reason. At just $549, it offers a really good bang for your buck, especially if you’re not overly concerned about having no-tools assembly or a perfect height. If you’re okay with its tall frame, you could mitigate set-up hassles by keeping it partially assembled and just transporting it in a larger vehicle.

However, the height might be an issue if your events often include younger kids or smaller adults — you’ll either have to tilt it downward a lot (which can distort the perspective) or place the booth next to a short platform for subjects to stand on, to raise them up a bit relative to the photo booth. Another minor inconvenience is that it won’t keep a 12.9-inch iPad Pro fully charged if you’re running maximum screen brightness (which you often do in well-lit or outdoor events). As a workaround, start the event with a fully charged iPad to ensure it lasts 10+ hours.

All in all, if budget is your top priority and you can accept the relatively tall design and some quirky portability issues, the Bargain Booth is a solid choice. We’ve used one ourselves throughout our trade show tour — it survived being shipped around on pallets across the country! That’s a good sign it’s built to last.

Image pulled from this booth's Amazon Store page, linked above

2. The Salsa 2 by Photo Booth Supply Co.

Price: $2,999 (standard package)


Link: Salsa 2 Pricing

Pros:
  • Ultra-portable — No tools, quick assembly
  • Very professional, modern design (and easy to add vinyl wraps)
  • Roamer mode — Detach the base plate for a handheld kiosk
  • Easy "guided access" — Slot to let you press the iPad power button with a paperclip
  • Cooling fans — Great for outdoor or long-lasting events
  • 1-year warranty
  • Comes with a compact rolling case that’s sturdy and well-organized
  • Can keep an iPad fully charged with no battery drain issues

Cons:
  • Expensive — $3,000 when not on sale
  • Limited light control — Currently supports only an all-white ring lamp mode when used with NowCandid's Capture & Upload App
  • No body lights (though custom vinyl wraps can spice it up)
  • 11" iPad faceplate is an add-on ($49 extra)

Our Take

The Salsa 2 was one of the prettiest booths at Photo Booth Expo 2025. Yes, it’s significantly pricier than the Bargain Booth, but that extra cost gets you:

  • • Premium build & design: It looks sleek, modern, and instantly elevates any event space.
  • • Tool-free assembly: You can set it up in minutes, which is fantastic if you’re juggling multiple events or tight on time.
  • • Real portability: The included rolling case feels like well-designed luggage. It’s compact, highly protective, and easy to maneuver.
  • • No battery issues: Unlike cheaper stands, the Salsa 2’s internal wiring keeps your iPad at 100% charge, even at full brightness.
  • • Convenience features: Accessing the iPad’s power button through a tiny opening is genius — it makes entering Apple’s Guided Access mode a breeze.
  • • Cooling fans: If you’ve ever had an iPad overheat while guests queue up, you’ll understand just how valuable built-in cooling can be.

As for the lighting, we loved that the ring light is bright and consistent. However, it would be nice if it could sync or tie in with other software to do color changes, currently it is only available in a plain white “lamp mode” when used with NowCandid. That said, the ring light is extremely usable out of the box, and most guests will probably never be upset it’s just white.

Overall, the Salsa 2 is a fantastic investment if you want a booth that radiates professionalism, sets up easily, and doesn’t skimp on features like cooling or proper cable management. If you’re aiming to scale up your photo booth business and command a higher rate for a premium booth, Salsa 2 is definitely our top pick.

Image pulled from the Salsa 2's "Explore" page, linked above

3. The Helio Sport by ATA Photo Booths

Price: $1,449 (no case), $1,949 (with rolling case)


Link: Helio Sport iPad Booth

• Mid-range option from ATA Photo Booths

• Available in white or black

• Assembly is simpler than the Bargain Booth, but not as effortless as the Salsa 2

• Does not support the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (and requires you to pick a specific iPad size at purchase)

Pros:
  • Reasonably priced for a mid-tier booth
  • Solid build quality and sleek, minimal design
  • No glaring flaws — a stable option that “just works”
  • Vinyl wrapping is easy if you want to customize the look

Cons:
  • Not very feature-rich — Lacks some extras like body lights
  • Height not adjustable — Tilt-only design (however, it's a good height to begin with!)
  • Comes with 1 iPad frame — You must choose the iPad size when ordering; and no 12.9" support
  • Assembly takes more time than the Salsa 2 (though not as much as the Bargain Booth)

Our Take

If you’re seeking a middle ground between the cheapest and priciest booths, the Helio Sport can fit the bill. It doesn’t stand out with flashy body lights or a detachable "roaming booth" head, but it also doesn’t suffer from major flaws. Setup is fairly quick (somewhere between the Bargain Booth’s many screws and the Salsa 2’s tool-free approach). The price tag, around $1,449, places it well under the Salsa 2, but it’s still nearly three times more than the Bargain Booth.

For us, the biggest drawback is that it doesn’t support the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. That’s our favorite iPad size for photo booths, especially if you’re looking to have a large, vibrant display. So if you’re committed to using a bigger iPad, the Helio Sport might not be your best pick.

That said, if you already own a compatible iPad or you prefer something smaller (and you’re on a moderate budget), the Helio Sport remains a solid contender. It has a professional look, decent portability (especially if you spring for the rolling case), and a straightforward operation. It might lack the “wow” factor of the Salsa 2, but if you’re simply looking for a reliable iPad booth with minimal fuss, Helio Sport is a fine choice.

Image pulled from the Helio Sport's store page, linked above

Final Thoughts

In the world of iPad-only photo booths:

1. Bargain Booth (Marvel Tech)Best Value

Great price, tall frame, some minor inconveniences (charging, height, and assembly). Very durable and surprisingly good build quality for the cost.

2. Salsa 2 (Photo Booth Supply Co.)Best Overall

Premium design, tool-free assembly, built-in cooling, and straightforward iPad integration. More expensive but loaded with user-friendly features.

3. Helio Sport (ATA Photo Booths)Honorable Mention

Middle-of-the-road price and features, but lacks support for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. A decent option if you’re okay with a smaller iPad.

And no matter which booth you choose, remember to:

  • • Use a cellular-enabled iPad Pro for maximum flexibility.
  • • Get a high-quality screen protector for your device.
  • • Enable Guided Access (when able) to keep guests from exiting the Capture & Upload app and poking around in your iPad.

One Last Photo Booth Pro-Tip:

None of our recommendations today have glass screens to cover your iPad, as that tends to make tapping the screen inconsistent. Instead, head to Best Buy or a similar store and buy a protective screen for your iPad. They’ll even apply it for you bubble-free! Many screens have warranties as well, so you can replace them at no extra cost if they crack. This approach keeps your iPad screen protected from scratches while remaining responsive to your guests’ taps, making the experience better for everyone.

And if you have any questions about NowCandid’s Photo Booth Mode, or just want more tips on creating the ultimate interactive photo experience, drop us a line on our Calendly! We’re always here to help.

Happy photo-boothing, everyone! 📸✨

—Candy from the NowCandid Team

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Weekly Recap: JerseyJotter™, SportsPics Action Pricing, and Smarter Gallery Sharing🏷️
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June 20, 2025

Weekly Recap: JerseyJotter™, SportsPics Action Pricing, and Smarter Gallery Sharing🏷️

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Hey there, it’s Candy!

This week, we’re bringing the action with jersey recognition, fresh new price levels for sports events, and a sleek gallery-sharing upgrade that makes your links pop.

Let’s dive in! 💦

🧢 Introducing: JerseyJotter™

Your new MVP for sports galleries has arrived!

JerseyJotter™ automatically adds searchable filters to the All Images gallery for SportsPics Events:

  • 🎽 Color Recognition – identifies the primary shirt/jersey color worn in the photo.
  • 🔢 Number Recognition – picks up numbers from jerseys or racing bibs

You can toggle:

  • ✅ Both on
  • ✅ Only one
  • ✅ Or turn them both off

✅ Color & Number Recognition will work for both Positive ID and Face Matching Events (as long as the All Images Gallery is turned on)


🔍 Customers can filter using either filter independently, or both filters at once!

It’s your new best friend for organizing crowded team galleries!

💸 New SportsPics (Action) Price Levels + Offer Template

We’ve added new price levels and a recommended offer template for action-packed sports coverage. These are designed to complement JerseyJotter™ and better suit high-volume, high-energy photo galleries.

Perfect for:

  • 🏃‍♂️ Race day events
  • 🏈 Game-day action
  • 🏀 Sideline candids

If you’re used to SportsPics Portrait pricing, give this new setup a look—it might be a better fit for your action photgraphy Events!

🔗 Gallery Sharing Just Got an Upgrade

Now when you share your NowCandid Gallery Links via:

  • 📱 iMessage
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  • ✉️ Other messaging platforms

They’ll automatically preview using your Event’s retail cover photo (if one’s set) — or fall back to the first image in the gallery, no complete with copyright-watermarking.

📸 Cleaner. Sharper. Way more pro.

🔍 Dashboard Search Boost

  • Hit Control + K (or find it in the Extras dropdown) to search Orders and Events
  • Because finding stuff fast should feel like magic 🪄

✨ Tiny Changes & Bug Splatting

  • 🧵 View Sequence logic now uses image names for better chronological accuracy
  • 🪲 Smashed a bajillion bugs (yes, bajillion is a real number)
    • Including quirks with email marketing
    • And rare background removal issues in relation to group photos & group products

That’s it for this week! If you're capturing athletes, races, or energetic action shots, this update was made just for you. 💪

Until next time,


📣 Candy

Graduation Was Great… But What If You Missed the Selfie Check-Ins™?🎓
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June 18, 2025

Graduation Was Great… But What If You Missed the Selfie Check-Ins™?🎓

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Hey there, grad photographers! 👋

Candy here from NowCandid, and we need to talk about a common situation we’ve been hearing a lot about:

“I didn’t get enough graduates to do Selfie Check-In™… now what?!”

We get it. When you're new to the Selfie Check-In™ system, it’s easy to be a little too passive — maybe you just printed QR codes on handouts or stuck signs around the venue. That’s a decent start, and sure, it’ll get you some check-ins… but not nearly enough to maximize your reach (and sales 💸).

So what should have happened? Ideally, you have staff at the entrance — where all the grads arrive — actively guiding them through Selfie Check-In™ before they even get to the ceremony space. Yes, it may feel pushy at first, but schools usually love that you’re making sure families get the photos they want. Some schools even appreciate the contact info you collect, because it helps them stay connected with their new alumni! 🎓💌

But that’s beside the point. Graduation season is winding down now. You can’t go back in time and be more assertive with check-ins. So the question is:

😰 You Missed the Selfie Check-Ins™… What Now?

Good news: All is not lost! 🙌

We just added a set of brand-new post-graduation email templates to our Digital Marketing Materials, accessible via our Resources Page.

These are customizable Word docs you can quickly edit and send to the school — making it super easy for them to email students and parents the Selfie Check-In™ URL.

These emails invite grads and families to check in after the event, so they can still receive their images. We even included:

  • ✅ A version you can send to the school to make the ask
  • ✅ A version the school can send to grads & families directly
  • ✅ Language that’s clear, warm, and action-driven

By doing this, you’ll reach a bunch of people who want their photos but never knew how to access them. It means:

📸 More participants tagged

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 More happy families

💰 More sales coming your way!

📈 Real Results: One Photographer's Experience

One photographer we worked with saw many graduates did not complete their Selfie Check-In™ by the day of the event. So, after the ceremony, the photographer asked the school to send a follow-up message using our post-event template.

The result?


Participation is up 12% so far! Between additional participation and continued marketing campaigns - Event revenue has increased significantly since the photographer asked the schools to send out these emails for the stragglers!

📬 Let’s Hear From You!

Whether this graduation season was a smashing success or a learning experience, we want to hear from you.

Got feedback? Success stories? Questions? Rants? Raves? We’re all ears. 👂💕

Drop us a note right here: nowcandid.com/contact

Your feedback helps us grow — and we’re always looking to celebrate wins or learn how we can make your job easier next year!

Until next grad season,


💖 Candy from NowCandid

Weekly Recap: A Slicker Image Details Page & Some Nice Quality-of-Life Upgrades📸
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June 13, 2025

Weekly Recap: A Slicker Image Details Page & Some Nice Quality-of-Life Upgrades📸

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Hey friends, Candy here!

This week we’ve got a shiny new Image Details page, some small but mighty tweaks across the board, and a handful of fixes to make your dashboard life just a bit smoother.

Let’s take a peek! 👀

🌟 Brand-New Image Details Page!

Your favorite behind-the-scenes image panel just got a makeover—and it's so much faster now! Whether you’re digging into face match data or reviewing contact info, everything’s loading snappier and more clearly than ever.

You’ll notice:

  • • Cleaner layout 🧼
  • • Larger image preview
  • Speedy load times ⚡
  • Better organization of metadata 🗂️

Details, Participants, and Logs have also been split into three distinct tabs!

Go ahead, give it a click from the Manage Images page or a Participant's Details page!

You can even hover highlighted faces with your mouse to view attached Participants!

In case you need to know how to get to the Image Details page!

🔧 Misc Changes & Improvements

Some smart, helpful little tweaks that add up to a smoother experience:

  • 🔗 Image Details links added to image previews on the Participant Details page (because shortcuts are life).
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  • 📦 Better retail display for big packages: Packages with 5+ items are now prettier, yay!

A look at the new 5+ Item Package graphic! Retail Theme: Liquorice - Event Program: QuicPics

  • 🎯 Face Matching Confidence level is now selectable during Event Creation, not just after. Set your confidence from the start!
  • 🛡 GalleryGuard™ has been updated to work even on iOS 26. The screenshots stay black. The images stay safe.

🐛 Bug Fixes

A few pesky things we squashed this week:

  • 🚫 The Unassigned Images count no longer includes BGR cutouts that have already been matched. More accurate image management FTW.
  • 🔄 Some Events were having trouble loading the Manage Images page. That glitch has now been zapped. 💥

That’s all for now!

Be sure to check out the new Image Details page, and if you haven’t yet, try out GalleryGuard™ on your own iOS device—it’s basically wizardry. 🧙‍♂️

Until next week,
💖 Candy

Let’s get in touch

If you’re a photographer looking to add NowCandid services to your wheelhouse – set up a call by clicking the button below.

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