Two Formats, One Goal: A Keepsake Guests Actually Keep
Every photo entertainment option at an event is trying to solve the same problem — give guests a physical memory of the night that doesn't end up in a junk drawer. The two most common formats are the classic photo booth strip (printed on thin photo paper) and the custom photo magnet (the same instant photo, backed with a magnet and usually a printed border or logo). They look similar at a glance, but they behave very differently once the party's over.
What a Traditional Photo Strip Gets Right
Photo strips are nostalgic, cheap to produce, and familiar — most guests have seen them at a mall booth or a previous wedding. They're a fine choice if budget is the only factor and you don't mind a stack of strips ending up loose in a purse or a car cupholder.
Where Photo Magnets Pull Ahead
A magnet has one job a paper strip can't do: it sticks somewhere guests already look every day — the fridge. That single difference changes how long the keepsake survives past the event. A paper strip gets tucked away and forgotten; a magnet becomes part of someone's kitchen for years, which is also why hosts see it as a stronger "thank you for coming" gesture than a strip.
- Durability — magnets are printed on sturdier stock and hold up to daily handling far better than thin photo paper
- Visibility — a fridge magnet gets seen by the guest (and their household) for months or years; a photo strip gets seen once
- Branding — for corporate events, a magnet with your logo keeps the brand visible long after the event ends, which a disposable strip can't do
- Presentation — magnets are typically printed with a custom-designed border matching the event's theme or colours, rather than a generic strip template
When a Traditional Booth Still Makes Sense
If your event is very casual, very short, or working with a tight budget where any physical keepsake is a bonus rather than a core feature, a simple photo strip booth can still do the job. It's a reasonable choice — just a different one, built around novelty-in-the-moment rather than a lasting souvenir.
Our Take
We build Mr. Magnet entirely around the magnet format because it's what we've seen actually survive a Montréal winter on someone's fridge. If you want the simplest way to compare, ask yourself one question: in a year, do you want your guests to still have something from your event, or just to remember that they had something?
See Our Packages & PricingFrequently Asked Questions
Are photo magnets more expensive than a regular photo booth?
Pricing is comparable — our packages include unlimited magnets for the duration you book, the same way a traditional booth would include unlimited strips.
Can photo magnets still look like a classic photo booth strip?
Yes — we can design a strip-style layout on the magnet if you want that nostalgic look, while keeping the magnet backing.
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