Hipstr®

What Hipstr® does

Hipstr® Inc. is a privately held US experiential services company, founded in 2014 and headquartered in New York, that operates a nationwide photo and video booth rental platform for personal events and corporate brand activations. The product surface spans seven consumer packages (GLAM, HALO, 360°, ARRAY, MOSAIC, Custom Events, Social Photographer) and a broader corporate suite (GLAM+, HALO+, HEADSHOT STUDIO, GLAMBOT, VOGUE, VIDEO ACTIVATION, BROADCAST, TRADING CARD, AI ACTIVATION, PERMANENT INSTALLS, PRINT ON FABRIC).

Underlying capability combines owned hardware (cameras, lighting, booths) with proprietary software for real-time image processing, instant glam retouching, mosaic wall composition, 360° video capture, multi-camera array stitching, and instant social sharing. A complementary technology integration with Fastr powers instant booking and pricing for top packages. No patents, proprietary AI models, or third-party APIs beyond Fastr are disclosed.

The company monetizes through per-event one-time fees, retaining the spread between customer package price and per-event Host base pay. Distribution is hybrid: a self-serve DTC site for SMB/personal bookings, an enterprise field sales motion for Fortune 500 brand activations (documented wins with IKEA, Welch's, La Marca), an Event Planner referral channel with up to 30% off client pricing and referral bonuses, and a 2024-launched beta gig-economy Host network that delivers the HALO package with planned expansion to 360° and ARRAY. Coverage spans 38+ US cities with no disclosed international operations, and cumulative scale signals include 5,600+ clients, 4,000+ five-star reviews, 800,000+ guests served, and 3M+ moments captured.

Name

Hipstr®

Legal name

Hipstr Inc.

Website

https://hipstr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hipstr® is a US nationwide photo and video booth rental platform, founded in 2014 and serving both personal events (weddings, parties) and corporate brand activations (IKEA, Apple, Google) across 38+ cities via a gig-Host delivery network and self-serve booking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photo Booth Rental and Experiential Marketing Services

NAICS

General Rental Centers (53231), Photography Studios, Portrait (541921)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Decor Props & Themed Set Rentals (HSACAFAK)

Keywords

• Photo booth rental
• Experiential marketing activations
• Corporate brand activations
• Event photography services
• 360 video booth experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Photo & Video Booth Event Services: Hipstr charges customers a per-event fee for photo and video booth rental packages (GLAM, HALO, 360°, ARRAY, MOSAIC, Social Photographer, Custom Events). Pricing varies by package selected, event date, location, and duration. All packages are all-inclusive, covering equipment, a dedicated Hipstr Host, unlimited prints, and the Hipstr Album. Instant booking is available for popular packages.
2. Gig-Economy Host Compensation: Hipstr pays Hosts a base pay calculated per event based on estimated customer package, event time, and travel distance. Event time averages 6.5–8.5 hours. Hosts also receive 100% of customer tips. Hipstr retains the margin between customer package price and Host base pay.
3. Event Planner Referral Program: Event planners receive referral bonuses for each client event booked using their referral code. Planners also enjoy up to 30% off client bookings, which incentivizes volume referrals. Hipstr generates revenue through increased booking volume from planner-sourced events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hipstr® rents and operates premium photo and video booth experiences at personal events (weddings, birthdays, private parties) and corporate brand activations across 38+ U.S. cities. Its portfolio includes seven core consumer packages — GLAM, HALO, 360°, ARRAY, MOSAIC, CUSTOM EVENTS, and SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER — plus a separate corporate suite (GLAM+, HALO+, HEADSHOT STUDIO, GLAMBOT, VOGUE, VIDEO ACTIVATION, BROADCAST, TRADING CARD, AI ACTIVATION, PERMANENT INSTALLS, PRINT ON FABRIC). Each booking delivers an all-inclusive experience: equipment, a dedicated Hipstr Host, unlimited prints, instant digital sharing, online gallery, and (for Halo/Glam) a luxury Hipstr Album keepsake.

Product overview

Hipstr® is a nationwide photo and video booth rental company offering premium experiential activations for both personal events (weddings, parties) and corporate brand activations. The product portfolio includes six core personal event packages (GLAM, HALO, 360°, ARRAY, MOSAIC, CUSTOM EVENTS, SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER) and an extended corporate suite under the 'Experiential' brand featuring GLAM+, HALO+, 360°, ARRAY+, MOSAIC, CUSTOM EVENTS, SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER, HEADSHOT STUDIO, GLAMBOT, VOGUE, VIDEO ACTIVATION, BROADCAST, TRADING CARD, AI ACTIVATION, PERMANENT INSTALLS, and PRINT ON FABRIC. All packages typically include a dedicated Hipstr Host, 4 hours of event time, instant sharing, and access to online galleries. The company also operates an Event Planner Program (with up to 30% discounts, priority booking, referral bonuses) and a beta Hipstr Host gig economy program. Hipstr has been operating for 11+ years with over 5,600 clients, 4,000+ 5-star reviews, and serves 38 U.S. cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GLAM: Red carpet experience photo booth package featuring black & white elegance with professional studio-level instant retouching.
• HALO
• 360°
• ARRAY
• MOSAIC
• CUSTOM EVENTS
• SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER
• GLAM+
• HALO+
• HEADSHOT STUDIO
• GLAMBOT
• VOGUE
• VIDEO ACTIVATION
• BROADCAST
• TRADING CARD
• AI ACTIVATION
• PERMANENT INSTALLS
• PRINT ON FABRIC
• Event Planner Program
• Hipstr Host Program

Products and services

• GLAM The Red Carpet Photo Booth Package — a premium photo booth experience featuring high-quality studio lighting for stunning black-and-white photos with an instant beauty retouching filter, open-air pop-up photo studio, luxe Hipstr Album, dedicated Hipstr Host, unlimited prints, and 4 hours of event time. Designed for weddings, birthdays, and private events.
• HALO The Ultimate Photo Booth Package — Hipstr's most popular offering, featuring a classic vibrant filter with color or black & white photos, open-air photo booth, GIF and boomerang creation, unlimited prints in 2x6 or 4x6, digital props, choice of backdrop, custom overlay, online gallery, Hipstr Album, dedicated Hipstr Host, and 4 hours of event time. Designed for weddings, birthdays, and private parties.
• 360° Immersive 360° video booth experience with a revolving camera that captures subjects from every angle, high-definition slow-motion video, customizable overlays and branding, and instant sharing via SMS or email. Includes a dedicated Hipstr Host and 4 hours of event time. Customized backdrops and branded microsites available as add-ons.
• ARRAY Multi-camera array package using up to 14 high-resolution mirrorless cameras in an array configuration to capture stunning 3D visuals, stop-motion effects, and epic animated GIFs and boomerangs from every angle. Includes open-air setup, instant social sharing, custom overlay, social media metrics, dedicated Hipstr Host, and 4 hours of event time.
• MOSAIC Interactive photo mosaic wall that captures guest photos throughout events and seamlessly combines them into a live, stunning mosaic masterpiece, available in both physical (printed tile assembly) and digital (large-screen TV or projector) formats. Includes on-site photo booth, dedicated Hipstr Host, 4 hours of event time, social media metrics, and personalized event branding.
• CUSTOM EVENTS Fully customized booth experience with personalized branding and design for specialized event needs, including custom booths, backdrops, animations, printouts, multiple locations, and branded microsites. Pricing is entirely custom and requires scheduling a call with an event expert. Supports multi-city and multi-day activations.
• SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER Professional roaming photographer package equipped with top-tier gear and professional lighting equipment to capture candid moments throughout events with an open-air, roaming setup. Includes custom photo overlay, 4 hours of event time, social sharing, and an online gallery. Additional photographers can be added and the service can be bundled with other packages.
• GLAM+ (Corporate Experiential) Corporate brand-activation version of the GLAM package featuring instant retouching, black & white photos, open-air pop-up photo studio, dedicated host, unlimited prints, and 4 hours of event time for enterprise brand activations.
• HALO+ (Corporate Experiential)

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,600+ clients have left 5-star reviews, demonstrating consistent service quality at scale.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers42 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hipstr Host NetworkcoreOthersHipstr Hosts are independent gig-economy contractors who deliver photo booth services at events. Hosts apply through a beta program, complete onboarding and virtual training, set their own availability, and receive base pay plus 100% of customer tips. The network enables Hipstr's nationwide coverage across 38+ cities without fixed labor costs. Currently delivering the HALO package with expansion to 360° and ARRAY packages planned.
• Event Planner Program PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional event planners join the Hipstr Event Planner Program to refer clients and manage bookings through a centralized portal. Benefits include up to 30% off client bookings, priority booking for last-minute and popular dates, a dedicated support team and account manager, referral bonuses, and editorial coverage to promote their business. Planners manage all events through the Hipstr portal dashboard. The program is described as the first of its kind in the photo booth industry.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ShutterBooth: ShutterBooth is an established nationwide photo booth rental franchise offering enclosed and open-air photo booths for weddings and events. Directly comparable to Hipstr on event rental business model and customer base.
• Breeze Booth: Breeze Booth provides photo booth software and workflow tools for booth operators. Comparable to Hipstr's technology layer (Fastr booking, mosaic engines) and serves the same photo booth operator ecosystem.
• Foto Master: Foto Master manufactures and rents photo booths globally including 360°, mirror, and inflatable booths. Comparable technology stack and product breadth to Hipstr's 360°, ARRAY, and multi-format offerings.
• Simple Booth: Simple Booth provides photo booth software, hardware, and turnkey solutions for photo booth operators and brands. Comparable to Hipstr on the technology-enabled event photo/video booth category with overlapping premium positioning.
• BoothNation: BoothNation operates a nationwide photo booth rental network across the US. Comparable to Hipstr's Host-powered multi-city delivery model and consumer-plus-corporate target segments.
• Lucky Frog Photo Booth: Lucky Frog is a leading LA-based photo and 360° video booth rental company serving premium weddings and corporate events. Comparable to Hipstr on the premium consumer segment and 360° video product offering.

Broad incumbents

• George P. Johnson Experience Marketing: GPJ is one of the largest global experiential marketing agencies serving Fortune 500 brands on brand activations, trade shows, and corporate events. Overlaps with Hipstr on the enterprise brand activation client base, though GPJ operates at significantly larger scale.
• MKG: MKG is a creative experiential marketing agency serving major brands on activations and live events. Comparable to Hipstr's premium brand activation segment where both compete for enterprise experiential budgets.
• Sparks: Sparks is a global brand experience agency offering trade shows, corporate events, and brand activations. Comparable to Hipstr on serving large enterprise clients with experiential marketing, though broader in scope.

Others

• The Bash (formerly GigMasters): The Bash is a leading event vendor marketplace connecting consumers with DJs, photo booths, photographers, and other event services. Acts as an adjacent distribution channel where Hipstr could be listed and competes for the same consumer wedding/event demand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hipstrphotobooth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hipstrinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/bookhipstr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hipstr®