How to Create a DIY Photo Booth

by Samantha Rivers

Creating a DIY Photo Booth

Whether you’re planning a birthday or anniversary party or a wedding, you’ve probably thought about including a photo booth in your celebration. It’s a trend hosts and guests alike love because it’s a fun diversion – and one perfect for making special memories. The only downside? Price. Renting a photo booth can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars for just a few hours.

The alternative option is to create your own DIY photo booth. There are a lot of ways you can set up a DIY photo booth, which range from easy to complicated. The simplest way has guests taking their own photos – who doesn’t hit the party with a digital camera or smartphone these days? More complex setups are more like a traditional photo booth, with no photographer necessary and guests walking away with that traditional strip of four photos.

The Basics of Setting Up a DIY Photo Booth

Collect the Gear

First you need to decide whether you want to leave the photography up to your guests, in which case you can skip this step and go straight to the fun stuff. Just put up a sign that encourages your guests to use your event hashtag when sharing their photos on social media.

If you want to give your guests a more authentic photo booth experience, however, you’ll need a basic hassle-free digital camera. Manufacturers like Sony offer simple options that are compact and easy to use. You will also need a tripod and a remote shutter release so guests can take their own snapshots.

You’ll want to get a mobile printer, similar to this one from Instax  (if you expect guests will take pics with their phones) or one that can connect with your camera via Wi-Fi and lets guests print their photos right then and there.   

Set the Mood

Your photo booth backdrop doesn’t have to be fancy, though it can be. A blank solid-color 6 feet x 4 feet backdrop is an easy choice. If there’s a plain white wall at your party venue you’re all set, but there are plenty of affordable backdrops and backdrop stands out there if you need to mount your own backdrop.

Nowadays sites like Etsy are full of options like glitter, fringe, fabric and themed backdrops in every color and pattern you can think up.

Bring the Fun

Photo booth fun is all about the props! If you have access to a good printer and you don’t mind doing some assembly, there are amazing free printable photo booth props out there. But, you can go the more inexpensive route and also raid your own closet and the kids’ dress up bin, or go to thrift stores and borrow goodies like gloves, scarves, hats, old school telephones and musical instruments from friends.

As tempting as it is to go totally overboard on props, pick a theme and let that be your guide. That will make it easier to find cool props and get them to the venue. It also makes it easier for guests to get into the spirit of the photo booth – set up too many props and guests spend more time searching through them than smiling for the camera.

Top off your small selection of props with a handheld chalkboard so guests can write custom messages.

Tweak the Lighting

Ideally, your venue is well lit making it easy for anyone to get a great photo. But in the real world, venues are usually more concerned with atmosphere than photography when they’re curating lighting setups. So outfit your DIY photo booth with a photographer’s spotlight and a photography umbrella for the most flattering lighting.

Or pop any bulbs that say daylight on the package into a cheap multi-bulb floor lamp that has flexible arms and aim it at your backdrop. Take a few test photos to make sure you’re getting good results.

Get the Strip

There are plenty of apps and programs that can give guests the authentic photo booth experience – four shots on one photo strip. An app like Sparkbooth works well when paired with a webcam, and lets you customize the photo layout and auto post your photo to social media.

Pair it with a printer and your guests will walk out of your event with a fun, classic keepsake they can keep forever.

Clearly, setting up a DIY photo booth is not that complicated or that expensive – even if you decide to go full out with all the equipment and all the extras. But however you do it, your guests will thank you!