Creating A Wedding Photo Booth: Simple Steps For Success

Creating a wedding photo booth is a fun activity that will capture unforgettable memories without breaking the bank. While renting a photo booth can be expensive, making your own is simple and allows you to customise it to your liking. All you need is a well-lit backdrop, complete with a decorative display that coincides with your wedding aesthetic, for guests to pose in front of. Here are some tips on how to make a wedding photo booth.

Choose a backdrop

The backdrop is the focal point of your photo booth, so you'll want to make it eye-catching and visually appealing. Think about the style of your wedding and the theme or colour scheme. You can go as extra or as simple as you like, crafting your entire booth from scratch or sourcing elements to bring your dream vision to life.

If you're feeling creative, you can make your backdrop using ribbons, fabric, balloons, streamers, flowers, and other craft supplies. Just make sure to get permission from your venue before hanging anything on the walls. If you're looking for a simpler option, you can purchase a pre-made backdrop that you can easily order and hang.

• Boho-themed photo booth: Use a wooden folding frame and decorate it with free-form florals, trailing ribbons, soft pampas grass, or macrame creations.
• Rustic photo booth: Source a floral hanging backdrop and complement it with rustic props like a watering can, milk churns, wooden crates, and jars of seasonal blooms.
• Tropical-themed photo booth: Create a balloon and palm leaf garland backdrop, and add tropical-themed props such as inflatable flamingos, vibrant sunglasses, and pineapples.
• Pink photo booth: Style your backdrop with a copper frame, a bespoke wedding flag banner, helium heart-shaped balloons, candles, and ribbons. Add flowers for a luxurious touch.
• Classic romance photo booth: Use a metallic frame decorated with draped voiles and trailing flower arrangements.
• Vintage photo booth: Go for a glittering backdrop with gold foil and white tassels. Complement it with props such as feather bowers, fake cigars, strings of pearls, and trilby hats.
• Urban cool neon backdrop: If you're getting married in an urban warehouse or mill, hang a bespoke neon wedding sign on a bare brick wall.
• Flower wall: Craft your own or hire a ready-made flower wall for an effortlessly romantic and organic backdrop.
• Draped linens: Buy a few yards of fabric and drape it from the ceiling to create a whimsical and dreamy setup.
• Disco balls: Add a glitzy touch to your photo booth with disco balls, especially if you're having glamorous nuptials or a '70s-themed celebration.
• Personalised neon sign: Illuminate your names, a favourite line of poetry, symbolic song lyrics, or a catchphrase that reflects your personality as a couple.

Remember to consider the size and dimensions of your chosen space when creating your backdrop, and ensure it's easy to set up and transport if you're making it yourself.

Find a well-lit space

When setting up a DIY wedding photo booth, lighting is key. A well-lit photo booth will ensure that your guests' faces are visible in the photos. Here are some tips for finding a well-lit space for your DIY wedding photo booth:

If your wedding is during the day, natural light will be plentiful. If possible, set up your photo booth near windows to take advantage of the natural light. If your venue has limited windows or you are setting up your photo booth outdoors, consider the time of day and how the sunlight will affect your lighting. You may want to set up your photo booth in a shaded area to avoid harsh shadows or squinting guests.

For indoor weddings or evening receptions, consider the lighting of your venue. String lights, fairy lights, or lanterns can add a whimsical touch to your photo booth while providing illumination. Exposed Edison bulbs or globe bulbs can also provide a soft, flattering light. If your venue is dimly lit, bring in additional lighting such as lamps or ring lights to brighten up the space. Daylight-style bulbs can be a good choice for lamps, as they provide a bright, clear light similar to natural daylight.

Another option is to use studio lights, which can give your photo booth a more professional look. If your photographer or venue can provide lighting, this may be an option worth considering.

When setting up your lighting, ensure that the light is directed towards the photo booth and the subjects. Placing lights at average nose level can help ensure that your guests' faces are well-lit. Additionally, consider adding lighting in front of and behind the camera to ensure that both the subjects and the backdrop are visible in the photos.

Don't forget to consider the overall atmosphere you want to create with your lighting. Warm lighting can create a cosy, intimate feel, while cool-toned lighting can give a modern or elegant vibe. Coloured lights or neon signs can also be used to add a fun or quirky touch to your photo booth.

Gather props

Props are an essential part of a wedding photo booth, bringing an element of fun and playfulness to the experience. Here are some ideas to help you gather an exciting selection:

Shop for Props

If you're short on time or not feeling particularly crafty, you can find a wide variety of photo booth props online. Etsy, for example, is known for its shops offering signs, cutouts, and masks. Amazon also offers several affordable options, such as a 58-piece prop set that includes glasses, hats, bow ties, moustaches, and more.

Go to Thrift Stores and Second-hand Shops

For a more sustainable and budget-friendly option, consider visiting thrift stores, second-hand shops, or charity shops. You can often find unique and quirky items like hats, wigs, glasses, jewellery, and other accessories that will make for fun photo props.

Look in Your Own Closet

You might be surprised at what you can find in your own wardrobe or your friends' and family's closets. Raid everyone's closets for items like hats, wigs, and costume jewellery that can be used as props.

Get Crafty

If you're feeling creative, making your own props can be a fun project. Hit up craft stores for supplies, or if you're looking for a more affordable option, try making paper cut-outs. You can find downloadable photo booth prop designs online, which you can print out and stick to dowel rods.

Include Inflatable Props

Inflatable props add a vibrant and playful touch to your photo booth. Look for inflatable microphones, instruments, and long-haired wigs to encourage your guests to channel their inner rock stars.

Don't Forget the Dress-up Box

A dress-up box filled with hats, wigs, and accessories is a classic photo booth idea. You can find a variety of wigs and masks online, from elegant masquerade designs to hilarious latex animal heads. Don't forget to include some themed packs, like a fun disco set to get your guests grooving.

With a well-curated selection of props, your wedding photo booth is sure to be a hit, providing endless entertainment and memorable photos for you and your guests.

Pick a camera

The camera you choose will depend on the type of photo booth you want to create. Here are some options to consider:

• Instax Camera: This is a simple option that allows guests to take snaps of each other, with instant printing. This means you can also create a photo guest book where guests can stick their photos alongside a special message. However, the film can be quite expensive, so this option may end up being pricier than expected.
• DSLR Camera: If you already own a DSLR camera or can borrow one, this is a great option. You can set it up on a tripod with a remote control, or have someone take the photos. Just make sure to adjust the settings as the light changes, and avoid using a glaring flash. Consider using a ring light or buying a Speedlite flash instead.
• Selfie Stick: A basic option is to use a selfie stick with a good-quality phone. If guests use their own phones, encourage them to upload their photos to social media with a specific hashtag so you can find them all later.
• Polaroid Camera: Polaroid cameras are a low-tech and easy way to get printouts of your guests' photo booth snaps. They are simple to use and provide instant photos that your guests can take home as favours. Encourage guests to take multiple snaps so they can leave one for you in an album or guest book.
• IPad: Using an iPad as your photo booth camera gives you a larger screen and a centralised spot to hold all your photos. There are several photo booth apps available that allow you to connect a wi-fi printer so guests can print their photos.

Decide on a hashtag

Deciding on a hashtag is an important step in the process of creating a DIY wedding photo booth. Here are some tips and ideas to help you choose the perfect hashtag for your special day:

• Make it personal: Your hashtag can be a fun way to showcase your personality and interests as a couple. Consider incorporating your names, the date of your wedding, or a phrase that holds a special meaning for you. For example, if you're music lovers, you could include a lyric from your favourite song.
• Keep it unique: You want to ensure that your hashtag is unique enough that it won't get lost among other posts. Try to avoid overly generic terms and instead opt for something more specific to you and your wedding. Play around with different combinations of words and phrases until you find something that feels truly yours.
• Consider your privacy settings: If you want to see all the photos that your guests post with your hashtag, keep in mind that you won't be able to view posts from guests with private Instagram accounts unless you follow them. You can include this information in your instructions, encouraging guests to make their accounts public for the day or to send you a follow request.
• Provide clear instructions: Let your guests know exactly how you want them to use the hashtag. You can include this information on a sign near the photo booth or in your wedding programme or invitations. Make sure to mention that you want them to use the hashtag when posting their photo booth pictures and any other photos or videos they take during the wedding.
• Start using it early: Begin using your wedding hashtag leading up to the big day. You can use it when posting about your wedding preparations, bridal showers, or any other pre-wedding events. This will help build excitement and encourage your guests to start using it as well.
• Make it memorable: Choose a hashtag that is easy to remember and won't be easily misspelled. You want to avoid confusion and ensure that all the photos can be grouped together under one hashtag. Try to keep it short and sweet, and avoid complicated phrases or puns that might be hard to recall later.

Frequently asked questions