Boothly guide
How to set up a DIY photo booth for a wedding or party
A DIY photo booth needs five things: a camera on a stand at eye height, soft light from the front, a simple backdrop about a metre behind your guests, a basket of props, and a booth app that counts down, takes a few photos in a row and turns them into a strip. A tablet does all of this on its own. Set it up an hour early, test it with a friend, and make sure the screen stays on and the device stays charged.
What you need
A hired booth is a camera, a light, a backdrop and a printer in a box. You can build the same thing from things you probably have:
- A tablet or phone with a front camera. A tablet is best because guests can see themselves on a big screen. A laptop with a webcam works too.
- A stand or tripod that holds the screen at roughly chest to eye height, about 1.3 to 1.6 metres from the floor. A music stand, a stack of books on a table or a cheap tablet tripod all do the job.
- A light: a ring light, a desk lamp bounced off a white wall, or a big window during the day.
- A backdrop: a sequin curtain, a bedsheet, fairy lights, a balloon wall or just a plain wall.
- Power: a charger and an extension lead. A booth app with the screen on all evening drains a battery fast.
- Props and a small sign telling guests what to do.
- Optional: a printer and 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) photo paper if you want guests to take a strip home.
Choosing the spot
Put the booth somewhere people already pass, but not in a doorway. Near the bar or the dance floor works well; a quiet side room usually gets forgotten. Allow roughly 2 metres by 2 metres:
- Backdrop against a wall, so nobody walks behind the photos.
- Guests stand about 1 to 1.5 metres in front of it. Further back and the backdrop goes soft and the group fits better.
- The camera another 1 to 1.5 metres in front of the guests, facing them, with the screen at eye level so they look into the lens.
- A table or basket to one side for props, and the power lead taped down so nobody trips.
Ask a friend to stand in place and check the frame. Four adults should fit shoulder to shoulder without anyone's head being cut off.
Light and backdrop
Light makes more difference than the camera. Evening venues are dim, and a phone camera in the dark gives grainy, orange photos.
| Light | How to use it | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Ring light | Directly behind or around the camera, at face height | Even, flattering light; any venue |
| Lamp bounced off a wall | Point it at a white wall or ceiling beside the camera | Soft light on a budget |
| Window | Guests face the window, camera has its back to it | Daytime parties |
| Fairy lights | On the backdrop, not as the main light | Sparkle behind the faces |
Avoid a bright window or a spotlight behind your guests: the camera exposes for the bright part and the faces go dark. For the backdrop, anything plain, shiny or textured works. Busy patterns and coats on chairs are what make booth photos look messy.
Props and signs
Props get people to loosen up. A handful of good ones beats a heap of paper moustaches:
- Hats and glasses: sunglasses, a crown, a cowboy hat, a feather boa.
- Signs on sticks with lines from the couple or the party theme.
- Something themed: a mini chalkboard with the date, a Polaroid-style frame, a birthday number balloon.
Put a small sign by the screen: "Tap the button, strike four poses, collect your strip." Guests who can't work out how to start will walk away.
Strips, frames and countdown
The classic booth strip is a tall, narrow print with several photos one above the other. Choosing the number of frames and the gap between shots shapes how the booth feels:
| Setting | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Frames per strip | 4 | The classic strip: enough for a few poses, quick enough to keep a queue moving |
| Frames per strip | 2 | Bigger photos, faster turnover at busy moments |
| Frames per strip | 6 | A longer story for small groups who want to play |
| Countdown | 3 seconds | Snappy; good once guests know the drill |
| Countdown | 5 to 7 seconds | Time for bigger groups to change pose and grab props |
Add the event name, the date or the couple's initials to the strip and it becomes a keepsake rather than just another photo on someone's phone.
A wedding set-up
Worked example
Kit: a tablet on a tripod at 1.5 metres, a ring light behind it, a gold sequin curtain on a cheap backdrop frame, a basket of hats and six signs, and an extension lead taped to the floor.
Settings: 4 photos per group, 5 seconds between shots, cream paper, the strip message "Sam & Alex · 12.06.27" and the initials "S&A".
On the night: set up at 5pm, test with the best man, open the booth after the speeches. A friend checks the battery at 9pm. After the last dance, the couple saves the event gallery.
A 4-photo strip with a 5-second gap takes around half a minute per group, so the booth can handle a queue without anyone waiting long.
Running it with Boothly
Boothly is a retro photo booth that runs in your browser on a phone, tablet or laptop. You step through a red curtain to a live camera, press the big shutter, and it counts down, flashes and takes each photo in turn. Then the strip develops and feeds out of a little retro printer.
- Strip options: 2 or 4 frames, a 3, 5 or 7 second gap between photos, the Classic and Mono themes and White, Cream or Black paper are all free.
- Decorate a strip with stickers and doodles, save it, share it, or export a tall Story image.
- Print a keepsake: Boothly lays the strip out on a 4×6 sheet and can share a print-ready PDF. Choose 4×6 photo paper in your printer options.
- No camera? You can build a strip from photos you already have.
- Every strip is pinned to a corkboard and saved only on your device. Settings has a backup you can restore later.
Event Mode turns a tablet into a self-running wedding or party booth: you set the event name, date, booth style, photos per group, a strip message and initials, then pick the camera that faces your guests. Each group gets its strip, which is saved to the event gallery. To end the booth, the organiser holds the Boothly mark for 3 seconds to open the event controls.
Event Mode is part of Boothly Pro, a one-time $2.99 upgrade that also adds the Midnight and Rose themes, light leaks, 6-frame strips, extra paper colours, two-strip 4×6 prints, animated strip videos and seasonal sticker packs. You get 3 free tries of Pro features first.
Tips
- Mark the spot. A strip of tape on the floor shows guests where to stand.
- Ask someone to keep an eye on it. Five minutes an hour is enough to tidy props and check the battery.
- Open it at the right moment. Booths are busiest after dinner and before the dancing starts.
- Suggest poses. A sign with "normal, silly, kiss or hug, surprised" gives four-frame strips a story.
- Ask before sharing. Some guests won't want their photos online; save the gallery and share privately.
Common mistakes
- Light behind the guests. A window or spotlight behind them turns faces into silhouettes.
- The camera too low. A screen on a table looks up people's noses. Raise it to eye height.
- No power. A battery that dies at 9pm ends the booth. Plug it in from the start.
- A countdown that's too short for groups. Big groups need 5 to 7 seconds to change pose.
- Not testing the printer. Paper size and margins catch people out. Print one strip before guests arrive.
- Forgetting to save the photos. Back up the gallery the next day, before clearing anything.
Questions
What do I need for a DIY photo booth?
A tablet or phone on a stand at eye height, a soft light in front of your guests, a plain or sparkly backdrop, a few props, power for the evening and a photo booth app that counts down and makes the strip. A printer with 4×6 paper is optional.
How far should the camera be from the backdrop?
Allow about 2 to 3 metres in all: guests stand 1 to 1.5 metres in front of the backdrop and the camera sits another 1 to 1.5 metres in front of them. Four adults should fit in the frame.
How many photos should a photo booth strip have?
Four is the classic strip and keeps a queue moving. Two gives bigger photos, and six suits small groups who want to tell a story. In Boothly, 2 and 4 frames are free and 6 frames comes with Boothly Pro.
Can I print photo booth strips at home?
Yes. Use 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) photo paper and choose that size in your printer options. Boothly lays a strip out on a 4×6 sheet and can share a print-ready PDF for a home printer or a photo kiosk.
How do I stop guests closing the booth app?
Use a self-running mode and lock the device to the app. Boothly's Event Mode only ends when the organiser holds the Boothly mark for 3 seconds, and on an iPad Guided Access keeps guests inside the app.
Is Boothly free?
Yes. The booth, 2 and 4-frame strips, the Classic and Mono themes, three paper colours, stickers, doodles, saving and 4×6 prints are free. Boothly Pro, $2.99 once, adds Event Mode, 6-frame strips, more themes and papers, light leaks, two-strip prints, videos and sticker packs.