Today, we’re sharing with you five must haves you need in order to plan your perfect photo booth. In a perfect world, wedding photo booths would set up themselves, guests would jump right in to smile for the camera, the lighting would be perfect, the backdrop impeccable, and there would be no camera or electrical malfunctions of any kind. We can’t eliminate any imperfections but we can share with you five of our favorite requirements to help you plan your perfect photo booth without a hitch! Read on to see which five made the cut after the jump!

5 Must-Haves for Your Perfect Photo Booth

1. Sign

Direct guests to your photo booth with a fun sign. It also helps to give guests a little instruction, particularly for those who may never have seen a wedding photo booth before.

2. Backdrop

Dress up your photo booth with a fun, decorative backdrop. A boring white wall simply won’t do – you need to add a little pop of color. We’ve seen beautiful photo booth backdrop options with everything from quilts, strips of brightly colored fabric or ribbon, sequins, garland, and more. Here are a few of our hand-picked favorites to inspire you…

Have you ever considered a unique option with a completely handmade touch? We’re impressed by this gorgeous decorative tree trunk backdrop that was created by Brandon Kidd. We think it’s pretty amazing!

Consider a few additional options like streamers, fringe, and garland.

This beautiful chevron fringe DIY from A Beautiful Mess has stolen our hearts.

Love crepe paper? We do, too! Create this fun DIY checkered backdrop created by The Eclectic Life via Pinterest:

A crystal curtain? Why not? We spotted this beautiful blingy backdrop via Save On Crafts. New Years Eve, anyone?

For a unique twist, tie in some photo frames for an unforgettable look.

Build Your Own

Want to build your own backdrop? Check out this tutorial we spotted via Wedding Bee.

3. Camera

This one’s obvious, but certainly worth mentioning since there are plenty of options available. You can hire a professional photo booth company or a photographer who specializes in photo booth operation to take the photographs for your guests. We love this option because it requires no set up from the couple (which leaves you stress-free on your wedding day… or when the equipment decides to have technical difficulty.) Another option is a camera with instant film.

Don’t forget plenty of film!

4. Props

A photo booth needs props. Props help guests get into fun-photo-mode by breaking the ice a little. You can’t help but grin ear to ear while holding a mustache on a stick, a silly hat, or wearing an extra large pair of glasses. Check out these hand-picked photo booth props handmade by Whisker Works, beginning with our personal favorite: The Inquisitor.

Too much fun!

Special Offer

We love photo booth props for weddings, so we couldn’t help but share this amazing limited time offer with you by our featured artisan, Whisker Works, whose work is shown in the props above. They are offering FREE shipping as a special for Christmas with an exclusive Emmaline Bride only code SHIP4FREE at checkout. If you’re planning a holiday party, what could be more fun than a handmade photo booth and props for your relatives? Order quickly, though – time is running out on Christmas delivery! All orders placed today (December 19th) will be placed within 24 hours, making delivery for Christmas Eve very likely… click here to place your order!

5. Light

Ask any photographer and they’ll tell you how important light is. Light essentially makes or a breaks a photograph. That’s why we recommend hiring a professional photographer to either assist in taking the photographs for guests during a particular portion of the reception or assist in setup of your photo booth area. He or she can show you how much light is required and where it should be positioned. A photo booth company that specializes in such can come to set up the entire area with custom options available. We are familiar with Shutter Booth (a sponsor of EB) which is option you will likely find available in your area. Whether your venue is outdoors or indoors, be sure there’s plenty of light!

And, remember… if planning a photo booth sounds like too much to tackle yourselves, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Hire a professional to assist or enlist in the help of a photo-booth-savvy friend to help. This will majorly relieve your stress, result in no setup duties by you or your groom on the wedding day, and you’ll never know about any technical difficulties (if they even occur, which is very unlikely) throughout the night because someone else will be in charge. This also means you’ll have more time to enjoy it – be sure to enjoy your photo booth, too! Guests love photos with the main guests of honor, so get you and the groom in on the action, too.

Happy Planning!

♥
-E.

A few product links above go to amazon to assist you with your purchase, as we are an affiliate. However, feel free to shop wherever you prefer!