Cheap Photo Booth Alternatives for Your Event

Photo booths are enormously popular at events - but many hosts find the rental costs too high. Thankfully, there are DIY methods to create a similar fun experience on a budget! Consider these cheap photo booth ideas for your next party or celebration. However, you do need to think if it is best to go down the road of cheap photo booth alternatives.

Backdrop & Props

Simply hanging a backdrop and laying out silly props can easily set the stage for a DIY photo station. Use ballroom curtains, bed sheets, a standalone picture frame, or colorful paper taped to the wall. Gather wacky hats, masks, signs and other accessories for props.

Snap With Your Smartphone

These days, everyone has a high quality camera in their smartphones. So have guests use their own devices to snap photos in front of your homemade photo station backdrop. No special equipment needed!

Edit With Apps

Apps like FaceTune, Photo Booth, and Pic Stitch make it easy to edit smartphone photos by adding frames, textures, emoji stickers and more. Provide the customization options with a table full of printed photo templates they can hold up in shots.

Share Via Social Media

The best part about digital photos? They're instantly sharable on social channels like Facebook and Instagram. Create a custom hashtag for your event so that guests can publicly post photos from your makeshift photo booth.

Instant Camera Station

Swap smartphones for old school instant cameras like Polaroid for a fun twist. Stock up on instant film packs and set out multiple instant cameras with silly props. This route adds tangible printed photos as instant keepsakes.

Print Your Own Photo Strips

Many home printers have capabilities to print borderless 2x6 photo strips. Connect your desktop computer or laptop to a printer and have guests take photos with a webcam. Then automatically print customized photo strips to distribute.

With minimum effort, any of these approaches can quickly "boothify" a self-serve photo corner at events. Getting playful with a DIY photo setup saves money without sacrificing the special photo moments for guests. Strike a pose!