How to build a DIY photo booth – N-Photo 163 video tutorial

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Photo booths have become hugely popular and you’ll often see professional setups at big events. But with a few simple skills, a DIY booth can yield results that are just as good. If you want to set one up – perhaps for a wedding or party – then you’ll find a host of tips over the following pages to get you started and in the party mood! 

Read more: The best on-camera monitors

A photo booth could be as simple as placing a mobile phone in selfie mode on a tripod. But there are ways to make the booth more polished and dynamic. First there’s the lighting, A couple of studio strobes allows for professional, flattering light that can illuminate groups large and small. Then there’s the user experience. A live view monitor can make it easier for guests to get into the right position, and a large display for viewing the photos afterwards can give them instant gratification.

If you want to give guests access to the photos then, for a simple solution, you could do as we have here and set up a cloud-based image folder and a QR code so they can instantly see photos on their phones (this gives access to all the photos, so it’s best suited to an event where everyone knows one another). Of course, unless we want to be standing there supervising all night, we also need the booth to be simple to use and robust enough to withstand users who might have had a few drinks. It can be a challenge to set up, but it’s worth it for the fun, laughter and selection of priceless photos you’ll help to create.

This tutorial does not feature any project files

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James Paterson

The lead technique writer on Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine and N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, James is a fantastic general practice photographer with an enviable array of skills across every genre of photography. 

Whether it's flash photography techniques like stroboscopic portraits, astrophotography projects like photographing the Northern Lights, or turning sound into art by making paint dance on a set of speakers, James' tutorials and projects are as creative as they are enjoyable. 

He's also a wizard at the dark arts of Photoshop, Lightroom and Affinity Photo, and is capable of some genuine black magic in the digital darkroom, making him one of the leading authorities on photo editing software and techniques.  

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