Choosing between a traditional or a digital photo booth is really a matter of personal taste: nostalgia or state-of-the-art technology. From the outside, both varieties can look the same, and both capture the fun and intimacy of taking endless photos with no photographer to please. So, whatever the choice, you and your guests will recapture the magic of the photo booth experience: the freedom to showcase all aspects of your unique personality—goofy, brave, ridiculous, shy, sexy, or outrageous. Indeed, people from all walks of life have been snapping memories in just this way for more than 80 years.

The traditional photo booth emerged in 1925, when a Siberian immigrant, Anatol Josepho, was inspired to create a small curtained booth in which people could take affordable portraits privately and automatically. The photo booth skyrocketed to fame during World War II, as soldiers and loved ones scrambled to capture precious memories in a world of chaos and confusion.

The technology involved in the traditional photo booth is straightforward. The booth itself is simply a curtained kiosk with a seat or a bench for one or two subjects. Most take a single-photograph and print out a series of four identical photos on a 1.5” by 7.4” strip in black and white (or more recently full color). After a buzzer or light signals the subject, the photograph is taken. A mechanical arm inside the booth then dips the strip in a large, rotating vat, divided into four sections, each containing a different developing solution. Finally, the arm drops the strip down a shoot where the patron can collect it. The entire process takes about 30 seconds. Although the specifics of these traditional “dip-and-dunk” photo booths have varied over the years, the technology has remained more or less the same until recently. With the advent of digital technology, the possibilities have become virtually endless!

While the patron experience in a digital photo booth is reminiscent of the traditional booth, the technology is state of the art. Most use digital or video cameras instead of film and are computer controlled. Thus, once the pictures are taken, guests can select the shots they want to keep and customize them using a touch screen or pen-sensitive screen. Some common options include the ability to change the lighting or backdrop or insert special effects. Some even enable patrons to superimpose themselves on, or with, images, such as cartoon characters or celebrities. Guests can even select the number and size of pictures to be printed, and the pictures are printed out on a glossy, full-color 4 X 6 inch sheet, which can be cut up and shared with friends. Some booths also enable guests to create an array of keepsake trinkets, such as photo stamps or key chains. Of course, the process is also much faster, with digital photo booths producing photos in about 10 seconds. Another benefit of these modern marvels is the fact that they are chemical-free.

Recent further innovations include the ability to instantly project photos on a large screen where they can be enjoyed by all. Some event planners even arrange to have photo booth snaps projected in random order across a white screen on a continuous loop during the event. Of course, the ultimate extension of the photo booth experience is achieved by combining modern digital technology with the Internet to create a Web photo gallery. This allows guests to share images and obtain copies of their favorite pictures long after the event.

Whether you are a nostalgia buff or a high-techno freak, including a photo booth at your next event will ensure you and your guests hours and hours of entertainment and capture the moment like no hand-held camera can!