Wedding photo booth: using a tablet instead of hiring one
A photo booth is a staple at many weddings – but it costs money to hire, takes up space and often doesn’t deliver the photos until days later. You can do the same with a tablet: here’s what you’ll need, how to set it up and what it can do compared to a hired photo booth.
How does a photo booth work with a tablet?
The tablet displays the live feed from the front camera in full screen. A guest taps the large shutter button, a three-second countdown begins, and a white flash signals that the photo has been taken. The group then looks at the photo and decides: keep it or take another one. If no one taps the screen, the photo is saved after ten seconds – the booth is then immediately free for the next group.
What you’ll need for the photo booth
That is all. A dressing-up box with hats, glasses and signs turns the photo booth into the meeting point of the evening.
- A tablet with a front-facing camera – an older model will do; the image comes from the camera, not the processor
- A stand or tripod with a tablet holder at eye level
- Light from the front: a ring light or a bright lamp behind the tablet
- A plain background: a wall, a piece of fabric, a wall of flowers or a balloon arch
- Electricity and Wi-Fi or mobile data – if the connection drops out briefly, the tablet will upload the photos later
The best place to put the photo booth
Place it where guests are bound to pass by anyway: next to the bar, on the way to the dance floor or in the entrance area. Leave a gap of about two metres between the tablet and the background to allow space for groups. Don’t position the photo booth against a window – backlighting will make faces appear dark.
A hired photo booth or a tablet?
| Hired photo booth | Tablet with weddingphotos.live | |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | Usually several hundred euros to hire | Included in your stream at no extra cost |
| Set-up | Delivery, collection, plenty of space | Place the tablet on a stand, open the link |
| When the photos will be ready | Often only available to download after the event | Straight away in the gallery and on the big screen |
| For guests | A print to take home | All photos in the gallery, by email on request |
| Instant printing | Yes | No |
If you absolutely must have printed copies to take away, you can hire a box with a printer. If you mainly want to view, share and keep the photos, a tablet will do the job – and you’ll save on the hire fee.
How to set up the photo booth
- 1 Tap “Create photo booth link” in your stream.
- 2 Choose a frame and fill in two lines – for example, your names and the date.
- 3 Open the link on your tablet, allow access to the camera and switch to full-screen mode.
- 4 Put the tablet on the stand – done. After the celebration you can revoke the link.
What the weddingphotos.live photo booth can do
- Live view in full-screen mode, large shutter button and 3-2-1 countdown with flash
- A single image or a series of four as a collage
- A frame with your names and the date – classic, elegant or plain
- Preview with “Keep” or “Retake”
- Photos straight away in the gallery and on the big screen, labelled as photo booth
- Its own link without the guest password; renew or revoke it at any time
Common questions
Can you make your own photo booth for a wedding?
Yes. A tablet with a front camera, a stand, light from the front and a plain background are all you need. The photo booth link from weddingphotos.live takes care of the rest in the browser.
Do guests need an app?
No. The photo booth runs in the tablet’s browser; guests simply tap the shutter button.
Can the tablet photo booth print photos?
No, the photos are digital: straight away in the gallery, on the big screen and later for download. If you want prints to take home, hire a booth with a printer as well.
What happens if the Wi-Fi goes down?
The photo booth continues to take photos. The photos will be uploaded in the background as soon as the internet connection is restored.