DIY Photo Booths

If you want to do this get a remote for your camera. I have a remote for my Nikon D3200. Your guests can click the remote to take the photo. I think it might be a little disorganized to do your own photo booth though. Another option is a selfie station, but this would be more for your guests because they would have to send you the photos or tag them with your wedding hashtag. For both options you can buy the photo booth props online.

If you have a laptop, a printer and an ipad you can do it and no one has to even touch the ipad. Google it. Im sorry I dont have direct links but I did a lot of research on this when I first got engaged. there's tons of DIY tutorials out there.

A photo printer is like $60, i remember that much lol.

I have a remote for my camera. I'm just too scared someone will knock over the tripod and there goes my expensive camera.

Have you ever been to an event with an iPad photo booth? They're actually really simple to use. Sometimes the software is custom for the vendor, but oftentimes the screen tells you exactly what to do: "Tap Here to Start", "Get Ready! 3, 2, 1..." then "enter your email address & we'll send the photos to you!" Some of the apps are cheap ($5) and others are expensive ($60).

Some of the apps have "boomerang"-like animated gifs which are also super fun and popular right now, and wouldn't be an option with a "real" photobooth.

I've done this with a mac for a theater company but it was in a smaller, more casual environment. I'd scour groupon, I've seen photobooth deals for as low as $250 if that's in your budget.

I think if there is sufficient space you don't have to worry about anyone knocking over your tripod. If anything just set the photo booth up in a corner and reduce the risk of it getting knocked over.

The iPad photo both sounds good though. I haven't been to an event that had either of these but I think it sounds fun.

I went to a wedding with a DIY photobooth with an iPad and the pictures didn't turn out well due to the uplighting so I would take that into consideration.

Since there was no attendant, there were people who literally took 20 minutes for their turn so that they could use every single prop. It was pretty annoying as a guest, however, I don't think that the bride noticed. We wouldn't have except our table was close to it and we were forced to see it all at least until dinner was over. The line never ended, even though the reception was around 4 hours.

The printer was right there and although delayed due to the amount of pictures, it did print them all by the end of the wedding.

I would hire someone or skip it. We had a photo booth and it was nice, but if I had to set it up and worry about the app doing it's job, making sure the flash and/or lighting was appropriate, finding a printer that could keep up, buying ink for the printer and checking it throughout the night, etc. I definitely would have passed. We actually got a nice discount on ours through our DJ - if you're set on it maybe check with your other vendors for a referral?

Have you considered a selfie station? You could still get the fun accessories and maybe a few universal selfie sticks. Then guests can post photos to your hashtag on their own phones and you don't have to worry about anyone messing up your equipment!

Were doing a selfie station. Simple. Fun. Worry free.

You could use a Groupon for a professional company and get the photo booth for $500 or less, depending on the deal.

My husband and I had a Polaroid camera at our wedding and our photographer took pictures of guests and they kept them as favors. We also had her take photos of our guests to put in our guestbook. :-)

We are doing our own photobooth. Talked to our photographer who suggested sheer curtains in our wedding colors on a backdrop stand and hang white Christmas lights behind it to help with the lighting. Just haven't decided on an app yet for the iPad. Had one saved somewhere and can't find it lol

We did a selfie station. It was a hit! The hashtag was used like crazy! Bought the sequin curtain from Amazon for $20, made the props myself/found some at a thrift store, bought three selfie sticks (aux corded) from target for $5 apiece, and ended up buying the iPhone 7 converters (2) on Amazon for $6. It was pretty inexpensive and we didn't have to worry about someone breaking something we cared about. Good luck!!

Where are you located? We used Groupon and rented one for 3hours for under $250.00

@Brandy I'm in Los Angeles where everything is like 2-3x more, however I haven't checked Groupon yet.

@LC1001 They wouldn't get a print out at the wedding -- too many moving parts for us to get a wireless printer/paper/ink/hope it works all night. The apps allow guests to email or text it to themselves and they can print it on their own later. And I'm thinking about printing a guest's photo and sending it with their Thank You card.

We got a HUGE piece of plywood that will be hung at the alter ( since we will have a backdrop there) AFTER the ceremony. Then some people can stand being the frame we make out of the plywood why someone else takes photos on their phones or what not.