To start, find a space where guests can access the photo booth but not a place where they’ll naturally congregate (like next to the snacks or drinks) during the party. You want people to feel welcome to take photos, but you also want to give them a little space to do so. I used a secondary set-up for my how-to photos, so this will look a little different than it did at my party (above).

Photo booth app – more on which ones shortly.

However, you could use any tablet that has access to photo booth apps and wifi. Instructions in this post are based on Apple products because that is what I own. Here’s how to create your own DIY photo booth for your Halloween party: Kudos to my friend Dinah for suggesting this set-up during my visit to LA last year. It’s enough to wear a ghoul out! I was finding myself spending more than half my party on photos and not getting to enjoy time with my friends.īut last year, I finally landed on a solution that worked beautifully: a DIY photo booth using a stand, a backdrop and my (ancient) iPad:

Snapping stylized instant photos with my Instax (beyond time-consuming).

Taking photos of everyone as they come into the party (cumbersome).

Setting up a backdrop for guests to snap their own selfies (they didn’t).

Lining everyone up to snap photos (feels like elementary school).

Over the years, I’ve tried a lot of approaches to getting photos: Their costumes are always amazing, and I want to make sure we have plenty of photos to prove it. I love documenting my parties partly because I want to share them here on the blog but also because… my friends BRING IT. That last one is always the hardest for me. Over my decade of planning a hosting my own party, Halloweenie Roast, I’ve shared the struggles of every party planner: making sure there’s enough food, keeping everyone’s cups of witches brew full and documenting all their killer costumes.

See the end of this post and/or my disclaimer for more.

Diy photo booth app free