Photo booth rental is a popular choice for event organizers and wedding planners alike — they’re a terrific, entertaining way to document memories of special events, with loads of wacky items for creative photographs. Since the first photo booth went into operation, technology has come a long way, and many technological advancements were required to get there in the first place. Today, we take a quick trip through the history of the modest photo booth, from the original technology to the mainstream, and all the way to the present.
Where Did It All Start?
The first patent for an automated photo machine was filed in 1888, but it was never manufactured, according to reports. T.E. Enjalbert, a French inventor, demonstrated a workable coin-operated photography machine at the World Fair in Paris the next year, but the findings were not well received by the press. The Auto-Photo was described in an 1889 patent as a device that took up an entire room and required multiple team members to operate. The Ashton-Wolff automatic picture machine was invented in 1912. The person sat on a stool in front of the lens, which was encased in a huge box. After the shot was taken, a sign appeared on the screen indicating that the subject might rise and that their portrait will appear in four minutes. Clearly, the technology had a long way to go…
Fortune
Anatol Josepho, a Siberian immigrant to the United States who learned the art of photography to help pay his trips around the world, is credited with inventing the photobooth. In 1925, Josepho patented the ‘photomaton,’ an eight-photo-in-eight-minute picture booth. To build a prototype, he needed to fund $11,000, which is over $150,000 in today’s money. In the first six months, Josepho’s Broadway studio had 280,000 visitors and had to stay open until 4 a.m. to fulfill demand. In the United States alone, there were nearly 30,000 operating photo booths by the conclusion of WWII.
The Era Of The Golden Age
Photo booths immediately become a part of popular culture. We’ve seen them in a slew of TV shows and movies, and artists like Andy Warhol have utilized them as the basis for works of art. Photo booths were utilized by Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and a slew of other celebrities, but they were also used by the rest of us. Photo booths were ubiquitous from the 1950s to the 1980s, and it was something we all took for granted.
Fast-Forward To Today
Photo booths lost part of their luster when consumer photography became increasingly inexpensive. Rather than using photo booths, we took pictures using our cameras. With the prevalence of smartphones and selfies, one may assume that photo booths are a thing of the past. Thankfully, the opposite has shown to be true! Photo booths are making a comeback, bringing a nostalgic touch to parties, weddings, and business events.
Paloma Photo Booth is a photo booth rental company based in Temecula, CA. If you’re interested in learning more, contact our team and we’ll gladly answer any questions you may have.
