Why Have Photo Booths Endured And Thrived For A Century?

Rather fittingly for a device that has commemorated countless celebrations, 2025 is the year in which we need to celebrate the 100th birthday of the photo booth, which to this day is a staple for not only birthdays but also weddings and corporate events.

Specifically, 2025 is when Anatol Josepho developed the Photomaton, the first photo booth that functions in a way that is broadly recognisable today. You stepped into the booth based in New York City, paid 25 cents and received eight photographs that developed in eight minutes.

Mr Josepho would sell the rights two years later for a million dollars and future royalties, and before long, the Photomaton would take over the world. The first photo booth in the UK would arrive in 1928.

What made it so successful is the same trait that makes it highly desirable today; it captures moments in time and provides a priceless memento for a low cost.

Up until the latter part of the 20th century, most people did not own a camera, instant cameras would not exist until 1948 and would not become popular until the 1970s, and the first mobile phones with selfie cameras would not appear until the early 2000s.

Even when all of these existed, they were still typically more expensive than buying a strip of photo booth pictures and more difficult to focus, set up and guarantee high-quality shots.

Once the selfie was well-established, photo booths developed a new purpose that focused on the social element that made them so popular for so long.

Part of this can be credited to purikura, the integration of photography and entertainment, but in a world where anyone could take a picture anywhere, having a dedicated place to pose, use props and take great pictures is more important than ever.

Beyond this, original analogue machines have themselves become popular again as new generations seek out authentic imperfection.