Photobooths are among the most creative and popular inventions of the last 100 years. Since its
inception, the photo booth has been the subject of curiosity and wonder and has found a place in hundreds of thousands of carnivals, parties, amusement parks, and so on. A great night out is only complete in many cases if you’ve taken a picture reel in a photo booth with your friends, loved ones, or family. Photobooths have become iconic over the past few decades and are now found worldwide. If, like thousands of others, you’re fascinated by them, keep reading for more interesting facts.
1. It was invented in 1925
Anatol Josepho invented the photobooth in 1925 in America. His invention was the first machine
to take pictures fully, automatically, and instantly. This machine and a few other copies exploded in popularity because all other cameras required hours for their photos to develop. Josepho’s model was so popular that countries around the world began to make photo booths based on it. The oldest remaining photo booth in the world today is found in Suzarh, Russia, and was made in 1928 based on the same design.
2. It was used during World War 2
A common belief is that photo booths are primarily used in social contexts for friends and families to take quick, personalized images. However, photobooths were very important during World War 2 and its immediate aftermath. Governments worldwide used them to take pictures of citizens for identification and to create passports. Many countries still use photobooths to take the pictures that go on citizens' passports. Soldiers on the frontlines also used photo booths close to their bases to take pictures of themselves and send them back home to loved ones waiting.
3. Vintage photobooths are priceless
Due to their historical importance, and their rarity due to the poor maintenance practices of the time, vintage photobooths have become priceless in the modern era. There are countless photobooth collectors, especially because most forms of photography have become digitalized and replaced by smartphones. If you find a photo booth for sale, you could even purchase it and restore it. Countless collectors would love to take a restored photo booth off your hands.
4. Photobooths are used in art
Thanks to their prevalence in society, especially at parties and other places where memories are made, many artists have found inspiration in photo booths. The most famous example is Andy Warhol, who was a fan of photobooths and went out of his way to take pictures of himself and his friends in them whenever he was near one. The aesthetic of the resulting photo strips appealed to him, and he later incorporated them into some of his most famous works. Due to Warhol’s influence, more modern artists have begun to look at photobooths as a medium for self-expression. Hundreds of installations are held in transformed photobooths every year, with the main focus on the pictures of the artist they’ve taken in the booth.
5. They’ve had a resurgence in Japan
Photobooths have unexpectedly found a major resurgence in Japan, with the entire movement earning a name: “Purikura,” which means print club. These special photo booths are modified to have customizable digital backgrounds and other effects and filters that apply to the people in the portrait. These photo booths are found in restaurants, bars, and other hangout spots nationwide. There are also dedicated arcades and small popups that are made specifically for Purikura photo booths, and there’s enough demand and financial support for these places to stay operational and thrive.
Conclusion
The photo booth is one of the most significant creations of this era and has had a far greater impact on society than most people would realize. They’re functional, versatile, and great for social gatherings. Over the years, even with the invention of newer and possibly better technologies like handheld cameras and smartphones that people can easily use to take pictures, the photo booth has remained popular for one reason: there’s just nothing else like it. Memories are the most vivid when you have a photo booth reel to remember them with.
