What equipment is needed for a photo booth: a parts list

What equipment is needed for a photo booth: the core list

Every photo booth is built from the same handful of parts. Which version of each part you buy depends on one early choice: a tablet booth or a camera booth.

This list describes categories. It names specific products only where a vendor page was read on 3 October 2026. This site has not handled or tested any of the hardware.

• Capture device: an iPad, or a camera connected to a computer.
• Stand or enclosure to hold the device at face height.
• Lighting.
• Booth software.
• Power, and an internet connection for sending photos.
• Optional: a printer with paper and ribbon.
• Backdrop, props and a travel case.

Capture device: iPad or camera and computer

A tablet booth uses the iPad's own camera and screen, so the capture device and the touch screen are one item. Several apps are built this way. Simple Booth and MoveBooth run on iPad only. LumaBooth and Touchpix also list Android versions.

A camera booth pairs a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a computer running booth software. LumaBooth for Windows lists Canon, Nikon, Sony, GoPro and webcam support. Darkroom Booth is Windows only and lists tethered DSLR, webcam and GoPro. Breeze Remote Pro runs on Windows 10 or later, and its page lists Canon cameras and webcams.

Check the software's supported list before buying a camera or tablet. MoveBooth does not support DSLR or mirrorless cameras, and its minimum iPadOS version is not stated on the vendor's page.

Stand, enclosure and lighting

The stand holds the device steady at head height and hides cables. Purpose-built booth shells combine the stand with a light. Two were read today, and neither includes the iPad. Prices are as read on 3 October 2026 and can change.

• MoveBooth kiosk, $2,499: tilt-adjustable head with a dimmable LED ring, a 3-piece metal stand with baseplate and risers, two faceplates for 10.2 to 12.9 inch iPads, an LED remote and a rolling flight case. The vendor says assembly takes 5 minutes.
• Photobooth Supply Co Salsa 2, $2,999: includes a soft roller case, power supply, USB-C cable, a 25 foot cord, a tool kit and a roamer handle. It supports 12.9 and 13 inch iPad Pro and iPad Air models from 2018 on.
• A plain tablet stand or mount: MoveBooth says its app works on any iPad with any stand, so a branded shell is a choice, not a requirement. You would then add your own light.

Printer: needed only if you sell prints

A printer is the part most tied to software. Some booth apps print and some do not, and those that print support specific connection types or models. Confirm the pairing on the software vendor's page before you buy a printer.

The Salsa 2 page says the booth needs an AirPrint compatible printer, bought separately. MoveBooth has no printing or print layouts and supports no printers, so it cannot be the software for a print booth. If prints matter to your customers, start with iPad booth apps that support printing.

No printer prices are given here because no printer vendor page was read today.

Software, power and connection

Software runs the session: countdown, capture, overlay, and delivery by email, text or QR code. It also sets your limits. An app decides which devices, cameras and printers you can use, so it makes sense to choose it first. The software guide for booth businesses compares options by business type.

Plan for power at the venue: a cord long enough to reach an outlet, and a way to keep it out of walkways. Plan for a weak connection too. Several apps describe an offline mode that holds photos and sends them later. MoveBooth lists this on all plans, with the condition that the booth was online before the connection dropped.

Backdrop, props and case, and what to buy first

A backdrop gives photos a consistent look. Props are optional and suit parties more than corporate stands. A case protects the kit in transit. Both shells above ship with one.

Buy in this order. First decide print or digital-only. Then pick the software and confirm its device list. Then buy the capture device, stand and light. Add the printer last, once the software choice is settled. For an iPad build, the iPad booth setup guide walks through assembly. For what all of this adds up to, see published startup costs.