Photo booth prop ideas

A photo corner earns its space when three things are true: it's lit, it's near the bar, and there are props on a table rather than in a box. People walk past a photo booth in a dark corner all night.

You don't need to hire anything. A phone on a tripod with a self-timer, a backdrop and a table of props does the same job for under £50, and the pictures end up in the group chat instead of on a memory stick nobody collects.

Below are prop ideas by occasion, the DIY versions worth making, and how to set the corner up so it gets used.

Classic props that always get used

• Oversized sunglasses in a few colours. Shop this card
• Feather boas — daft, but the first thing anyone picks up. Shop this card
• Hats: cowboy, top hat, party hats, a novelty crown for the birthday person. Shop this card
• Speech bubble signs on sticks, blank plus a few written. Shop this card
• Moustaches and lips on sticks. Shop this card
• A giant inflatable — phone, guitar, flamingo. Shop this card
• Chalkboard signs guests can write on themselves. Shop this card
• Fancy dress wigs, one long and one ridiculous. Shop this card

DIY props you can make in an evening

• Speech bubbles cut from white card and taped to bamboo skewers. Shop this card
• Photo frames made from a cardboard box, painted gold. Shop this card
• Number balloons for the milestone age, weighted so they stay in shot. Shop this card
• A banner with the birthday person's name in card letters. Shop this card
• Masks cut from black card on lolly sticks. Shop this card
• Printed quotes and in-jokes, laminated, one per guest group. Shop this card
• A "caught in the act" police-style board with the date on it. Shop this card
• Paper flower crowns from tissue paper and wire. Shop this card

By occasion

• Milestone birthday: giant number balloons, a birth-year sign, retro sunglasses. Shop this card
• Wedding: veils, bow ties, "Mr" and "Mrs" signs, confetti poppers. Shop this card
• Hen party: sashes, tiaras, feather boas, a groom's face on a stick. Shop this card
• Christmas party: Santa hats, tinsel boas, reindeer antlers, a snow-effect backdrop. Shop this card
• Retirement: a "gone fishing" sign, a mock clocking-out card, a fake gold watch. Shop this card
• New Year: 20XX glasses, party horns, sparklers for a countdown shot. Shop this card
• Halloween: masks, cobweb backdrop, a coffin cut-out. Shop this card
• Kids' party: superhero masks, wands, animal ears. Shop this card

Backdrops that photograph well

• A balloon garland arch across one corner — the best-performing option by far. Shop this card
• Foil fringe curtain, £6 and it hangs on a Command hook. Shop this card
• A plain sheet in a strong colour, ironed, taped taut. Shop this card
• Fairy lights on a mesh curtain, which flatters everyone in low light. Shop this card
• A flower wall, real or fake, for a wedding or hen. Shop this card
• A wall of framed photos of the birthday person through the decades. Shop this card
• Nothing at all — just a clean wall and a good lamp. Shop this card

Setting the corner up

• Put it near the bar, not in a spare room. Footfall decides whether it gets used. Shop this card
• Light it: two lamps at 45 degrees beat one overhead bulb. Shop this card
• Lay the props out on a table, don't leave them in a box. Shop this card
• Phone on a £12 tripod with a remote, set to a 5 second self-timer. Shop this card
• Stick a printed QR code to a shared album on the wall. Shop this card
• Leave a guest book or a stack of cards beside it for people to write in. Shop this card
• Ask one person to take a photo of every group early, before everyone loosens up. Shop this card

Birthday cards to go with the party

Designed in house, printed and posted in the UK.

Milestone birthday cards

The big-number designs for the guest of honour.

How to write it so it lands

• Light the corner properly — it's the difference between usable photos and dark ones.
• Props on a table, not in a box.
• Put it where people already are.

Where to shop next

• Happy birthday banners
• Cake toppers
• Table confetti
• Party bag fillers
• Buy party supplies
• Balloon arch ideas
• How to use a balloon arch kit
• How to make bunting
• How to hang bunting
• Party bag ideas for kids
• What to put in a party bag
• Birthday party ideas
• Milestone birthday cards
• Buy a birthday card online
• All birthday cards
• How to make a balloon arch
• How much helium do you need for balloons?
• Party bag ideas for adults

Frequently asked questions

What props do you need for a photo booth?

Eight to twelve is plenty: oversized sunglasses, hats, a boa, speech bubble signs, moustaches on sticks and one giant inflatable. Lay them on a table rather than leaving them in a box.

How do you make photo booth props at home?

Cut shapes from card and tape them to bamboo skewers. Speech bubbles, moustaches, lips and masks all take about ten minutes each, and a whole set costs under £10.

What makes a good photo booth backdrop?

A balloon garland, a foil fringe curtain or a plain ironed sheet in a strong colour. Whatever you choose, light it with two lamps at 45 degrees rather than the ceiling light.

Do you need to hire a photo booth?

No. A phone on a £12 tripod with a self-timer, a backdrop and a table of props costs under £50 and the photos go straight to a shared album.

Where should you put the photo booth at a party?

Near the bar or the main room, never in a side room. A photo corner people have to seek out doesn't get used after the first hour.

How do you share the photos afterwards?

Print a QR code linking to a shared album and stick it on the wall beside the props. It gets far more uploads than asking people to email you.