The History of the Photobooth

Our photo booth timeline unveils the milestones and innovations that have shaped how we capture memories today.

In an era dominated by high-resolution cameras and instant filters, it’s easy to forget the humble beginnings of a revolutionary invention that changed the way we capture moments – the photo booth.

1888

William Pope and Edward Poole filed a patent for an automated photography machine, though it still requires a photographer.

1925

Anatol Josepho opened the first fully automated photo booth, the "Photomaton," in New York City. It rapidly gained popularity for its ability to produce multiple poses quickly.

1930s - 1940s

Photobooths become an integral part of popular culture. They appear in amusement parks, train stations, and cities worldwide, offering people an affordable and accessible way to capture moments during the Great Depression and World War II.

1945

During the Yalta Conference, world leaders Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin posed in a specially designed photo booth, creating iconic images known as the "Big Three" pictures.

1960s-1980s

Traditional photo booths declined with the rise of point-and-shoot cameras and instant polaroid photography.

1990s

Fully-automated, full-colour photo booths that ran on computers came on the market.

2000s

Nostalgia brings photobooths back into vogue, with modern versions offering high-quality prints and digital copies, making them popular at weddings, parties, and corporate events.

2008

This is where we came in. It all began with our taxi booth and the rest is history.