A photo booth is a commercial stand that takes, develops and prints a set of four passport-sized photographs within three minutes. One or two people may fit comfortably inside, and they are typically located in shopping malls, amusement venues, grocery centers and travel points such as train stations and airports. Photo booths are present in cities around the world, especially in Japan, the United States, Australia and Western Europe.
History
The photo booth was first patented in 1889 by Mathew Stiffens as a small room that included a manual photography device that required several individuals to participate in the development and operation of the camera. By 1925, the concept had evolved into a form similar to modern photo booths, featuring a small kiosk curtained off from the public, though the process was still manually driven by an operator. Fully automated booths did not appear until the 1960s.
Function
After inserting money into the booth, an individual steps inside and draws the curtain closed. A light or auditory signal will sound approximately 30 seconds after money has been inserted, indicating that the first picture is about to be taken. This signal will fire a few seconds before each of the four photographs is taken. When all the shots are finished, the booth will automatically develop the images and print them.
Considerations
Specific aspects of the process may vary based on the booth or booth manufacturer. There are currently both digital and traditional film booths in use around the world, and likewise there are both color and black and white only booths. Depending on the machine, the four pictures may be printed one on top of the other, or in two rows of two. Also, the booth may either take four distinct pictures or produce four copies of one picture.
Digital Photo Booths
Digital photo booths have started to replace traditional film booths over the past 10 years. Not only do they develop the images faster, but they also offer the customer more control over the look and design of the photos. Most digital booths allow the customer to decide if they want the image to appear in black and white or color, as well as add a computer border to the image, add text or adjust the lighting. Some include a blue-screen feature that allows users to select a themed background. The most advanced digital photo booths also allow users to print their images as stickers or postcards.
Significance
Photo booths can serve several purposes, depending on their location. In most countries photo booths are utilized as professional tools to create the identification photographs used in passports and driver certificates. However, in the United States, where most identification pictures are taken by the associated agency, photo booths are most often used as an amusing activity. They are most often found in entertainment venues such as movie theaters, arcades, malls and amusement parks, and are frequented by teenagers and couples looking for a fun, inexpensive and light-hearted diversion.
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