In a World of Filters, the Photo Booth Remains a Genuine Reflection

By Samantha Friedman

In a day and age where social media trends flicker with relentless speed, one relic of the past endures with charming consistency: the vintage photo booth. As the world changes right beside it, they remain the same. New Yorkers, ever enamored with their reflections in windows and taxi mirrors, are having a revived love affair with themselves and others in these timeworn machines.

One visit to the stylish Roxy Hotel lobby on the West Side or the Old Friend Photobooth on the Lower East Side makes it abundantly clear that print is having a comeback. Times have changed since the first photo booth arrived in New York City in 1925 for just 25 cents a print. The timeless booths offer more than just a snapshot, they provide a moment of spontaneity that modern technology today often overlooks. Unlike the instant gratification of posting on Instagram, the photobooth experience is an exercise in patience that Gen Z and millennials are having no problem waiting around for.

For those precious 3-4 minutes, you’re immersed in a ritual of waiting, staring at the dispenser, during which anticipation builds and unseen magic unfolds behind the scenes. This wait period is part of the allure, offering a moment of reflection that contrasts sharply with the instant-gratification culture we’re so deeply ingrained in and seemingly growing tired of. They offer a moment of pause amidst the city’s ceaseless energy.

Inside the confines of the photo booth, we find freedom in a different form. The black-and-white or sepia film of these booths offers a stark contrast to the vivid, filtered imagery of today’s digital age. The process requires zero enhancements; it’s all about the raw, unfiltered human experience. We can’t pick filters, make edits or write captions — we can only rely on our facial expressions and poses before the flash goes off. This stripped-down approach allows us to present ourselves without second guessing ourselves.

When the curtains close, photo booth goers have nowhere to run — forced to think hard and fast to whip up whatever emotion feels the closest to them in that moment. Unlike professional studio photographs which reflect the photographer’s vision, photo booth images are a true reflection of the subjects’ personalities. Each strip captures a moment in time, a glimpse into the lives of those who are bold enough to step inside.

Ella Harrison and her long-distance love make a point to visit photo booths whenever they’re in the same city.

For Ella Harrison, they’re a way to relive moments with her long-distance girlfriend who lives in another country. They make it a tradition to visit a new booth every time they’re together. Sienna Grace, whose love for film runs deep, scrapbooks these strips just as her mother did for her, and as she plans to do for her own child. Marget Mendez turns hers into fridge magnets while new mother Erika Mendez captured her six-month-old so beautifully that she plans to blow it up as a gallery wall in her home. Others, like me, repurpose the strips as memorable bookmarks or tuck them inside the back of a clear phone case, keeping those moments close at all times.

Photo booths have been more than just a means of capturing moments; they have been woven into the cultural fabric of different eras. Created in 1889 by French inventor T.E. Enjalbert at the World’s Fair in Paris, these early booths took about five minutes to produce a photo on a thin sheet of metal. During World War II, soldiers used photo booths to send personal, tangible mementos to their loved ones. Early in the 20th century, Hollywood stars like Audrey Hepburn found joy in the candid, playful snapshots offered by photo booths, creating iconic images that have become part of cinematic lore.

By the mid-20th century, photo booths provided an affordable way for people to take passport photos and appeared in movies, music videos, and literature. Celebrities such as Andy Warhol and Elvis Presley captured their own photo booth moments, which have since become valuable collector’s items.

Today, photo booths have evolved into a unique and intimate setting for proposals, transforming a simple photo session into a memorable romantic gesture. Friends might enter as acquaintances and leave as lovers, or couples might step in as partners and emerge as lifelong companions.

Alternatively, some choose to wait in line alone and go in “solo,” eagerly anticipating the opportunity to turn the intimate confines of the photo booth into a personal stage for self-expression. Caroline Defelice says, “The perfectionist in me wanted to snip off the photos of myself that I didn’t like, but I reminded myself that you can try to be perfect, only to blink and realize you’re just human. Now, I look forward to capturing my evolving self every year.” This act of stepping in alone brings a sense of introspection, allowing the individual to document a fleeting emotion or simply the joy of being in the moment.

Whether you’re embracing your individuality, capturing a spontaneous mood with friends, or the serenity of a brief escape from the world, the photo booth offers a deeply personal experience. One thing is for sure—there’s no single right way to experience it. Each session is a testament to the ways we find meaning and beauty in others’ company or our very own.