Anchors Aweigh!

When the simple wackiness of a photo booth experience isn’t quite what you’re going for, a theme may be just the thing — especially if the party/wedding/friends-for-the-weekend event already has a theme. The nautical aesthetic has a timeless appeal, and lends itself well to retro-styling for both props and backgrounds, if not entire wardrobes. Thoughts of the ocean conjure legends and lore, and the spirit of adventure that you’ll have a great time embodying in wistful and whimsical photographs.

There are opportunities to create scenes for children, where a handmade look will accentuate the charm of your little models, and a variety of ways to handle grownup-oriented photo scenes. Looking for a romantic setting? A boat built for two could be just for you. Looking for something funny? A boat built for two could be just for you… and six of your closest friends.

The key when building a photo booth backdrop that makes the effort worthwhile is to make a backdrop that sets the tone, props that provide inspiration to smile, laugh, gesticulate or otherwise pose, and decorative details that sell the moment. This isn’t a roll of wallpaper hanging behind you. It’s a stage upon which you and your friends and loved ones may create moments worth saving.

Props from Whisker Works that can really help put you in the seafaring spirit include the Beard (a staple of old-timey and modern sea captains alike), the Captain mustache (clearly), and the Engineer, as it is decidedly swarthy. If you’re going for the “I’ve been adrift for a few weeks but only grew a mustache” look, that’s the Naturalist for sure. Other choice elements include an oar, a captain’s hat, and possibly a parrot if you’re going for a Caribbean motif.

Weddings Illustrated

Photo credit: Weddings Illustrated

thedigitalorange
Photo credit: The Digital Orange

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Photo credit: Alicia Mujo Photography

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Photo credit: Frosted Petticoat Blog

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Photo credit: Diaper Style Memoirs

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Photo credit: Coastal Creatives

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Photo credit: Wedding Dream

Hearts Aplenty

It’s that time of year to celebrate all things representing love. Get your photo booth started with something as simple as a heart rug that is hung on the wall and snap away. Round up the kids and friends and create some memories with a classic kissing booth. Try adding some chocolates to the booth to make photos extra fun. Send some hugs and kisses with letters on a stick and profess your love for your betrothed. Get all dolled up and use multicolor balloons of varying lengths to frame your photo. Create heart laced vertical garland with a heart hole punch and some fishing line. Paper hearts and props will make a big difference for big and little smiles.
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Green Wedding Shoeskate-spade
Ombre Butterfly Hearthanging hearts
Jours de Bonheur
Photo credits:
One heart kids: The Little Style File
Three hearts on wall: Carly Jones Photography
Streamers: Living Locurto
X and O couple: Studio DIY
Pixel hearts: Green Wedding Shoes
Balloons backdrop: Wedding Inspirasi
Ombre butterfly heart: Ron & Noy
Hanging hearts: Hank and Hunt
Outdoor hanging hearts: Jours de Bonheur

Looking for printable Valentine’s Day props? Whisker Works has them here!

Shades of Ombre

Ombre can be seen everywhere from hair to nails to party themes. Meaning “having colors or tones that shade into each other,” an ombre backdrop can super charge your event with bursts of blended color. Make a craft day of it by rounding up some fabric and spend some time dyeing them various shades of the same color. Or keep it simple by forming crepe paper into twisty strands that will make your guests ooh and aah. A little goes a long way with multicolored papers, balloons or feather boas for your very own do-it-yourself photo booth.

Style Me Pretty
Mark Brooke!paper_chain_backdropTomfoolery
Brunch In Omaha
DECORBYTORIA on etsy
Lovely Indeed
Delightfully Engaged
Bramble Workshop

Photo credits:
Ruffle chair: Style Me Pretty
Sweet Stuff: Mark Brooke!
Paper chains: Floridian Weddings
Scalloped paper: Tomfoolery
Balloons: Brunch in Omaha
Purple pinwheels: Decor by Toria
Blue wave couple: Lovely Indeed
Shades of blue: Delightfully Engaged
Large blue & green: Bramble Workshop

Craving more? Follow our Pinterest board!

Glittering Gold Glamour: Welcome, 2014!

Take 2014 by storm with a glamorous DIY photo booth! Toast the new year with friends and family and plenty of shiny things. With a mix of metallic themed props and backgrounds it will be easy to let your true self shine through. Capture the moment that you say goodbye to the old and welcome to the new year in a glamorous style for all to see.
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Photo credits:
Cheers Banner: Confetti Design Shop
Gold ampersand: Letters From A to Z
Gold ladies: Oh Happy Day
Metallic streamers: The Design Files
Gold balloons: Snapden Photo Booths

Jingle Those Holiday Bells

Make your holiday party fa la la fabulous with sackfuls of cheer! Add some multicolored streamers for an easy, go-to backdrop. Or get festive by adding in some ornaments and Christmas decorations that may be hanging around the house. Change things up by calling some friends and having them bring a blanket for a background, some surprise decorations and plenty of smiles. Any way you go, make sure to include lots of fun even for those on the naughty list.Christmas_Photobooth_01photo-bothxmasphotoboothsmileboothcute-christmas-photo-booth-props
Photo credits:
Five Ladies: Melissa Jill
Confetti couple: Lovely Indeed
Present backdrop: Hope Farm Housewife
Ladies with bows: Smilebooth
Trio with props: Catching Fireflies

Fabulous fall photo booth

Gear up for fall with some homegrown touches that are sure to delight one and all. Start off with a simple burlap background to create an outdoorsy feeling. Take it further with colorful branches of fall foliage or even some playful banners. Add a few hay bales and pumpkins to really bring harvest time to life.
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Shannen Natasha
fall photobooth
pilgrims
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Native American
fallfence
Photo credits:
Fall family: Joyful Weddings & Events
Pitchfork couple: Shannen Natasha
Leaf garland: Pinterest
Little pilgrims: Michael’s
Hay bales and bunting: Urban Life
Native American & Pilgrim props: Salsapie tutorial
Apples on fence: Sarah Teeter Photography

Ghoulish Nights and Photo Delights

Gather round ghosts and goblins, it’s time to scare up a fright on the most ghoulish of nights.  Create your own spirited photo booth backdrops with a little bit of fabric, paint and imagination. Try using a row of old paintings to conjure up a scary delight. Or set the scene with a little black gauze. Whatever the theme, from spooky elegance to frightful fun, you can turn your photo booth into a place for great memories.

Coffin photo boothHalloween backdrop Spooky photo booth Spooky chair Black gauze Two zombiesHalloween Couple
Photo credits:
Coffin backdrop: Pinterest
Black chairs: Pinterest
Graveyard backdrop: Pinterest
Elegant chair: Eleakis & Elder Photography Studio
3 people: Smile Booth
Police line up skeletons: Laurenconrad.com
Scary photos couple: Pinterest

Capture memories with a kid’s spooky booth

For young and old alike, Halloween can be a spooky sensation or a grand celebration. For kids, it’s all about dressing up, having fun and candy of course! With something as simple as streamers or cheesecloth, you’re on your way to a homemade spooky booth.

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LaDeeDaa Photography

Photo credits:
Bails of hay: Supermom Moments blog
Black and orange streamers: Pinterest
Cemetery backdrop: Chris & Paige blog
Captain America: Caleb Jamin Studios
Little knight: Mer Mag blog
Spooky streamers: Pinterest
Gorilla & Vampire: La Dee Daa Photography

For Halloween photo props, visit Whisker Works.

Neon Photo Booth

Flagging tape, typically used by Surveyors, can be found for less than $2 per roll at most hardware stores. Since it comes in bright shades, like hot pink and neon orange, it’s a perfect supply for making an inexpensive 80’s themed photo booth backdrop.

Much thanks to Kristin Greenlee Photography for sharing this idea and these photos. Additional photos from her party can be found here.

Looking for more neon inspiration? Read this post.

Mason Jar Hanging Shelf

My office is quickly running out of space, especially since a new shipment of supplies has taken over the closet. I needed a way to store more Whisker Works props on the walls, so I could free up shelf and desk space. After browsing Pinterest, I was inspired to create this pretty convenient wall shelf out of mason jars. It was easier than I expected, so I plan on making several more!

Total cost: $20
Total time: 2 hours

Materials
– Two 1×6″ boards, 24″ long
– Spray paint
– 30″ of chain
– 6 screw hooks
– 8 band clamps
– 8 mason jars
– 8 wood screws

Instructions
If you would rather wall-mount your shelves instead of hanging them, you can skip steps 2-5 as you won’t need chain or hooks.

1. Spray paint your boards. This may require sanding edges first, depending on their condition.

2. Attach the hooks to your boards. It’s easier if you drill a pilot hole first. One board will get a hook on the top and the bottom. The other board only gets hooks on one side. Position the hooks about 2″ from the edges of the boards.

3. Attach 8″ of chain on either side of the boards, then use a pliers to close the hooks.

4. Attach the remaining 14″ of chain to the top of your board and close the hooks.

5. Measure and mark holes for where you’ll affix the band clamps, starting 3″ from the edges of your boards, then screw the band clamps into place. This is easier said than done, as it first requires drilling a hole through the band clamp.

6. Slip the mason jars inside of the clamps, then tighten with a screw driver.

7. Hang it up!

Your mason jar hanging shelf has all sorts of practical uses. Besides holding many mustaches on sticks, you can use them for utensils in the kitchen, as an indoor garden, for craft storage, as vases, etc. There are many possibilities!