Which camera do you need for a photo booth?

Begin with the finished photograph

Decide the intended print or screen size and the number of people in the frame. Make a test in the expected lighting, then inspect the full exported file. Check focus, motion blur and face detail. A high-resolution sensor is less useful when the booth software saves only a small preview.

Check control and compatibility

For an external camera, confirm that the specific model and connection are supported by the chosen software. Ask how the shutter is triggered, where files are stored and how the preview is displayed. Simple Booth’s published plans list camera-related features, but a general support claim still needs checking against your exact equipment.

Evidence: Supplier specifications

Treat the lens position as part of the design

Place the camera at a height that works for the session and keep the distance repeatable. A very wide view can fit more people while making edge faces look different from those near the centre. Test the full group instead of judging only a portrait directly in front of the lens.

Leave enough headroom and let people find the lens easily. A preview screen beside the camera can attract their gaze away from the photograph.

Choose what you can operate reliably

For a small gathering, the phone you know and a stable support may be sufficient. For repeated event work, compare power, connection stability, replacement equipment and support as well as image quality. Test the entire capture-to-delivery route.

Avoid buying a camera solely because an operator lists it online. Their lighting, lens and software may be different. The most persuasive evidence is a finished example made with the arrangement you can reproduce.