iPad Photo Booth Equipment List: Everything You Need

The core booth

• iPad: a recent standard iPad or iPad Air, 128 GB or more. Front camera quality matters most. Manufacturer-refurbished is fine. $350 to $800.
• Enclosure: locking, with a front camera opening that lines up with the lens, a covered home button area, a cable channel and a mount for the light. $250 to $700.
• Stand: a 5 to 6 ft adjustable pole that puts the iPad center around 55 to 60 inches from the floor, on a base at least 18 inches wide. Add a 10 to 15 lb sandbag at events. $80 to $250.

Look for an enclosure that lets you charge the iPad through it. You'll run it plugged in for hours.

Lighting that flatters faces

The iPad's front camera needs help in dark venues, and guests judge the booth by how they look.

• Ring light or LED panel, 14 to 18 inches, dimmable, bicolor from 3200 to 5600K. $60 to $200. Dimmable is not optional.
• Mounting: just above the iPad, with the light's center 6 to 10 inches above the lens and tilted slightly down.
• Optional rim light on its own stand behind guests when the backdrop is dark.
• Quarter and half CTO gels if any of your lights are daylight-only, so you can warm them to match a ballroom.

Ring lights sit right at the lens axis, so they reflect in glasses. Keep a pair of clear prop glasses in the kit to check glare during setup.

Network, power and sharing

• Mobile hotspot as your primary connection, plus a backup on a different carrier. Plans run about $15 to $60 a month.
• Two 20W or higher USB-C power adapters and two 10 ft cables. A weak charger lets the battery drain even while plugged in.
• A 25 ft 12-gauge extension cord, a surge strip with 6 or more outlets, gaffer tape and a cord cover.
• Two 20,000 mAh power banks. An iPad booth can run on batteries if the outlet is too far away.
• Optional sharing station: a second iPad on a stand for busy events, plus a framed QR sign that points to the gallery.

The optional printer setup

If you sell prints, the station needs:

• A dye-sub printer that does 4x6 prints and 2x6 strips, $500 to $1,000.
• Matched ribbon and paper sets, about $0.30 to $0.50 per 4x6, with one roll loaded and one spare at every event.
• A trim bin for strip cuts.
• A 4 ft table with a black fitted cover.
• A way to send prints from the iPad, either a printer that accepts AirPrint or a small print server.

Store media flat, at room temperature, in its box.

Backdrop, props and signage

• Backdrop, $100 to $300: sequin fabric, an arch or a fabric drape. The booth sits 6 to 8 ft in front of it.
• Props, $50 to $100: signs, glasses, hats and boas, plus sanitizer wipes. Budget to replace 10 to 20% each month.
• Stanchions (optional), $60 to $120 for two posts and a rope to shape the line.
• Signs: a welcome sign, the gallery QR sign, your social handle, a "Back in 5 minutes" sign, and a small sign saying photos may be shared.

The spares that save an event

Pack a backup iPad charged with the event loaded, extra cables and an adapter, painter's tape for delicate walls, microfiber cloths and screen cleaner, a headlamp for load-out, and a fitted table cover for when the venue hands you a bare table. Store your Guided Access passcode somewhere every attendant can reach it. For the event-day checklist version, see the packing list guide.