Our DIY Photobooth!

Warning - This is not a food related post, but it is about something great we made and made part of it during a "Friday" night dinner.  

About 2 weeks before my roomie's wedding, we were chatting about what she had left, and she asked if over the weekend we could help her figure out a little photobooth.  I, of course, agreed and later informed John that I agreed for him, too. After talking to John a little more, the project became a bit bigger and we decide this would be the perfect wedding gift.

Below is a basic set of steps we followed, complete with pictures:

1. Draw out some sort of plans. These eventually will just be used as scrap paper while your at Lowes, along with an idea of general dimensions.
   
2. When you get to Lowes (or your other local hardware store) purchase the following supplies: 
• Plastic shelves, around 6'H x 4'L x 2'W
• 1" PVC piping
• 6 PVC elbow joints
• 1 PVC T joint
• 3 PVC 3 way elbow joints
• 3 8' sections of 1"x2" 
• 1/2 inch bolts
• lots of screws
3. Other supplies you need, and may have at home: 
• Computer (We used a laptop)
• Printer (a fast photo printer) and photopaper
• Computer monitor (you can't use the one from you laptop unless you modify the setup)
• Frame for the computer monitor
• Keyboard
• Sparkbooth (or other) photobooth software
• Lots of fabric and a way to hem it (we used hem tape)
• Drill, saw, PVC saw, and random drill bits
• Staple gun and staples
4. Assemble the plastic shelves. 
5. Cut the wood to make 2 boxes, one each for the top and bottom. The bottom should be about 3 inches wider and about 1 inch longer in order to nicely slide the bottom over the top. The top box should sit on the top shelf but be slightly longer (about 4' 3" long). On the top add 4 1' sections to help hold the top box in place.  These will be screwed into the plastic frame.
   
   
   
6. Cut 6 sections of 6' PVC, 3 sections of 4' PVC, 2 sections of 1'11" PVC. 
7. Assemble the PVC as shown below, don't glue it together, because this way you can transport more easily and choose where you want the door after you decide on the location of the setup.
   
   
8. Screw 2 of the elbows into the top box just over 4 feet apart (add about .5" - 1" to allow for the space added by the joints). Screw 2 more into the bottom in the same location.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Drill a hole for the bolts in the elbow joints with the top 2 PVC pieces in.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Use the 1"x2" to create a holder for the computer monitor.
    
11. Have a drink, you deserve it.
    
    
12. Using extra framing material (we used molding) create an external frame for the monitor.
    
    
13. Cut and hem the fabric.  We used the wedding colors (royal blue and a marigold yellow) for the walls, grey for the top, and black for the frame.  For the frame, just staple the black fabric around the 2 wood frames. For the top, staple to the inside of the top frame.  When you set up on site, tack into the top of the top end of the PVC, if there is extra fabric, roll it up and tack so none hangs over.  For the walls, we slid the fabric over the PVC and cut slits to allow for the joints.  If you think you'll need to rearrange the set up, cut slits from both sides of the fabric to make it reversible. 
14. Now, your done with the building. Hang Christmas lights using shower hooks to light the inside.  Set up your software and printer for a practice run and you're done! Note: We used the images from the couple's Save the Dates for the side image on the photos. 
15. Transport and enjoy!