The Best DIY Photo Booth Props You Can Make in 10 Minutes

A photo booth is only as good as its props. But if you've ever looked at buying a prop kit online, you'll know they are often made of flimsy cardboard, arrive bent, and lack any personal touch.

The best props are the ones you make yourself. They are cheaper, highly customizable, and double as a fun craft activity. Here are the best DIY photo booth props you can make right now.

1. The Classic Speech Bubbles

What you need: Cardstock, markers, hot glue, and wooden skewers or chopsticks.

Speech bubbles are the ultimate prop because they allow your guests to communicate through the photo strip.

• Cut out cloud shapes, sharp rectangles, or classic comic-book bursts from white cardstock.
• Use a thick black marker to outline the edges (this makes it pop on camera).
• Write fun, event-specific phrases: "I'm just here for the cake," "We're next!" or "VIP."
• Glue the stick to the back.

2. Giant Polaroids & Instagram Frames

What you need: A large piece of foam core board from a craft store, a craft knife, and paint.

Instead of holding a small prop, why not hold the frame itself?

• Cut a large square out of the center of a piece of foam board.
• For a Polaroid look, leave a large white margin at the bottom and use a Sharpie to write the date or event name.
• Guests can hold the frame up to their faces, adding a fun "picture within a picture" effect to your digital photo strip.

3. Customized Cardboard Cutouts

What you need: Access to a printer, thick cardboard, and glue.

Is it a birthday party? Print out a massive, high-resolution photo of the birthday boy/girl's face, cut out the eyes, and glue it to a stick. There is nothing funnier than a photo booth strip featuring three people wearing the exact same face of the guest of honor.

4. Raid the Thrift Store

Not everything needs to be crafted from scratch! Head to your local thrift store and buy:

• Outrageously oversized sunglasses
• Vintage hats (top hats, sombreros, captains hats)
• Feather boas
• Fake flower bouquets

These real-world items look incredibly authentic on camera, especially when paired with a classic Sepia or Black & White filter.

The Perfect Software for Your Props

Once your props are ready, you need a photo booth to capture them. Don't rent expensive hardware—just set up an iPad or laptop on a table and open Flashback Booth. It's a completely free digital photo booth that will perfectly capture your DIY props in stunning retro quality.