Imagine stepping into a classroom that, rather than just being filled with desks, chairs, and a whiteboard, is full of decor, bright colors, and…a PHOTO BOOTH!

Before we dig into the “how” of setting up a photo booth, let’s start with why photo booths in the classroom are amazing! A few years ago, during Meet the Teacher, I had a very shy student enter my classroom. He hid behind his parents, didn’t make eye contact, and was very nervous about starting at a new school. I introduced myself, then pointed over to the photo booth. I told him to go find a prop and take a few pictures. I saw the magic unfold. I watched him try on different hats, oversized glasses, and find signs that made him giggle. This student wasn’t the only one whose personality came alive during the photo booth.

Even parents were loving the photo booth! They would pose for funny family photos, encourage siblings to stand together, and even got a few large group photos with all of my new students.

The ice was broken. There was now an unspoken bond that carried us throughout the school year.

So how can you create a similar magic feeling in your classroom?

In this blog post, you’ll learn how to create a back to school photo booth. Greet your new students and families with a classroom photo booth with props and a fun backdrop. I’ve got a few photo booth ideas for your back to school events to make it an enjoyable time for everyone. 

I’ve set up a photo booth in my classroom for our Meet the Teacher or Open House event every year. I print the pictures (two copies) and send one copy home during the first week of school. Then, I save a copy to pass out to students on the last day of school, too! Watching students see how much they’ve changed in a year is the sweetest thing ever!

The idea might seem daunting, but setting up a classroom photo booth is a piece of ckae. You need three main ingredients: a space in your classroom, a camera (smartphones or iPads do the trick) and your back to school photo booth props. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Determine a place for a photo booth backdrop in your classroom. 

First, choose a place for your photo booth in your classroom. Will you use a white board, bulletin board, or a wall as a background? You can be as simple or creative as you want to make your photo booth backdrop. If you’re feeling really wild, you can blow up balloons and staple the base to a bulletin board. This has been my favorite backdrop, yet! (Be warned, they deflate within 2 days and the students will repeatedly ask if they can pop the balloons.) But it doesn’t have to be that intense. You could even use this as an excuse to leave a bulletin board empty before starting the school year. You could pin up fabrics, large sheets of paper, or (a recent idea I heard) staple a twin bed sheet to the bulletin board. This serves as a perfect backdrop for photo booths.

Want to be extra special? You can add streamers, pom-poms, or even twinkling lights to the wall for the 3D effect.

2. Make a plan for the photo booth props you’ll use for the back to school event.

Print out your props from this Photo Booth Props instant download. Just download these, print on colored paper or colored cardstock, and you are ready to impress families. There are over 100 photo booth signs…printable and editable options included! From pennants with letters and numbers to fun signs like: “I’d rather be playing video games” and “When is recess?” these signs will be a hit for students and parents!

3. Do you have a tripod or can you be near the photo booth area? 

It’s always wonderful when parents take their own pictures in the photo booth, but YOU absolutely want a copy of the pictures! I try to place myself near the photo booth area so I can use my phone to snap pictures. If you have an iPad or tablet available, you could easily encourage families to use it to document their fun. This is also a great place for a volunteer OR an intern. They can create great relationships during the photo booth while you talk and visit with other families in the classroom.

4. Have fun with it! 

Don’t be afraid to jump in photos with students and parents. They will absolutely love your energy! Also, they can make some great pictures for the school yearbook. You may even want to send an email to your teammates or school teacher friends to stop by your class for a few fun photo booth pictures! 

If you’re looking for photo booth props you can use for not only back to school season, but year round…check out these! Click the link to see over 100 photo booth signs and even an editable option.

Some people get real fancy and adhere these photo booth signs to popsicle sticks or skewers, but I don’t think it’s necessary. It’s super easy to store the props in a file folder and use for Mother’s Day Gifts, Father’s Day Gifts, or for End of the School Year events! 

Beyond the laughter and smiles, the photo booth is not just about fun. You’re creating a strong relationship to start the year on such a positive note. This will infuse your classroom with an infectious energy that will help your students connect with each other, with you, and with the joy of learning!

If there was ever a time to give photo booths a shot, it’s now. Your students won’t just thank you; they’ll remember these moments for years to come. So what are you waiting for? Get your classroom camera-ready and make this school year picture perfect!

Save these Photo Booth Ideas! 

Pin these photo booth ideas to your favorite classroom Pinterest board. Then you can come back whenever you need ideas or inspiration!