The Early Years

1. The Pre-History (1888 – 1890s)

Before the fully automated booth, there were "automatic" cameras. In 1888, William Pope and Edward Poole patented an automated photography machine, but it was unreliable. Shortly after, in 1889, French inventor Théophile Enjalbert showcased a coin-operated machine at the World’s Fair in Paris, though the photos were printed on tin and often of poor quality.

2. The Breakthrough: The "Photomaton" (1925)

The modern photo booth was truly born in 1925 on Broadway, New York. Anatol Josepho, a Russian immigrant, created the Photomaton. (as featured in the accompanying picture).

• The Cost: 25 cents.

• The Result: 8 photos in 10 minutes.

• The Impact: It was an overnight sensation. In its first year, 280,000 people used the Broadway booth. It was so successful that Josepho was paid $1 million (nearly $18 million today) for the rights to the machine—half of which he famously gave to charity