AI Photobooths vs Traditional Photobooths: What's the Difference?

For decades, the traditional photobooth has been a staple of weddings and corporate events. You walk in, grab a physical prop, smile, and wait for a strip of photos to print. While nostalgic, the traditional booth has limitations that in 2026, many find underwhelming.

The Traditional Experience

Traditional booths rely on static elements. You have physical props—hats, glasses, signs—and a fixed background. The output is a standard photograph, perhaps with a digital filter similar to what you'd find on a smartphone from 2015.

The AI Transformation

An AI Photobooth like Lumina is an entirely different beast. We don't use physical props because our AI can generate them digitally with perfect lighting and perspective. More importantly, we don't just "take a photo"—we generate a new image based on the guest's likeness.

Instead of just standing in front of a green screen, the AI understands the 3D space. It can change the guest's clothes, hair, and surroundings, creating a cinematic-quality image that looks like a movie poster.

Which should you choose?

If you want a vintage, retro feel, traditional is great. But if you want to wow your guests, provide a unique digital asset, and align your brand with the future, AI is the only choice.