A Vintage Photo Booth in Florence | A Fun Photo Experience

Over the past few years, a rather unusual photo spot has become popular in Florence: a vintage-style photo booth that reminds me of the old photo stickers we used to take years ago.

In fact, I had already tried one of these machines about ten years ago, when my daughter was still little.

At the time, I used it to take an ID photo for one of her extracurricular activities. I had no idea what the result would look like.

The photos came out in black and white, with a wonderfully old-fashioned appearance.

I remember laughing with my daughter and saying, “I didn’t know they still had photo booths like this!”

What made the experience even funnier was that you never knew exactly when the camera would take the picture.

One photo might show a puzzled expression, the next a surprised face, followed by a more ordinary expression. With four pictures in a strip, the result could look almost like a four-panel comic strip.

Back then, these machines were not particularly fashionable. I never imagined that they would become a popular attraction.

But things have changed over the past few years. Long queues have started to form, and several of these photo spots can now be found around Florence.

Trying Florence’s Vintage Photo Booth with Friends

Recently, a friend of mine from university came to Florence with her family.

When we talked about the places they wanted to visit, this vintage photo booth was on their list.

So we decided to join the queue and try it ourselves.

It was my first time waiting in line for one of these photo booths, and I noticed that many people were enjoying more than just taking the pictures.

The process often looked like this:

1. They posed in front of the photo booth and took their pictures.
2. They photographed the printed photo with their smartphones.
3. They filmed the moment when the pictures came out of the machine.

It was interesting to see how the whole experience had become part of the fun. People wanted to capture not only the finished photos but also the moment they appeared.

What to Know Before Using the Photo Booth

There are a couple of things worth knowing before you try it.

First, bring coins.

The machine accepts coins, so it is a good idea to have some small change ready before you join the queue.

Second, get everyone ready before inserting the coins.

Once you put the money in, the photo session starts, so there may not be much time to adjust your position.

This is particularly important if you are taking pictures with several people. The space is limited, and if everyone does not stand in the right place, someone may end up only half in the frame.

We learned this the funny way.

My daughter and two others squeezed into the booth together, but in the first picture, all we could see was their bag!

We burst out laughing when we saw the result.

Perhaps this is part of the charm of these photo booths. The pictures do not always turn out perfectly, and that can make the experience even more memorable.

The first attempt was a failure because not everyone was in the frame, so the group tried again and took a second set of pictures.

If you are going with friends or family, it is worth checking where everyone should stand before starting the session.

A Fun Little Souvenir from Florence

Florence has so many famous sights to visit, from the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio to the Uffizi Gallery.

But sometimes, the smaller and more unexpected experiences are just as memorable.

There is the excitement of not knowing exactly when the camera will take the picture, the anticipation of seeing the printed photos, and the laughter when the result is not quite what you expected.

It is a simple activity, but it can make a lovely memory to share with friends or family.

If you are visiting Florence, why not take a break from the usual sightseeing and try one of these vintage-style photo booths?

You may end up with a few funny pictures—and a story to remember long after your trip.