A bold nostalgia surge has arrived in New York City: a permanent display of vintage analog photo booths has opened, drawing lines around the block and turning heads from visitors who crave a tangible, retro experience.
AUTOPHOTO showcases six fully restored classic booths, a rarity in today’s digital era—there are believed to be fewer than 300 working analog photo booths left anywhere in the world. Admission is free; you only pay to use the booths, and the prints emerge wet from within the built-in mini darkroom. The entire photo-taking sequence takes roughly three minutes, so patience pays off with a unique, hands-on keepsake.
Among the lineup, you’ll find the 1959 Model 12 with its broader frame, the 1960s staple Model 17, and a 1993 Polaroid booth that still uses the brand’s instant film.
“It isn’t always perfect when it comes out. You have to embrace the light leaks and quirks,” explains AUTOPHOTO founder Bre Conley Saxon to Time Out. “Instagram’s early filters mirrored exactly this kind of analog charm.”
In addition to the booths, the space hosts exhibitions about Anatol Josepho, the inventor of the photo booth. Visitors can explore artifacts such as his original 1920s camera, newspaper clippings, and portraits of Josepho and his family.
The venue also highlights rare materials: discontinued color paper, one of only two color-chemistry booths in the United States, the only wide-format booth on the East Coast, the world’s sole functioning original Polaroid booth, and galleries featuring original celebrity photo strips.
Bre Saxon’s fascination with analog photography began in high school when she watched a photograph come to life in a darkroom. Years later, after purchasing a 1968 Auto-Photo Model 14 from a thrift store during college, she spent years in her garage studying how to revive it.
“Back then, finding information about analog booths was nearly impossible because digital had already taken over,” she recalls. “Restoring a booth is like reviving a vintage car—there’s always something new to discover.”
Her obsession grew into AUTOPHOTO, which now operates 24 booths nationwide. The New York museum and gallery represent a broader revival of vintage analog photo booths, a movement that almost vanished from public life.
AUTOPHOTO is located at 121 Orchard Street in New York and welcomes visitors Tuesday through Sunday, from noon to 10 PM. For more details, visit the website or follow on Instagram.
Image credits: Courtesy of AUTOPHOTO
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