Photoboxes Proliferate in Public Spaces as Group Photo Sessions Become Part of Hanging Out

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Small booths equipped with cameras have become increasingly common amidst city activities.

From shopping centers and popular hangout spots like Blok M to Transjakarta Bundaran HI bus stops, photoboxes offer a unique, self-service photo-taking experience.

One such photobox can be found in the Blok M area of South Jakarta.

A red and white cabin stands outside, next to tables and chairs where visitors relax.

The cabin is labeled "PHOTOBOX" at the top, featuring illustrations on its front panel.

A similar concept is seen in the Selfie Time photobox, which operates on a self-service basis — customers don’t require assistance from staff.

All procedures are managed through a screen inside the booth, from choosing the product, making payment, selecting photo layouts, capturing images, picking frames, to printing the photos.

The screen offers options for strip and collage formats, priced between Rp 25,000 and Rp 50,000.

After printing, visitors can scan the photo to obtain a digital version.

On one photobox’s wall, dozens of customer photos are arranged in a heart-shaped pattern.

The pictures show groups of friends, couples, and families in various poses and frames.

The presence of photoboxes in public spaces has made this photo-taking activity, previously associated mainly with entertainment venues or malls, increasingly integrated into daily youth culture.

For Sabrina (27), a photobox attendant in Blok M, the customer experience goes beyond merely pressing the camera button.

“Usually, customers discuss their poses before entering the booth,” she explained during an interview on Thursday (17/9/2026).

Groups come in twos, threes, or larger gatherings.

"The ones who seem most enthusiastic are often large groups. They've already been excitedly planning their poses and who stands where even before stepping inside," Sabrina said.

She noted that many customers learn about the photobox from TikTok or Instagram.

However, quite a few only discover it by chance when they pass by and see sample photos on display.

“Sometimes they already know they want to take photos because of TikTok or Instagram,” Sabrina added.

During a visit, customers don’t always stop after one session.

After reviewing their photos, some choose to retake shots if they feel expressions are off or someone blinked.

Prices range from around Rp 50,000 to Rp 70,000 depending on the package selected, she said.

When visiting with friends, costs are typically split.

"If four people come, for example, and the cost is Rp 60,000, it’s about Rp 15,000 each. They consider it affordable entertainment," she added.

Some customers come for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or before a member moves away.

Sabrina observed that the physical photos aren’t always simply taken home.

Many customers also snap pictures of the printed photos themselves to share on social media.

"So effectively, after getting a physical photo, they revert back to digital," she noted.

Small Prints for Lasting Memories

Dinda (25), another photobox employee, shares a similar perspective.

She said customers come with various intentions.

While some plan to take photos, others decide spontaneously after seeing the photobox during their strolls.

“Photoboxes often become an extra activity before heading home,” Dinda said.

She mentioned visitors who have just eaten or hung out and then decide to try the photobox upon spotting it.

This pattern means photoboxes may not always be the main destination but rather part of a sequence of activities outside the home.

Customer spending varies as well.

“Basic packages start around Rp 50,000, but expenses rise if customers take extra sessions or request additional prints,” she explained.

“One session is usually enough, but if the first shots aren’t good, we try again,” she added.

Dinda believes the tangible photos are a key reason people stay interested.

Even though practically everyone today can take photos using their phones, the experience here feels different.

“If you just want good photos, a phone works just fine. Here, they’re buying the experience,” she said.

The experience starts with selecting frames, stepping into the booth, striking poses, following the camera countdown, and waiting for the prints to emerge.

Some customers even treasure imperfect photos.

“If a friend's face looks funny in one shot, that photo often becomes the one most talked about,” she added.

Photobox as a Social Hangout Activity

Nabila (22), a college student, is among those who have used photoboxes multiple times, about five or six sessions so far.

She finds the Rp 50,000 to Rp 70,000 price range reasonable when shared among friends.

For example, with three people, the cost is split, making it affordable entertainment alongside the photos.

“Photos on phones often just go into a gallery and are never looked at again. Here, you get to take a physical photo home right away,” Nabila said.

She usually keeps some of the photos in her wallet or sticks them in her journal.

The same photos are often re-photographed with phones to share on social media.

Fajar (28), a private sector worker, tends to use photoboxes more often when with his partner.

He admitted choosing photoboxes spontaneously while on walks several times.

“I think what you're really paying for is not just the photo but the moment of taking it,” Fajar said.

Alya (19), a university student, visited with three campus friends.

They were originally heading home after hanging around the bus stop but decided to take photos after spotting the photobox.

With four people, the cost of about Rp 60,000 per session was shared.

“Splitting four ways makes it quite cheap. I might think twice if going alone,” Alya said.

She believes photo quality doesn’t always need to be perfect. Photos with funny expressions can become meaningful memories.

“What matters most is that there’s a story behind them,” she said.

From Digital Photos to Physical Memories

Rakhmat Hidayat, a sociologist at Jakarta State University, links the growing popularity of photoboxes to the rise of digital culture and social media.

He explained that Indonesia’s photobox trend stems from the photobooth culture in South Korea, which has since been localized and expanded in public spaces.

Its popularity is boosted by many users sharing their photos on social platforms.

“Photoboxes have become a way to spend time together, not just a photo-taking spot,” Rakhmat said in a phone interview.

He noted that activities like choosing poses, laughing together, using props, and waiting for prints function as small rituals that bond groups.

Photoboxes also serve as a "third place," an informal space outside home, school, or office for socializing.

Additionally, Rakhmat points to the concept of the experience economy. Customers don’t only buy photos but also experiences and physical objects with symbolic value.

“Phone photos are digital and easily lost among thousands of others,” he said.

In contrast, photobox prints are tangible artifacts that can be kept in wallets, displayed in rooms, or placed in personal journals.

This phenomenon also reflects a shift in how young people document moments.

Whereas documentation was once mostly individual through selfies or Instagram Stories, photoboxes encourage a more intentional, collective form of documentation.

“Group photos in photoboxes are typically planned events, not spontaneous,” Rakhmat explained.

He also observes a change in public space functions.

Parks, stations, and areas like Blok M, Menteng, and Sudirman are no longer just transit or recreational spots but have become places for identity production and social content creation.