Capture Photos Using Your Camera’s Shutter Button!?
One of the great things about Darkroom Booth is its flexibility. Whether you’re running a fully automated photo booth or experimenting with custom workflows, the software is designed to adapt to the way you work.
In Darkroom Booth 2026, we’ve added a new feature that many users have requested: the ability to capture images using the physical shutter release button on your camera. If your Booth maintenance plan is current, the update is free! Available for download here on the Darkroom Support site.
In a recent video, Eugene, Darkroom’s Learning Program Manager, demonstrates how this new feature works and how to set it up. This option gives booth operators a new way to trigger photos—perfect for situations where you want a more manual or photographer-controlled experience.
Let’s take a closer look.
What Is the Manual Shutter Feature?
Traditionally, Darkroom Booth captures images using the software’s built-in countdown and trigger system. With the new Manual Shutter option, you can instead press the camera’s physical shutter button to capture images.
This approach can be useful in several scenarios:
- Attended photo booths where a photographer or operator is present
- Custom event activations where timing needs to be controlled manually
- Specialty shoots where the photographer wants direct control over capture
- Interactive experiences where guests or operators trigger the shot
The feature adds another level of flexibility to Darkroom Booth’s already powerful capture workflow.
How to Enable the Manual Shutter Option
Setting up manual shutter capture takes just a few steps.
1. Change the Shutter Release Setting
First, open the Camera menu in Darkroom Booth.
You’ll see a new setting called Shutter Release.
Change this setting from:
Auto → Manual
This allows the camera’s shutter button to trigger image capture inside Darkroom Booth.
Important:
Currently, this is a global setting. That means if you enable manual shutter for one event, it will apply to all events. If you later want to return to the traditional countdown trigger, simply change the setting back to Auto.
2. Disable Live View (Recommended)
Next, go to the Live View menu.
Eugene recommends disabling Live View when using manual shutter capture. This setup tends to work more reliably because the camera is focused entirely on capturing images rather than continuously streaming the preview.
3. Add a Startup Command
To streamline the experience, navigate to the Device Control menu and add a booth command that runs at startup.
Add the command:
Start Session
This eliminates the need to tap the screen or press the space bar to begin a session. Instead, Darkroom Booth automatically starts the session and waits for the camera’s shutter button to be pressed.
This creates a smooth workflow where the camera controls when the photo is taken.
Example Workflow: Single Image Capture
Once everything is configured, starting the booth is simple.
When Booth launches:
- The session automatically starts
- The software waits for the shutter button
- Press the camera’s shutter release
- Darkroom Booth captures the photo
After the image is taken, your configured workflow continues as usual.
For example, guests may see options to:
- Send the photo via SMS
- Print the image
- Review the result
If printing is enabled, the photo can even print automatically after capture. Very cool!
Using Manual Shutter with Multi-Image Templates
A common question is whether this feature works with multi-image templates like a 2×6 photo strip.
The answer is yes.
In Eugene’s demonstration, he switches to a 2×6 template with three images. Each time the shutter button is pressed, Darkroom Booth captures another image in the sequence.
The process works like this:
- Press shutter → Capture image #1
- Press shutter → Capture image #2
- Press shutter → Capture image #3
After the final image, the booth proceeds to the delivery screen where guests can print or send the photo via SMS.
This setup gives operators full control over the timing of each shot. Download a free sample template here
Why This Feature Is Useful
The new manual shutter option expands what you can do with Darkroom Booth.
For example, it’s ideal for:
Attended events
A photographer can guide guests and capture images at the perfect moment.
Brand activations
Staff can control timing to coordinate props, lighting, or movement.
Creative photo booth experiences
Operators can take multiple shots quickly without waiting for countdown timers.
Custom workflows
Events with unique pacing or interactions benefit from manual control.
Watch the Full Tutorial
Eugene walks through the entire setup and demonstrates both single-image and multi-image workflows in this short tutorial.