Why do analogue photos still fascinate young people? Why, for some purposes, might vintage technologies be considered more authentic than newer ones? And what is the contribution of old-school photo booths to Berlin as a city? Based on participant observation and 60 interviews with users, the research shows how the relationship between these old-school booths and Berlin is reciprocal, becoming part of the city’s scene, assembling people, displaying and materialising relationships, thereby providing an opportunity to be private in public. In casting an ethnographic eye on analogue photo booths in Berlin, this article makes a case for the continued relevance of analogue technologies and practices in the con-temporary digital age. The research highlights the inconsistencies in the linear theories of media development and social change, therefore pointing to a complex co-existence of actual and emerging technologies and practices.