Designed to mimic the effect of a classic photo booth (albeit without the exorbitant fees), Boothsy looks the part, including turning out the photos in strips -- customizable up to four, a nice touch. Thanks to a simple interface and some cool built-in features, the iPad app helps you relive the memories of squashing into a cramped space with your mates to get some snapshots.

Facial recognition is arguably the standout feature here, and with it enabled, the app won’t take the set number of pictures unless there’s a face actually in shot. Once taken, all film strips can be seen in the app’s album section. Select one and you can share it online or saved to your iPad’s camera roll.

Be aware, though, that the current version of the app has an issue that's affecting some users, but not others. I tested Boothsy on three iPads across two separate App Store accounts, and I wasn't able to get the saved photos to appear in the album. [Editor's Note: We also tested it and the feature worked fine. Developer Appvetica was unable to pinpoint why some users would encounter this issue and not others.] Should this happen to you before the issue is addressed, you can opt to have the photos saved to the iPad's Camera Roll from the Settings button. That menu is also where you can alter the frame's color, though the choices are limited a handful of fairly garishly bright hues, plus black.

Regretfully, the app is shockingly not orientation-aware: for the interface to make sense, your iPad must be in landscape and the home button must be on the right hand side. And we encountered an odd interface glitch where the app said facial recognition was running while not. Still, the facial recognition is a neat twist, and arguably the sole reason why you'd consider Boothsy over other options. Imagine setting up an iPad with the app at a party, letting it merrily click away without anyone having to touch your tablet. Just make sure the images are saving properly before sending out the invites.

The bottom line. Automatic facial recognition is definitely the best reason to get Boothsy, but if what you want is a fun photo app that also does special effects, allows you to use either of your iPad’s cameras, and is free, then I'd recommend Apple's own Photo Booth every time.