How to Unlock Harv's Island and Photopia

This is a guide to unlocking Harv's Island, a location in the game Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) for the Nintendo Switch. Learn how to take photos with other Villagers and amiibos in Photopia, Harvey's photo studio.

Harv
Harv	Harv's Plaza	Photopia

What You Can Do On Harvey's Island

Access Photopia

The only feature accessible on Harvey's Island is Photopia, an in-game photo booth. Photopia allows players to use their villagers and amiibos as models to pose for staged photos.

Unlock Villager Posters

Once you play around with Photopia and use your villagers (and amiibos) as models, you can unlock their posters which you can purchase through Nook Shopping!

Use the Item Delivery and Liquidation Services

This feature was added in the V1.2. update of the game.

Dodo Airlines added a new feature to lighten the load off your pockets; the Item Delivery and Liquidation services.

As of now, this feature is only available when you are on Harv's Island. Sadly, you cannot use this on Mystery Island Tours.

Participate in the Wedding Season Event

For the whole month of June, we are celebrating Wedding Season. Help take Cyrus and Reese's wedding anniversary photos at Photopia!

Wedding Season Event Info and Rewards

How to Unlock Harvey's Island

Harvey Will Appear Randomly On Your Island

After you set up the 3 house plots at the beginning of the game, Harvey will randomly visit your island.

When you talk to him, he'll give you access to his island. You'll be able to access Harvey's Island from the airport at any time from this point on.

Go to Harv's Island from the Airport

After you've met Harvey on your island, you will be able to visit his island from the airport. Simply go to the airport and select I wanna fly., then Visit Harv's Island.

How to Unlock the Airport

How to Use Photopia

List of Photopia Controls

The Photopia interface is a bit confusing to navigate. This List of Controls is designed to help understand how to use each of the various features available in Photopia.

Primary Commands

First, you will want to enter Decorating Mode to freely add and arrange all the props and models before taking a photo.

In addition, you are recommended to use ZL -> Camera to open the Camera app and take pictures without the UI blocking the foreground.

How to Use the Camera

Secondary Commands

Each of the below commands assume you are already in Decorating Mode.

Call an amiibo

This feature is available if you see the amiibo icon displayed on the bottom left corner of the screen.

Add Models

You can't have a photoshoot without a subject, your models! Call up villagers to use them as your models! For more info on how to call villagers to Photopia, as well as how to change their clothes and Reactions, check out the next section below.

Add Props

You can use any piece of furniture you've collected so far and use it in Photopia as a prop, as they are already saved in your catalog. You're also free to use any wallpaper and flooring you've collected to change the mood of your photo. You can also have your models sit in chairs as part of their pose!

Customize Your Props

You can change the design of any of your Ppops without needing a Customization Kit. Just press X to choose other variations of the item, if there are any!

Take the Photo

Once you've got everything together, smile for the Camera! Use the Camera app by leaving Decorating Mode and pressing ZL -> Camera. This will allow you to move around the camera easily with the D-Pad and the Right Control Stick to prime your perfect photo.

How to Add and Edit Models

Add Villagers as Models

All your current villagers are accessible to use as models in Photopia. In Decorating Mode, press → on the D-Pad to open up the storage, and use the L and R buttons to cycle through the tabs.

The Residents (Villagers) tab is found on the rightmost section, and you can select the villagers to call. Take note that you cannot call villagers that have left your island.

How to Call amiibos

You can also bring amiibos to pose in your Photopia photos! To bring an amiibo into your photo, hit ↓ on the D-Pad to enter Decoaring Mode, and you'll be able to scan an amiibo using the Right Control Stick.

You'll be able to see the amiibo icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen indicating that you can scan an amiibo.

Unfortunately, not all Animal Crossing amiibos are compatible with New Horizons, but you are able to use most Villagers and Special Characters in your photos.

List of amiibos and Compatibility

How to Dress Up Your Models

Press the X button while pointing at the model to change up their outfit.

You can choose from any clothing that you already have in your catalog. However, Harvey mentions that Villagers won't wear clothing that doesn't suit them. It doesn't seem that Villagers will reject particular items, but as most Villagers don't actually wear pants, these clothes are not available to select for them.

How to Change Your Models' Reactions

You can have your Villagers use any of the Reaction which you have currently unlocked. Don't just stand there – set each of your Models with a pose to make a unique photo!

Press the ZR button while pointing at the model to assign a reaction.

Press A On the Camera App to Start Reaction

While you have the Camera app open, you can press the A button to trigger the Reactions you have assigned to models. This will help you set the timing for your perfect photos!

Who is Harvey?

Appearance Location	Harvey's Island

Returning from New Leaf, Harvey is a special character that has his own photography studio called Photopia. Chill and groovy, Harvvey helps the player let out their inner creativity by helping him out at the studio.

Harv's Plaza

With the upcoming release of Version 2.0, there'll be some radical changes to Harv's Island, including the construction of a brand-new plaza to house various shops!

Harv's Plaza: What to Do and How to Unlock

Related Links

How to Unlock Shops and Facilities

ACNH Facilities
Resident Services	Museum
Nook's Cranny	Able Sisters
Airport	Campsite
Harvey's Island & Photopia	Harv's Plaza
Jolly Redd's Treasure Trawler	The Roost