Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Escudero.
Hi Karina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
The idea of a photo booth business occurred to me after reminiscing on a pile of photo booth pictures I’d been collecting since Jr. high. I don’t think I’ve ever passed up on a photo booth op when going out to the mall, arcade, wedding, etc. They are just so fun and I’ve always loved the concept. I began doing research on photobooths, and different types of booths started thinking of names for my business, drew out logos, and basically put together a vision board for my brand. I did sit on the idea questioning it, and visualizing it for about 3 months.
Then, of course, the universe is abundant and I crossed paths with a friend Mac Castro who already had his own booth business and needed assistance with one of his events. I gladly volunteered and the experience I had helping him with the event is ultimately what inspired me to make the leap. It was so much fun seeing people be together again after going through a pandemic, having fun with their loved ones, enjoying the booth experience, and expressing so much gratitude for their short but timeless memory. I felt a sense of fulfillment and happiness providing this service for others, So I officially bought my booth, established my website, and began marketing in June 2021.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The idea was initially just for fun however we did get our fair share of obstacles along the way to overcome but ultimately they helped me grow as an individual, entrepreneur, and person. Starting a photo booth business requires us to invest a lot of our own money and personal time into building and perfecting our website. customizing our client’s experience and creating marketing strategies. We also started off doing free events and had to learn to see them as investments. We’ve dedicated countless hours and days to give each of our clients a great experience.
Our first year consisted of a lot of time, trial, and error. It was our first booth so we were still learning how to work it and would run into tech issues in the middle of events resulting in our first couple of bad reviews in turn I learned to be calm in stressful moments, how important communication with the client is and how to improve from criticism. Pricing was another thing I struggled with, I was afraid to charge people my prices. I had to work on my self-worth by believing my time, effort, creativity and work were valuable.
Overall I overcame a lot of my personal challenges like stage fright, and time management, and developed communication skills, self-worth, soft skills, and confidence. This business has also given me the opportunity to be surrounded by and create relationships with other amazing and supportive people. Mac was a very important mentor/friend that offered encouragement and guidance to help me get started.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are a photo booth rental service and we offer a completely original photo booth experience using a unique and beautiful touchscreen magic mirror. Our booth is for first-loves, best friends, “I dos” and millions of memories, and these moments are what give our booth its sense of magic
I really take pride in being able to bring an idea to life. It really gave me the perspective that anything is possible.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I believe our industry is timeless. There will always be a demand for photo booths. They’re a great addition to any gathering, everyone always has an amazing time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.xoxophotoco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xoxophoto.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xoxophotoco
Image Credits
Shadd DeHerrera and Britanee Jean
