Inspiring Conversations with Ivan Gonzalez of Camtastic Photo Booth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivan Gonzalez.

Hi Ivan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I come from a very entrepreneurial family, so building something of my own always felt natural to me. My grandfather came to the United States from Mexico in 1986 to chase his version of the American Dream. He built a business from the ground up through hard work, risk-taking, and persistence. Growing up around that environment shaped how I view opportunity.

My uncle later joined the family business and played a major role in growing it, and he became another strong influence in how I think about entrepreneurship — not just starting something, but scaling it and thinking long-term. Watching both of them showed me that business is about ownership, leverage, and creating opportunity.

In 2019, while I was in college and working at Starbucks, I made a decision that changed my trajectory. One of my biggest goals was earning my bachelor’s degree, and I knew college would demand time and focus. What I didn’t want was to live paycheck to paycheck or trade all of my time for hourly income while trying to finish school. I realized I needed something that didn’t pay me strictly based on time worked, but rather on the resources and systems I built.

That’s where Camtastic Photo Booth started. The concept made sense to me because once the equipment was purchased, the income wasn’t directly tied to clocking in and out — it was tied to how well I marketed, packaged, and executed the service.

In the beginning, I did everything myself: sales, marketing, client communication, setup, breakdown, editing, and troubleshooting at events. But I approached it intentionally — not as a side hustle, but as a business. I focused on branding, positioning, and creating a premium experience instead of competing on price.

As Camtastic grew, I built systems — onboarding workflows, contracts, payment automation, event prep checklists, and follow-up processes. That structure allowed the business to operate more efficiently and helped me balance school while continuing to grow revenue.

Over time, we began working higher-level events and with recognizable brands like Fenty Beauty and MasterChef, which elevated our credibility. But the real success for me wasn’t just the bookings — it was proving that I could design a business model that supported my long-term goals.

Entrepreneurship taught me resilience, financial discipline, leadership, and how to stay calm under pressure. Equipment failures, last-minute changes, and demanding clients became lessons in problem-solving.

Camtastic wasn’t just a business idea — it was a strategic decision. It funded my education, strengthened my business acumen, and reinforced the entrepreneurial mindset I developed watching my grandfather and uncle build from nothing.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely was not a smooth road — especially in the beginning.

I started Camtastic in late 2019, right before COVID-19 began spreading. That first year, I only generated about $2,000 in revenue. Then everything shut down. Events were canceled, social distancing became mandatory, and the entire event industry essentially paused.

I remember thinking for a moment that buying the photo booth and starting the business might have been a mistake. It felt like the worst possible timing. But looking back, that was one of the most important moments for me as an entrepreneur. I realized that uncertainty is part of business — you either adapt or you disappear.

Instead of quitting, I adjusted the model. Originally, we offered on-site attended experiences. During COVID, I pivoted to a drop-off and pick-up model, which allowed clients to use the booth without close contact. That shift not only solved the social distancing issue, but it also reduced labor costs and increased flexibility.

Ironically, the pivot ended up strengthening the business. Because the drop-off model required less staffing, I was able to service more events in the same timeframe and offer competitive pricing while maintaining margins. Within a year, the business grew from one setup to five active photo booth units.

That experience taught me how to think under pressure, how to pivot quickly, and how to detach emotionally from temporary setbacks. It reinforced that timing isn’t everything — adaptability is.

COVID could have ended the business before it really started. Instead, it forced me to innovate early and build resilience from day one.

As you know, we’re big fans of Camtastic Photo Booth. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Camtastic Photo Booth is a premium event experience company specializing in modern, high-quality photo booth activations for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and brand experiences.

What truly sets us apart is that we treat every event as if it were our own — our wedding, our birthday, our baby shower. We understand that these moments matter. They aren’t just bookings on a calendar; they’re milestones in people’s lives. Because of that, we approach every event with care, professionalism, and attention to detail. We communicate clearly, show up prepared, and make sure everything runs smoothly so our clients can focus on enjoying their day.

But you don’t have to take my word for it — our Google reviews speak for themselves. The consistency in our feedback reflects the level of service and intentionality we bring to every event.

We’re known for reliability and presentation. From high-resolution DSLR imagery and customized templates to seamless digital sharing and clean, modern booth designs, everything is built to feel elevated and intentional. Behind the scenes, we’ve created strong systems for onboarding, contracts, payments, and event prep to ensure a smooth experience from start to finish.

One of the things I’m most proud of is how the business evolved during COVID. We pivoted to a drop-off model that made events safer and more flexible, and within a year we grew from one booth to five active setups. That season taught me resilience and adaptability — and it strengthened my faith.

I truly believe none of this would have worked without God going before me. There were moments where the business should have failed, especially starting right before a global shutdown, but doors continued to open. I give all glory to God for the growth, the opportunities, and the relationships that have come from this journey. Camtastic is something I try to steward with integrity, gratitude, and excellence.

At its core, Camtastic is built on care, consistency, and faith — creating moments people remember while operating with professionalism and purpose.

How do you define success?
I’ve always defined success as the ability to create the outcomes you set out to achieve — to win in the environment you’re placed in. But for me, it goes much deeper than just winning.

True success is winning and remaining humble. It’s having the credibility, growth, and results that could justify pride — but choosing humility instead. It’s using whatever platform or influence you gain to create opportunities for others who are still climbing toward their own goals.

Success isn’t just personal elevation; it’s impact.

For me, faith is at the center of that definition. I believe all glory goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Any success I’ve experienced is because of His grace and guidance. There have been moments where things should not have worked out — but they did. That perspective keeps me grounded.

If I ever reach a level where I think I did it all on my own, that’s when I’ve already lost sight of what success truly means.

To me, success is winning with humility, building with integrity, and remembering who made it possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://camtasticphotobooth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camtasticphotobooth; https://www.instagram.com/ivndg_?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camtasticphotoboothrentals
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/dwLcRT6c6A
• Other: https://share.google/lzjnSWReJni9ybDBN

Image Credits
Camtastic Photo Booth