Conversations with Victoria & Christopher Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria & Christopher Smith

Hi Victoria & Christopher, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
It happened one night when I discovered and fell in love with paper moons from the past. What a spectacle to see, on a penny postcard, couples wearing vintage clothing (as we see it), perfectly posed with the moon. 

After discovering a vast collection of these postcards, I remember asking myself, “What influenced this photo booth trend?” I began to research deeper into this historical phenomenon and realized not only was this a novelty experience at fairs during the late 1800s-1950s (peaking in popularity around 1910), but even today, there is a society of vintage enthusiasts who are still wanting these moons. Fascinated with all of this, I eventually asked my husband if he could build a moon to set up in our bay window as a sitting area. He wasn’t fully convinced of my “practical idea,” but finally, with an endearing little grin, decided to take my sketch and build our very first paper moon. After seeing it finished, I knew I wanted to create and ship paper moons to people around the world who dreamed of owning one of their own. The endeavor to make this happen was not an easy task, as it took us almost two months (and nearly giving up) before the design was ready to be sold worldwide. In 2013, we became known as “moon makers,” selling our designs on Etsy under the company name DAPPSY, our first moon being named after it. DAPPSY was just a made-up word for dapper and daisy. We sold over 370 moons, labeling each one in order of creation with our name and its number on a metal plaque before moving fully into the photo booth rental industry. In the transition period of selling and renting moons, our name was changed to Paper Moon Shoppe. The word “shop” is a reminder of where we started as a company. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As we slowly transitioned from sales to moon rentals, we discovered there was quite a bit to learn the ins and outs of operating a photo booth. Because of the large size and three-dimensional aspects of our sets with the backdrops, moon, and clouds, we had to experiment with lighting and camera angles to create a high-quality photo that brought to life the images from the postcards created over 100 years ago. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are known as “Moon Makers” and have the largest collect on moons in the world with over 30 moons, 15 backdrops, and the ability to create endless custom designs. Our team meticulously transforms your space into a spectacular celestial showpiece, setting up large-scale set pieces, paper moons, backdrops, and clouds that look as though you were sitting right among the stars. We maintain a vintage aesthetic throughout, with our attire, bellows camera, Hollywood lights, and typewriters. 

What matters most to you? Why?
We have always strived to create a unique experience that is more of a portrait session for guests at your event rather than a photo booth. We designed our pieces and curated a large selection of vintage props to give your guests a marvelous opportunity to travel back in time. 

Pricing:

• $1,600 – 3 Hours with Digital copies for guests
• $2,100 – 3 hours with 4″x6″ prints and Digital copies for guests
• Many customizable packages available

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.papermoonshoppe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papermoonshoppe
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papermoonshoppe