Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Ramirez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My fiancé George and I have a box full of photo strips we’ve collected over the years. When planning our baby shower, I immediately started looking for a photo booth rental company to continue filling our box with memories. Who needs a caterer when you have a photo booth, right? I somehow spiraled and spent weeks researching and learning all that I could about photo booths. One day, instead of presenting George with new registry items, I approached him and said, “I’m going to buy a photo booth! We can use it for our baby shower, and then I’m going to rent it out after.” Unamused by my typical spontaneity, George gave me a confused smile and said, “okay.” That was all the reassurance I needed to empty out my cart at checkout.
As I waited for my photo booth to arrive, I dreamed of all the ways this business could prosper. I was going to give birth, recover in six weeks, and prepare to be thriving in business. I laugh now at my innocence. It took me about five months to settle into motherhood: mentally, physically, and emotionally. Around the same time (February of 2022), my cousin Claudia reached out to me and inquired about having my photo booth at her work event. I said yes – even though I knew all I had was the photo booth machine that had been sitting in my closet since our baby shower. Despite my fears and hesitation, I jumped in wholeheartedly and began unveiling the business I had only dreamed about back in August of 2021. I bought a backdrop, created an Instagram account, and checked off my first successful event. I received another booking following that event, and it’s been a gradual domino effect of referrals and bookings since.
I am eternally grateful for all those who trusted me back when I didn’t even have a prop table, to now. I still suffer from imposter syndrome and feeling inadequate in comparison to more seemingly successful companies. I often remind myself of how far I’ve come and continue to work on creating a brand I am proud of.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ever since I was in elementary, I had a clear roadmap of my life. I was going to graduate from college, have a career, get married, buy a house, have a family, and then build a business. The typical dream, right? Personally, I was struggling when I wasn’t checking things off my list in the order I had planned them. I struggled with processing that I was having a baby before I was married and that I was building a business before I had even fully developed a career post-graduation. I look at my list now and realize that I am currently living out two of my biggest dreams – motherhood and being a business owner. I will never take that for granted – despite how they look or came to be.
Professionally, I built this business based off a dream. No one told me about licensure, insurance, business plans, etc. I think that’s the challenge in building a successful business; they seem a lot easier than they actually are. Consequently, I’ve had to backtrack and formalize many aspects of The Savvy Booth that I didn’t initially. In doing so, it’s taken time and made me feel “behind” a lot of other businesses. Although my family and support system are the foundation to this dream, I am still the one responsible for creating the output: the communication with clients, the content for social media, the finances, etc. I am a perfectionist by nature and it’s often difficult to allow others to help me. When you don’t have a boss, you’re also responsible for making decisions that not only affect your business but your personal life as well. Do I compromise aspects of motherhood in exchange for my professional growth? I don’t always have the answers to these questions; however, I protect my well-being by taking things as they come and nourishing the different roles in my life as needed. I remind myself that everyone’s circumstances are different, and we are all doing the best we can.
We’ve been impressed with The Savvy Booth, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Savvy Booth is an open-air photo booth company servicing Southern California. From community events to weddings, we offer all-inclusive print and digital packages that will elevate the guest’s experience. We are often complimented on our clean and appealing setup, which includes the latest machinery, a backdrop from our 20+ inventory, and a prop table. Our goal is to provide the fun and experience of a traditional photo booth while capturing photos that are still frame-worthy.
We value our clients and love making the events all about them! In working alongside them, I am able to create a 100% customized design and setup that will perfectly blend into their event. My goal is to not only connect with our clients but their guests the day of their event, too. If you’re looking for a modern, chic, and clean photo booth rental company, we may be the perfect fit for your next event!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love how active our city is. Within a 30-mile radius, you can find yourself in the cutest coffee shop, the beach, or a hike filled with panoramic views. It is filled with creatives, intellectuals, advocates, and so much diversity, which I appreciate. When I’m not working, my family and I are out attending community events, visiting zoos, parks, etc. I love that my daughter is able to grow up in a city where she can witness different cultures, traditions, and have so many opportunities available to her.
Living in a busy city also means living in a highly populated area. The downside of that is the traffic, higher crime rates, and cost of living.
Pricing:
- Our digital packages start at $350
- Our print services start at $595
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thesavvybooth.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesavvybooth?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/9UaP6Nvi8T
