Hidden Gems: Meet Vanessa Grossman of That One Photobooth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Grossman.

Hi Vanessa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
We started with more enthusiasm than equipment. An iPad in a cardboard box, decked out in wrapping paper (classy, right?), became our first photo booth for events for our friends and family. We raided the Halloween costume bin and the dress-up box (think little kids’ tiaras and boas!), and room dividers magically transformed into a “booth.” It was janky, sure, but the fun factor was off the charts! 

Then, a lightbulb moment. At a friend’s birthday bash, her brother’s pro photo booth with printing blew our minds. We were like, “Hey, we can totally do this!” Turns out, most of the “gear” was already in our DIY arsenal. 

Fast forward to 2018. We invested in top-notch photo booth software, and Chris, the creative and handy genius, built our first official booth shell. Business licenses, insurance, LLC formation – we did it all! Looking back, some choices were…well, hilarious in hindsight. But hey, that’s how you learn, right? 

The pandemic nearly shut down our little business. Events vanished faster than you could say “social distancing.” Grants became our lifeline. While expenses raged on, our event count plummeted to a measly two in a year and a half. We were deep in the red. 

When the world reopened, it felt like we were starting over. Photo booth paper had become as rare as toilet paper, and inflation forced a pricing overhaul. Marketing? We’d put it on pause during the shutdown. Reconnecting with clients and rebuilding our visibility felt like climbing Mount Everest. 

Local networking groups became our new battleground. Chambers, Women’s networks – we joined them all. Word-of-mouth, industry referrals, and Instagram became our secret weapons. 

Teaming up with a local event planner, we launched our first brick-and-mortar space in 2022 – a shared dream come true! But the story doesn’t end there. In May 2023, we created the Central Coast Event Network, where we hold free monthly mixers for event industry folks. We believe in collaboration over competition – lifting each other up makes everyone stronger. 

We’re lifelong learners. Every year, we hit the Vegas Photo Booth Expo, soaking up the latest trends, tech, and equipment from fellow booth wizards. Vanessa, our resident rockstar, has become a fixture at the Women’s Photo Booth Conference, sharing her wisdom via speaking and helping to run the Conference as well. She also loves mentoring local photo booth newbies and strengthening the local photo booth industry she services. 

Our business is a constant evolution. We’re always brainstorming new experiences and adapting to the ever-changing tech landscape. But one thing remains constant: our dedication to creating unforgettable fun for every client. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Pandemic? More like “party foul!” Remember when everyone went into lockdown and events became extinct? Yeah, that wasn’t exactly our golden hour. On top of that, inflation’s been a real buzzkill. Costs are skyrocketing, forcing us to adjust our pricing too. 

But here’s the kicker: some photo booth companies seem to think licenses, permits, and insurance are optional confetti. These rogue booths offer rock-bottom prices, making it tough to compete. 

That’s why we’re on a mission to educate fellow photo booth peeps. We want to teach them the business ropes, including proper pricing, so everyone can win – especially their bottom line! 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re That One Photobooth, the life of the party (in a totally professional way, of course)! 

We bring the photo booth fun and 360 video magic to any event, anywhere on California’s Central Coast (and hey, we’re happy to travel as well!). We’re known for three things: knock-your-socks-off customer service, top-notch quality, and enough fun to fuel a confetti cannon fight. 

Disaster averted? You bet! We’ve got backup equipment and plans B, C, and D (because sometimes the party gods throw curveballs). What truly sets us apart, though? Our work is stellar, and we’re the real deal – honest, authentic, and trustworthy. You can count on us to deliver an unforgettable, pro experience every time. 

Last-minute rescues are our specialty! Other photo booths flake out? We swoop in, cape and all (if you want), to save the day. Years of experience mean we can help your event flow flawlessly. Bonus points: Vanessa’s event planning background lets her guide you on scheduling the photo booth for maximum awesomeness. 

Networking ninjas? That’s us! We have connections with the entire event industry on the Central Coast, so we can connect you with the dream vendor team for your big day. 

We’re all about the good stuff: top-tier equipment, unique experiences you won’t find everywhere else, and empowering fellow photo booth peeps to raise the bar for everyone. We dream of a photo booth community where everyone shines, offering the best to our amazing Central Coast. 

Let’s ditch the confusion and make epic photo booth experiences the norm! We’re all about collaboration, with a healthy dose of friendly competition to keep things spicy. 

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Learned a valuable lesson the hard way: research BEFORE you splurge! We went from DIY fun to full-blown business, thinking we were all set. Big mistake. We bought or fabricated equipment, only to realize it didn’t quite fit our needs. Certain features were missing, equipment weighed a ton, or tech was too slow. Moral of the story? Do your homework! 

Social media to the rescue! There are epic Facebook groups out there where you can grill seasoned photo booth peeps. Find out who the rockstar suppliers are, the ones with stellar products and customer service (and who to avoid – trust us, there are a few!). With all that amazing equipment, software, and experiences out there, you gotta pick the perfect fit for your business. 

Pricing pro tip: forget the competition! Base your prices on your expenses – add a little sprinkle on top so your business doesn’t become a charity case. Pro tip #2: practice makes perfect (and prevents party fouls)! Put your equipment through its paces. Think of every tech meltdown you can – then have a plan to fix it! Backup equipment? Absolutely. Staff gets the flu? We’ve got a solution. Remember, a broken booth means a heartbroken client, and that’s the last thing we want! 

And lastly, be legit! Licenses, permits, insurance – the whole shebang. Protect yourself and your business so you stay IN business! 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thatonephotobooth.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ThatOnePhotobooth/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThatOnePhotoboothLLC/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/that-one-photobooth
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCzueRZwfZ40qcjlubYphIsA
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@that1photobooth

Image Credits
That One Photobooth LLC