Today we’d like to introduce you to Allen Stewart.
Hi Allen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started out of necessity. After having my first child, I needed to find a way to bring in more income. In 1995, I went to a wedding and noticed the couple had rented a photobooth from the zoo. That moment sparked an idea — why not start a photobooth rental business myself?
I reached out to a company in Texas that built photobooths, and they invited me to come train and check out their inventory. Back then, we were talking about the old-school chemical “dip and dunk” booths. There was no Facebook, no online guides, no roadmap to follow. I had to figure it out on my own — and I quickly realized I was the only minority in the business at the time.
Over the years, the industry evolved. Booths went from dip-and-dunk to digital, then to 360 experiences. I grew with it — becoming not just a rental operator, but also a drop shipper, distributor, and eventually a leader in the field. It’s been nearly two decades now, and the business has spanned 19–20 years.
Today, photobooths are everywhere. But when I first started, you could count the number of operators in the South on one hand — and in Atlanta, there were only two or three of us.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes, there have been times I wanted to sell my equipment and van until I realize,I needed to revamp the way I was doing business. There have also been times when I have received 20-30k checks.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
One of my biggest accomplishments wasn’t just building the business — it was convincing my parents that it was even worth pursuing. When I first explained the idea to them, they didn’t really understand it and actually told me not to do it. Fast forward a few years, they happened to take a picture in a photobooth in Alabama. To their surprise, that booth had been purchased from my company. That moment really brought everything full circle — they finally saw the vision I had all along.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I used to always have business ideas with no capital.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theclassicphotobooth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theclassicphotobooth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Theclassicphotobooth
Image Credits
me
