Meet Alannah Vincent of Pearly Booth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alannah Vincent.

Alannah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a native of Dothan, Alabama, where I attended Northview High School and lettered two sports, Basketball and Soccer. I truly loved playing sports, but I never took my focus off of academics. I completed Northview High School at the top of my class. My determination paid off, as I received both academic and athletic scholarships. The next step led me to the prestigious Tuskegee University. I played basketball for four years and then coached the year after I graduated. I truly enjoyed coaching and gained a totally new aspect of the game. I majored in Architecture and graduated Cum Lauded. Upon completion of my degree, I felt the need to explore what goes into designing a total space both inside and outside. So, I obtained my master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Auburn University in 2017. After graduating, I joined a  small landscaping firm that same year.

At the end of each day, I left feeling unsatisfied. Each day, this feeling grew and began to consume me. I found myself practicing scenarios of how to tell my family that I was quitting this job. I could never quite find the right way to do it. I worked there for eighteen months. Then, one day, my circumstances were changed for me. The lead architect fired me. He could have had a million reasons why he had to do this. I honestly didn’t mind if it was for financial reasons, downsizing, etc. I just knew I was free to chase my artistic dreams. I love using every artistic aspect of life that you can imagine. Though I did work full time at the landscaping firm, on my time off, I took photographs, worked on graphic design, and illustrated books and wrote poetry. I also worked with other artists different projects. Having no 9-5 job, I used my time to do thorough research on the market. This research drew me towards events and people. Then, one day, a friend turned me on to… a photo booth. This is a decade old way of capturing precious, fun moments for people to enjoy. Photo booths have survived the test of time and technology has given them a new nostalgia. Armed with information and my dream, I presented my idea to my mom and my cousin. They could see that this was truly a way for me to incorporate all of my passions. It allows me to use my background in graphics, art, video, and more. And, I get to be around people having fun. My cousin, Jewel Burks-Solomon who is an entrepreneur, provided me the money to get my business started. I had the booth and website up and running in 3-4 weeks. I did some marketing with family and friends. My first event was my cousin’s 50th birthday party. The photo booth was a huge success!! Everyone loved it. This was the first of many events. I have been booking jobs since then.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road to success is never smooth when you feel that you are being limited artistically. I struggled to find exactly where I fit in and what my actual purpose was in this world. The scariest decision throughout this process was probably making the decision that I was not going to follow the status quo and work the typical 9-5 job for the next 35 years. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem working hard. I have worked 14 hours straight with my company. However, when you love what you do, it isn’t work. The time flies. Sitting at a computer between four walls just wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to be among people. I wanted to create, design, plan, and network. Pearly Booth allows me to do all of these things. I have always been passionate about art and all forms of artistic expression. I very vividly remember using art to channel my focus and stay in a positive mindset after the untimely death of my father. This happened just two days before my fourteenth birthday in 2005. My dad introduced me to photography when I was young. I have always used visual arts to capture my ideas. I did photoshoots in college for graduation and many different events. When the idea of a photo booth was introduced to me, I thought it was a great tool for me artistically, and a business idea that I would truly enjoy. Naturally, I have had the struggles of a small business owner. Some challenges have been securing health care, marketing, cash flow, government regulations, federal and state taxing, and making sure I have a diverse client base. These struggles are challenging, but it is something that most business owners face. I am up for the challenge of solving each of these things so that I can continue to do what I love each day. It’s very much worth it.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pearly Booth – what should we know?
My company name is Pearly Booth. Pearly Booth is a high resolution, open-air photo booth. People like to share photo experiences with friends and family. Pearly Booth allows you to do just that. We do weddings; birthday parties, corporate events, product launches, proms, dances, and any other event that you want to capture precious memories. We were even booked for a funeral. The photo booth allowed me the opportunity to document the family and friends who came to pay their respect during the passing of a loved one. The client enjoyed being able to view the pictures in the privacy of her home the same day of the services. The options are endless. Our company offers a pleasurable social photo experience with the fun, easy to use booth. With our “selfie “sharing booth, hosts and clients have the option to send their pictures via text, email, and through many different social networks. We offer professionally branded photos with your design or logo, digital props, unlimited photos, instant online photo gallery, and live screen viewing. The photos don’t stop until the party is over. Open-air photo booths are awesome and have so many more new, innovative features compared to the traditional “closed” photo booth. We allow you to have professional lighting, a larger area to include more people in the photo, animated GIF’s, light painting, slow motion video, instant photo delivery, and live slide shows. With the booth being “open,” it allows for more group participation. I have witnessed a new level of “photobombing” develop since I have started Pearly Booth. The tone of the group event totally changes once we arrive. People start to open up, talk to one another, laugh, and truly have a good time when the picture taking begins. Pearly Booth ensures that your guests have an unforgettable experience. We are friendly, attentive, and professional. Pearly Booth is different from other companies because I utilize all of my experiences and educational background when preparing for an event. I take it as a personal challenge to deliver my clients a quality, fun-filled, professional experience. I love the sense of satisfaction that comes with helping a client preserve their special occasion.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are a few people who deserve credit in helping get Pearly Booth up and running. I would like to thank my cousin, Jewel Burks-Solomon. She has played a big role in my success and the success of the business. Jewel has always been a role model for me since we were young. She has given me many gems for me to succeed as an entrepreneur. I also would like to thank Eryn Jackson for investing in Pearly Booth; Gino and Melissa Brogdon for supporting and helping Pearly Booth book some of its first events; and a host of friends and family for cheering me on during the start of this business venture.

Pricing:

• $500 for 3hr event
• $100 for each additional hr after the first 3 hrs

Contact Info:

• Website: Pearlybooth.com
• Email: alannah@pearlybooth.com
• Instagram: pearly.booth

Image Credit:
Nyah Vincent

Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.